Aquaponics vegetables are packed with nutrients just as those grown in traditional farming. This fact is vital to be understood by many because they could think that aquaponics veggies have fish taste within them. The high nutritional value of veggies in aquaponics is attributed to the fact that this system provides your growth with the nutrients and minerals they need directly, without the interruption caused by soil.
What are the differences between crops grown in aquaponics and those cultivated in traditional farming?
Aquaponics vegetables have direct access to nutrients.
One notable feature of aquaponics, which clearly separates it from traditional soil farming, is that the plants' energy is spent entirely on its growth and development. The reason behind such a claim is that the aquaponic plant can access the nutrients it needs directly, without going over the soil looking for moisture.
This feature also explains why plants cultivated via the aquaponics method grow 25% faster than their soil-grown counterparts. Again, the crops have 100% access to their nutrients, 24 hours a day.
Aquaponics vegetables are free from synthetic chemicals.
If you buy fruits and veggies from the supermarket, and these are products of traditional soil farming, chances are the growers applied synthetic chemicals on them. This scenario does not bode well with your health because these chemicals could harm your well-being.
On the other hand, aquaponics produce is free from any artificial chemicals because the system itself mimics what is happening in an ecosystem. Recall that aquaponics is the integration of two food production methods: aquaculture and hydroponics. The sole source of plants' nutrients would be the fish wastes coming from the fish tanks. And this kind of setup is what occurs in nature.
If the cycle becomes unbalanced due to nutrient deficiency, aquaponics experts may need to supplement organic fertilizers explicitly designed for this planting method.
Aquaponics vegetables are free from fish taste.
This could be a common concern for many since they usually think that because the plant's nutrients originate only from fish waste, they would eventually taste like fish. But of course, nothing could be farther away from the truth.
Logic dictates that buying fruits or vegetables grown from soil-dependent farms would not taste like a cow, knowing that cow manure is used as plant fertilizer. In the same way, there is no transference of fish taste to the crops reared utilizing the aquaponics approach.
The system itself is equipped with a filtration system that makes it possible for your plants to access nitrates, the primary nutrient source for the plants.
Are aquaponics vegetables healthy?
The answer to this question is a resounding "Yes." The nutrition level of aquaponics vegetables is at the same par, or even possibly higher, as those reared on traditional farmlands.
There are no means that fruit and vegetables coming from aquaponics grow beds consist of lower nutrients because their roots dangle or are even submerged into nutrient-rich waters. Your vegetables have an uninterrupted supply of the minerals they need to achieve optimum health in this setup.
One good indicator that plants in aquaponics are healthier is the increased growth rate. Fish excrement, which is a good source of plant food and nutrients such as phosphate, nitrogen, calcium, potassium, and sulfur, helps the plants grow quickly. All of these are constantly available, allowing the plants to develop faster and healthier.
Here are some vegetables that experience accelerated growth in aquaponics:
- Tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Squash
- Zucchini
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Strawberries
Conclusion
Aquaponic veggies are delicious because they are grown in the ideal conditions possible. They have access to nutrient-rich water, oxygen, a constant pH level, appropriate lighting, and ventilation, among other things. To put it another way, aquaponic vegetables have more flavor than their soil-grown counterparts since they are cultivated with all the proper elements in their best possible range.
