Hydroponic guides

Hydroponic planting guides

Use these guides to choose what to plant, when to plant it, and which hydroponic system fits each crop before saving the dates in the tracker. Each guide is designed to end with a practical planting action, not just another article to read.

Guide pages 23 Months, crops, systems, and hub

Fastest crop Microgreens 7-17 day harvest window

Best first crop Lettuce Simple repeat harvests

Guide finder

Choose the right hydroponic guide

Start from the page type that matches the decision you need to make right now.

I need to decide	Open this	Best next step
What to plant this month	Monthly calendar	Pick one anchor crop and one fast crop.
Whether a crop fits my setup	Crop calendar	Check pH, EC, spacing, and timeline.
What my equipment can grow	System guide	Use the fit scorecard before planting.
Fastest possible harvest	Microgreens calendar	Use a tray as a setup test before longer crops.

Use month guides

Month guides help you choose a realistic indoor rotation when you are not sure what to start next.

Use crop guides

Crop guides give the seed-to-harvest timeline, pH/EC estimates, system fit, spacing, and common mistakes.

Use system guides

System guides show which crops fit Kratky jars, NFT channels, deep water culture, and ebb-and-flow trays.

Use the tracker

The guides are only useful if the dates are saved. Put the planted date in the tracker before the tray gets busy.

Fastest useful guide paths

Goal	Recommended page	Why
Harvest something quickly	Microgreens planting calendar	The shortest crop cycle proves the setup fast.
Learn with the safest crop	Lettuce planting calendar	It is compact, forgiving, and easy to repeat.
Use passive jars	Best crops for Kratky Jar	It explains the simplest no-pump system.
Use channels	Best crops for NFT Channel	It helps avoid crops that dry out or clog roots.

Beginner route through the tools

For a first indoor hydroponic setup, do not open every guide at once. Start with one month page, confirm one crop page, then use the system page as a final sanity check before planting. That sequence keeps the decision practical: what fits this month, what fits the crop, and what fits the equipment.

Step	What to open	Decision to make
1	Current month guide	Choose one anchor crop and one fast crop.
2	Crop calendar	Confirm harvest timing, pH, EC, spacing, and mistakes.
3	System guide	Check fit score and equipment readiness.
4	Tracker	Save the exact planted date before the tray fills up.

Which guide should you open first?

Situation	Start here	Next action
I do not know what to plant this month.	Monthly indoor calendars	Pick one crop, then save the planted date in the tracker.
I already know the crop.	Crop planting calendars	Check the harvest window, system fit, pH/EC estimate, and mistakes to avoid.
I already bought equipment.	System crop guides	Choose a crop that matches the reservoir, pump, and maintenance rhythm.
I want repeat harvests.	Crop guide plus monthly calendar	Start the next seed before the first crop is harvested.

Monthly indoor calendars

What to plant in hydroponics in January What to plant in hydroponics in February What to plant in hydroponics in March What to plant in hydroponics in April What to plant in hydroponics in May What to plant in hydroponics in June What to plant in hydroponics in July What to plant in hydroponics in August What to plant in hydroponics in September What to plant in hydroponics in October What to plant in hydroponics in November What to plant in hydroponics in December

Crop planting calendars

Hydroponic lettuce planting calendar Hydroponic basil planting calendar Hydroponic cilantro planting calendar Hydroponic microgreens planting calendar Hydroponic kale planting calendar Hydroponic tomatoes planting calendar

System crop guides

Best crops for Kratky Jar Best crops for NFT Channel Best crops for Deep Water Culture Best crops for Ebb and Flow Tray

FAQ

Should I start with a month guide, crop guide, or system guide?

Start with a month guide if you do not know what to plant, a crop guide if you already chose the plant, and a system guide if you already bought equipment.

Are these dates outdoor frost-date schedules?

No. These guides are built for indoor hydroponics, so the practical variables are light, room temperature, reservoir size, crop cycle, and system type.

What should I do after reading a guide?

Open the tracker, save the actual planted date, and let the harvest window stay visible while the crop grows.