I wanted to be able to test how well the Kratky method of hydroponic growing would work indoors for a variety of lettuces and herbs. I also wanted to grow trays of microgreens throughout to join these lettuces and herbs to supplement everything I cook.

The goal was a self-contained, low-maintenance indoor garden that could thrive year-round under LED lights, giving me fresh greens using the ingenious Kratky method.

System Components

• Tubs: 16 L food-grade plastic containers
• Pails: 4 L Pails that I had to apply the vinyl covering for cause they're a bit too translucent.
• Grow medium: Coco coir 
• Nutrients: Masterblend 4-18-38, Calcium Nitrate, and Magnesium Sulfate
• Water source: Nanaimo tap water (pH 7.2, EC 0.0) adjusted to 5.8–6.3
• Monitoring: Digital pH and EC meters; refilled when EC drops ~40–50%

Lighting and Environment

• Lights: 6 x Barrina T8 LED grow light strips 
• Additional lighting: Vivosun VS1000 X 4 (I overbought for these lettuces but I sure love using them) 
• Windowsill lighting: 3 X Barrina T8 LED grow light strips
• Rack: (72"H x 48"W x 24"D)  multi-tier metal shelf lined with reflective Mylar flaps in the front to raise the PAR for the plants in front but to also reduce excessive light within into the room.
• Air movement: Hoctua NF-A20 fans for incredible dead silent circulation
• Temperature range: 20–22 °C average; humidity around 50–60%

What I’m Growing

• Lettuces: Buttercrunch, May Queen, Alkindus, Speckled Butterhead, Freckles Romaine, Mizuna, Kale, Ta Tsoi, Batavian Escarole, Celinet, and Merveille di Verrano
• Herbs: Thai basil, sweet basil, oregano, thyme, marjoram, parsley (flat & curly), shiso, garlic and onion chives, tarragon
• Microgreens: radish, red and white Russian kale, arugula, pak choi, broccoli, pea shoots, sunflower

Goals

• Find which lettuces and herbs perform best indoors under passive Kratky conditions
• Eat insanely fresh and delicious greens that haven't been touched by anything except the resident spiders on their way to make a web somewhere