Maximum Yield USA December 2017 | Page 68

cycl trends & technology WHAT LIES BENEATH: GROWING SUBTERRANEAN CROPS IN HYDROPONICS by Dr. Lynette Morgan Bulb, tuber, and root crops may not receive as much attention as vine-ripened tomatoes and fresh aromatic basil, but hydroponic specimens of these versatile crops are surprisingly diverse and well worth planting in your indoor garden. W e tend to treat potatoes, onions, carrots, and similar root and tuber crops as cheap commodity vegetables, but they have far more potential than most growers realize. With the increasing globalization of food, root and tuber crops are finding new markets. As usual, hydroponics allows for excellent ways of experimenting with something a little different. Apart from providing super fresh veg for the table, diversifying into subterranean crops offers the opportunity to acquire a few new skills and the anticipation of the bounty to be unearthed at the end of the season. 64 grow cycle