Growing lettuce in NFT hydroponics

Lettuce is the easiest hydroponic start: short cycles, few pests under netting and steady prices from shops and restaurants.

Steps

1. 1

   Raise seedlings

   Sow into sponge cubes or coir plugs, keep moist and shaded; after 10–14 days seedlings have 3–4 true leaves.

2. 2

   Mix the solution

   Mix A and B separately; the doser holds EC at 1.2–1.8 mS/cm and pH 5.8–6.5 by stage.

3. 3

   Transplant

   Set plants in net cups on the channels; a thin film flows at 1–2 L/min per channel.

4. 4

   Monitor and act

   Solution above 28 °C invites root rot – cool or shade the tank. The app alerts on EC or pH drift.

5. 5

   Staggered harvest

   Harvest after 25–35 days on the channels; plant a new batch each week for steady supply.