Best Plants for Aquaponics What to Plant First

Best Plants for Aquaponics: What to Start With First

Best Plants for Aquaponics What to Plant First,  So, you’re diving into the world of aquaponics—congrats! You’re about to grow fresh veggies while your fish get to live their best lives. But before you throw just any plant into the mix, let’s talk strategy. Choosing the right plants from the start will set you up for success (and save you from some head-scratching later).

Why Picking the Right Plants Matters

Aquaponics is like a buddy system—plants and fish work together to keep everything balanced. Fish waste provides nutrients for the plants, and the plants clean the water for the fish. But if you choose the wrong plants too soon, things can go off the rails fast. The goal? Find easy-to-grow plants that can thrive in a young system while keeping both your plants and fish happy.

Top Picks: The Best Plants for Aquaponics

1. Leafy Greens – The Beginner’s Best Friend

💡 Why They’re Great: Fast-growing, low-maintenance, and forgiving of small mistakes—perfect for beginners.

Lettuce (Romaine, Butterhead, Leaf Lettuce)

Grows quickly and doesn’t need a lot of fuss
Ideal temperature: 55°F-75°F
Moderate light required

Spinach

Nutrient-dense and speedy to grow
Prefers cooler temperatures and some shade

Kale

Super hardy and packed with vitamins
Can handle temperature fluctuations like a champ
Naturally resistant to pests

2. Herbs – Flavorful and Functional

💡 Why They’re Great: Most herbs thrive in aquaponics, grow fast, and keep your cooking game strong.

Basil

Grows rapidly with a high yield
Loves warmth and plenty of light

Mint

Tough as nails and spreads like crazy
Prefers partial shade—consider containment unless you want a mint jungle

Parsley

A kitchen staple that’s easy to grow
Enjoys moderate temperatures and consistent moisture

3. Fruit-Bearing Plants – A Little More Work, But Worth It

💡 Why They’re Great: More rewarding to harvest, but they require more nutrients and care than leafy greens.

Tomatoes

High demand and satisfying to grow
Needs strong support and lots of light

Cucumbers

Prolific producers in aquaponic setups
Require vertical space and warm temps

Peppers (Bell & Chili Peppers)

Adds variety (and spice!) to your harvest
Loves warm conditions and ample light

What Should You Plant First?

🥗 Start with leafy greens! They’re the easiest to grow, require fewer nutrients, and give you a quick win while your system stabilizes.

Why?

Beginner-friendly: Greens adapt easily and won’t throw a fit over minor system hiccups.
Fast harvest cycle: You’ll see results in just a few weeks—instant gratification!
Less demanding: Unlike fruiting plants, leafy greens don’t need tons of nutrients to thrive.

Setting Yourself Up for Success

📏 Keep an eye on these key factors:
pH Balance: Aim for a sweet spot between 6.8 and 7.0
Water Temperature: Keep it steady based on your plant’s needs
Lighting: Sunlight is great, but grow lights work if you’re indoors
Fish Choice Matters: Hardy fish like tilapia or goldfish are great starter options

Ready to Grow? Let’s Get Started!

🌱 Want to make this process even easier?

Best Plants for Aquaponics: What to Plant First

Upgrade Your Aquaponics Setup

🚀 Consider these must-have tools to keep things running smoothly:

• pH Testing Kit: Keep your system balanced like a pro.

  • 
    Divolight 7 in 1 Water Quality Tester Pen Meter for Pools, Drinking Water Aquariums hydroponic Cooking Tester Measure Water by 7 parameters: PH/TDS/EC/ORP/S.G/Water Salinity/Temp
    Amazon

    $ 55.9

• LED Grow Lights: Keep your arugula basking in light, even on cloudy days.

  2 ft. long
  

  • 
    Barrina Grow Lights, 2FT 5000K White Full Spectrum Plant Growing Lamps, 144W(6 x 24W, 800W Equivalent), T8 LED Grow Light Bulbs, Plant Lights for Indoor Plants, Greenhouse, Linkable Design, 6-Pack
    Amazon

    $ 57.99 -17%
  
  3 ft. long
  
  • 
    Barrina Grow Lights for Indoor Plants, 3FT 5000K Daylight White Full Spectrum Plant Lights, 180W(6 x 30W, 1000W Equivalent), T8 Grow Light Bulbs, LED Grow Light Strips, Linkable Design, 6-Pack
    Amazon

    $ 76.49 -15%
  
  4ft. long
  
  • 
    Barrina Plant Grow Light, 4FT 5000K Full Spectrum White, 252W(6 x 42W), T8 LED Grow Light, Growing Lamp Fixture, Plant Light for Indoor Plant, 6-Pack
    Amazon

    $ 84.99 -15%
  
  Surge Protector with 7-Day Digital Timer
  
  • 
    BN-LINK 8 Outlet Surge Protector with 7-Day Digital Timer (4 Outlets Timed, 4 Outlets Always On) - White
    Amazon

    $ 25.99

• Seed Starting Trays and Starter cubes
  

  • 
    YAUNGEL Seed Starter Tray with Grow Light, 5 Pack Seed Starter Kit with Heat Mat, Seedling Starter Trays with Timing Controller Adjustable Brightness, Thicken Trays with Humidity Domes
    Amazon

    $ 29.99 -9%
  
  
  • 
    Halatool 1 Inch Rockwool Cubes Garden Rock Wool Stonewool Grow Cubes Starter Plugs for Hydroponics Soilless Cultivation Clone Plants Germination Start (4 Sheets of 200 Cubes)
    Amazon

    $ 14.99
  
  
  • 
    Coco Coir Seed Starter Pellets: 125 Coconut Coir Plugs for Growing Plants – Peat Free Seedling Soil – Seed Starter Kit with Potting Soil Pellets – 125 Starter Plugs – Gardening Supplies from OwnGrown
    Amazon

    $ 17.99

• pH Testing Kits: Because happy plants = balanced pH.

  • 
    Divolight 7 in 1 Water Quality Tester Pen Meter for Pools, Drinking Water Aquariums hydroponic Cooking Tester Measure Water by 7 parameters: PH/TDS/EC/ORP/S.G/Water Salinity/Temp
    Amazon

    $ 55.9

• Aquaponics Starter Kit: Perfect for newbies testing the waters (pun intended).

  Indoor Aquaponic Garden – 3 Gallon Self Watering, Mess-Free Planter
  

  • 
    Back to the Roots Indoor Aquaponic Garden - 3 Gallon Self Watering, Mess-Free Planter and Self-Cleaning Fishtank for Herbs, Microgreens, Bamboo, Succulents, and Houseplants, support Fish
    Amazon

    $ 39.99 -50%
  
  3-gallon Aquaponic Fish Tank
  
  • 
    VIVOSUN 3-Gallon Aquaponic Fish Tank, Hydroponic Cleaning Tank for Freshwater Fish to Feed Plants and Plants Clean Tank, Additional Thermostat, Flow Pump, and Ceramsite Included
    Amazon

Let’s Get Growing!

Download our free
Ultimate Guide To Aquaponics
Cultivating Sustainable Food Systems at Home

Final Thoughts

Starting your aquaponics journey with the right plants makes all the difference. Leafy greens are the perfect first choice—they’re easy, forgiving, and give you a quick harvest. Once you get the hang of things, you can expand into herbs and fruiting plants for a more diverse system. Best Plants for Aquaponics: What to Plant First

Happy growing! 🌿🐟