Aquaponic vegetables refer to vegetables that are cultivated in self-sustaining systems, where grow sites receive water from a reservoir containing live fish.
The fish provide nutrients to the plants, and in turn, the plants clean the water for the fish.
Do aquaponic vegetables taste good? Aquaponic vegetables are often much tastier than the same vegetables grown in soil. Vegetables grown aquaponically are organic and healthy with no chemicals or man-made fertilizers fed to them, which enables them to taste even better than ordinary vegetables.
In the following you’ll learn all about aquaponic vegetables and why they taste so good!
By the time you finish reading, you’ll be eager to try a few yourself and perhaps even set up your own system at home.
Why Aquaponic Vegetables Taste Good
Aquaponic vegetables taste good for several reasons, the most significant being that they are grown completely organically and are provided exactly the nutrients they need to thrive.
Additional reasons include their well-controlled environment, lack of deficiencies, and no exposure to harsh elements or chemicals.
Below, we take a closer look at all of the individual reasons why aquaponic vegetables taste good:
Aquaponic Vegetables Are Grown in Nutrient-Rich Water
Vegetables that are grown in aquaponic systems have their roots exposed directly to nutrient-rich water.
That means they don’t have to expend much energy absorbing their food, unlike soil-grown plants which extend much of their energy towards finding moisture and nutrients.
It also means that the vegetables have all the right nutrients and lack any sort of deficiencies that may otherwise affect their flavor.
No Chemicals Are Used in the Growing Process
Aquaponic systems don’t rely on any man-made fertilizers or chemicals for their growing process.
Quite the opposite is true; aquaponic systems produce totally organic vegetables because the nutrients introduced into the system by the fish are completely natural.
Chemicals may enable you to grow plants in environments or situations where otherwise it would be impossible or to grow larger plants, but using chemicals almost always affects the taste of plants as well.
Fish Waste Is Routinely Removed By Filtration
Feeding vegetables with fish poop might not sound very appetizing, but, in actuality, it is one of the key factors that enable aquaponic vegetables to taste so good.
Keep in mind that the fish poop never touches your vegetables or their roots, rather the nutrients are leached out of the fish waste and into the water while the physical waste is removed by a filtration system.
Aquaponic Vegetables Do Not Absorb a “Fish” Taste
It is important to note that there is no transference of a “fish” taste to vegetables grown in aquaponic systems.
Rather, the fish simply provide a steady supply of organic nutrients to the plants. The fish themselves never come into contact with the plants or their root systems.
Bottom line? There is zero fishiness to the taste of vegetables grown in aquaponic systems.
Healthy Plants = Tasty Vegetables
Aquaponic systems provide the perfect environment for vegetables to not only grow but to thrive. Thriving plants are much happier and healthier than plants that struggle day in and day out just to survive.
A healthy plant produces tasty food because the plant develops and ripens as nature intended.
Best Aquaponic Vegetables To Try
There are tons of vegetables that are great for aquaponic systems.
Additionally, any vegetable you grow aquaponically is practically guaranteed to taste better than anything you’ve grown in the soil.
The following is a list of the best tasting and easiest aquaponic vegetables to try growing:
- Arugula
- Basil
- Beans
- Berries
- Bok choi
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Chives
- Cucumber
- Dwarf fruit trees
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Microgreens
- Mint
- Parsley
- Peas
- Peppers
- Radish sprouts
- Spinach
- Squash
- Strawberries
- Swiss chard
- Tomatoes
- Watercress
- Wheatgrass
Related Questions:
Do Aquaponic Plants Taste Different?
Yes, aquaponic plants taste different than plants grown in the soil. The main reason is that they are provided with all the right nutrients and never lack the correct amount of water or oxygen either.
In other words, aquaponic vegetables taste different (better) because they are grown more perfectly than vegetables that are grown with old-fashioned techniques like soil gardening.
Are Aquaponic Vegetables Safe To Eat?
Aquaponic vegetables are absolutely safe to eat. In fact, many aquaponic vegetable growing operations are USDA certified as organic.
That means they are safer to eat than much of the product you may be purchasing from the local market.
Unlike industrial produce, organic vegetables grown in aquaponic systems are never sprayed with any sort of pesticide or fed with chemicals.
Fun fact: You can convert an ordinary fish tank into an in-home food production system with just a few modifications!
A Final Word About How Aquaponic Vegetables Taste Good
Aquaponic vegetables taste so good because they are grown in as perfect of an environment as can be.
They are provided nutrient-rich water, oxygen, a stable pH level, proper lighting, adequate ventilation, and more.
To put it succinctly, because they are grown with all the right stuff, aquaponic vegetables are bursting with flavor in comparison to their soil-grown counterparts.