11 Fruit-Bearing Plants You Can Grow in a Hydroponic Garden

If you’re looking for the next garden challenge and love growing fruit-bearing plants, try creating a hydroponic garden. You’ll enjoy tons of fresh fruit throughout the year without worrying about climate zones or soil types. 

You’ll have multiple hydroponic systems to choose from. Some, like Deep Water Culture (DWC) ditch the growing mediums for nutrient-infused water. The roots suspend in the solution and absorb all necessary nutrients and water. Others, like wick systems, encase the roots in absorbent mediums like coconut coir or vermiculite. 

Whichever system you choose, you’ll have full control over the growing process. You won’t have to worry about environmental stresses, infestations, or adorable yet destructive critters like deer or bunnies. 

If you’re starting a hydroponic system this year, there are a few species of fruit-bearing plants not to miss. Below are 11 hydroponic fruit-bearing plants you can easily grow in your hydroponic garden this year. 

Strawberry

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Red and Yellow Wonder Blend Strawberry

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Duke Blueberry

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Duke Blueberry

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Honeydew Melon

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Sweet Delight Honeydew Melon Seeds

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Strawberries

	botanical name Fragaria × ananassa
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6-12”
	hardiness zones 5-9

Strawberries are probably the most straightforward fruiting plant to grow hydroponically. These fruit-bearing plants have shallow roots that absorb nutrients easily in soil-free mediums. They’re also compact, allowing you to fit them in the smallest hydroponic systems. 

Growing strawberries hydroponically gives you more control over the fruit’s nutrients and water intake. You won’t have to worry about the pests and diseases that sometimes decimate garden-grown plants. The fruit will come out big and healthy. 

When it’s time to harvest your fruit, there’s no need to get down to soil level. Almost everything grown hydroponically is near eye level and easy to harvest. Strawberries work great with deep water culture and ebb and flow systems. 

Tomatoes

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-8’
	hardiness zones 3-11

Tomatoes love growing in hydroponic systems. They respond well to the consistent water, nutrients, and light. They also don’t need much space, with compact roots and vine-like growth. Some gardeners can grow them hydroponically in their kitchens. 

Because the plants will get all the water and nutrients they need, they’ll produce tons of juicy and flavorful fruit. Keep them under at least 12 hours of light and they’ll put on tons of healthy fruit-bearing growth. 

Tomato plants thrive in indoor temperatures between 70 to 85°F (21 to 29°C). They can be susceptible to bacterial infections, so change their nutrient solutions at least once a week. 

Blueberries

	botanical name Vaccinium spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-8’
	hardiness zones 3-10

You can grow healthy blueberry plants easily in hydroponic systems. They benefit from the consistent moisture and nutrients. Once you dial your system in, you’ll enjoy consistent yields of delicious fruit. 

Blueberries need specific pH levels of around 4.0 to 5.5. With hydroponics, you can control pH and other factors like aeration to give the plants what they need to grow tons of fruit. 

Deep water systems and drip systems work well for blueberry plants. Monitor the nutrients and pH and avoid making any dramatic changes. 

Cantaloupes

	botanical name Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 9’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Like other melons, cantaloupes love consistent water, and that’s something hydroponics do well. Deep water culture systems are especially suitable for cantaloupes. 

You’ll give these plants as much water and nutrients as they need to grow healthy fruit. You’ll avoid common garden risks such as aphids, powdery mildew, and cucumber beetles. 

Make sure you have enough room in your greenhouse or indoor space. These plants need a lot more room than smaller species like strawberries. Let the fruit ripen on the vine late into the season. Your hydroponically grown cantaloupes will taste like candy, with concentrated sugars and tons of melon flavor. 

Pineapples

	botanical name Ananas comosus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 10-12

Pineapples are tricky plants to grow outside of the tropics. They need plenty of heat, moisture, and sunlight. They also need slightly acidic growing media, lots of water, and balanced nutrients. 

By growing these tropical South American fruits hydroponically, you can control their growing conditions easily. They have shallow roots that can thrive in soil-free growing media and water. 

Nutrient film technique systems work great for these plants. NFT systems pump nutrient-rich water through a shallow water basin and keep it constantly circulating. The roots absorb all the water and nutrients the plants need. You’ll have plenty of control and be able to grow these plants even in cold climates. 

Pumpkins

	botanical name Cucurbita pepo
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 20’
	hardiness zones 3-10

Pumpkins may seem too huge for hydroponic gardens, but you’d be surprised. With a little extra space, you can get these fruiting vines to thrive. 

Because of their size, these plants need a ton of water. They also have relatively large roots which help them absorb water from deep in the ground. 

Avoid shallow hydroponic systems and go for deep water culture. The system gives pumpkins enough space for their roots to grow naturally large and developed. Avoid growing too many plants at once or you’ll lose space quickly. 

Honeydew Melons

	botanical name Cucumis melo var. inodorus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 6’
	hardiness zones 2-11

There is nothing more sweet and flavorful than an expertly grown hydroponic honeydew melon. They take up a little more space than some other plants. However, once you taste the vine-ripened hydroponic fruit for the first time, your life will never be the same. 

Choose cultivars with more compact fruit if you’re short on space. Maintain a consistent indoor temperature of around 70°F (21°C). Deep water culture systems work well for these water-loving fruits. 

These plants are heavy feeders, so change your nutrient system frequently. They prefer slightly acidic pH and between 12 and 14 hours of light. Let the fruits ripen on the vine until they’re extra sweet.

Cucumbers

	botanical name Cucumis sativus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-6’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Cucumbers are some of the easiest fruit-bearing plants to grow hydroponically. They thrive in multiple systems and produce almost endless harvests in the controlled environment. 

Ebb and flow systems work well for these fruiting vines. They are easy to control, even for newbie hydroponic gardeners. Cucumbers benefit from the stable nutrients and consistent watering at root level. 

Try growing several varieties together to diversify your harvests. The fruit will be big, juicy, and full of flavor. Start your cucumber plants by seed and keep them in indoor temperatures between 75 and 85°F (24-29°C). 

Eggplants

	botanical name Solanum melongena
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 9-12

Eggplants are heavy feeding fruit-bearing plants that need tons of water throughout their growing cycle. That’s why they’re excellent matches for hydroponic growing. They’ll thrive in indoor setups, as long as they get enough heat, water, nutrients, and light. 

Besides being slow growing, eggplants are incredibly easy to grow. Although many systems work for eggplants, ebb and flow systems are beginner friendly and efficient. They come in many sizes and no matter your experience level, you can make them work for you. 

Try growing your eggplants from seed indoors. They prefer a pH of between 5.5 and 6.5. Typically, you should get your first harvest 80 days after starting your seeds. Grow these beautiful plants throughout the year, no matter what the temperature outside is. 

Chili Peppers

	botanical name Capsicum annuum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 4-11

Chili peppers grow extremely well in the controlled environment of soil-free gardens. They take up relatively little space and work well in a variety of systems. Most varieties produce fruit within 50 to 80 days. They’ll pack tons of flavor and put on plenty of fruit. 

There are several systems that work well with these spicy fruit-bearing plants. Ebb and flow systems and deep water cultures are ideal. Germinate multiple varieties from seed and grow them together. 

These warm-climate plants need tons of light and warm ambient temperatures to thrive. They need balanced nutrients and a pH of around 5.5. Unlike soil-grown peppers, you’ll enjoy bountiful harvests throughout the year, no matter what the season is. 

Ground Cherries

	botanical name Physalis pruinosa
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Like many other members of the nightshade family, ground cherries grow remarkably well in soil-free systems. They love the consistent nutrient rich water and predictable growing environment.