People ask me if salad greens grown in hydroponic systems under artificial lighting taste different. My definitive answer is, Yes and No. The flavor, texture, and density of salad greens will vary based on their access to water, air, and nutrients during their growth from germination to maturity. Temperature, photoperiod, and light quality will also have an impact on the flavor of your salad greens.
Many varieties of lettuce can be accelerated to grow faster by exposing them to 24 hours of light. I have found that growing lettuce under 24 hours of intense LED light can have a noticeable impact on the flavor and texture of lettuce. In one case the heirloom, loose leaf lettuce grown under the 24 hour LED was a bit tough and a little bitter compared to the same variety of lettuce grown under a milder, less intense grow bulb. Making sure that your lighting isn’t too close or too hot can make a difference in the flavor of your lettuce crops.
The same variations in flavor can also happen in outdoor gardens. We can all recall lettuce and tomato flavor variations from year to year. Early spring rain followed by hot, sunny summer days usually leads to a multitude of sweet juicy tomatoes. Too much rain in the summer can lead to tomato rot and other problems. Perfect weather conditions lead to optimal crops—if the deer don’t get to your garden first.
The same is true for hydroponic produce. If your system is set up to provide optimal conditions for the plants you are growing, your crops are going to show their gratitude with maximum flavor, bountiful harvests, and beautiful salad greens.
Come see what I mean firsthand and stop by Public Market in downtown Wheeling (WV) on Thursday, August 8th (2024) between 2 and 3 pm. We’ll be taste testing the tower system salad greens. See if you can taste a difference!