The Benefits of Growing Arugula Hydroponically at Home

The Aquaponics Adventure: My Arugula Journey

You know, there’s something about small town life that makes you rethink how you want to grow your food. Maybe it’s the way the horizon stretches on endlessly, or how the smell of fresh earth can make you feel alive again. I’ve always been one of those folks who stare longingly at the backyard, dreaming of growing fresh herbs—not just for my cooking, but for some strange sense of accomplishment. And that’s how I found myself knee-deep in an aquaponics project that would teach me more than I ever imagined about arugula, fish, and my own stubbornness.

The Spark of an Idea

It all started during one of those long coffee mornings when I was flipping through Pinterest. You can probably guess where this is going, right? I stumbled across this charming little picture of a hydroponic garden nestled beside a sparkling aquaponics tank, complete with bright green arugula leaves and some plump fish swimming beneath. I was sold. “If they can do it, so can I!” it echoed in my head as I gathered my supplies.

Off to the shed I went, rifling through a mess of old, forgotten tools and materials. A bunch of discarded PVC pipes, an old fish tank from my son’s days of keeping goldfish, and half a bag of fertilizer that had expired a couple of years ago—all the makings of a not-so-great idea, but I didn’t know that yet.

Building Day: Foolish Optimism

The first step was setting up the fish tank. I didn’t want to spend too much money, so I thought I’d grab some tilapia from the local feed store. These fish seemed hardy enough—perfect for a novice. Of course, there were a few hiccups. First, I underestimated how much space I’d need for the tank. I swear, I thought I had it down, but my backyard looked like a fishy Kingdom of Chaos by the time I was done.

Then came the plumbing. I had envisioned it as a sort of masterpiece—water cascading gently from tank to grow bed. Instead, I ended up with this overly complicated mess of tubes that turned the whole venture into an episode of “This Old House” featuring a heavy dose of slapstick comedy. After an hour of assembly followed by an intense debate with my husband about using duct tape (he was against it), I turned on the pump. At first, it was perfect! Water flowed like a dream. I thought I’d nailed it.

But then, just as quickly, disaster struck. I walked outside the next day and nearly gagged when I caught a whiff of something absolutely rancid. I peered over and realized my “masterpiece” had turned into a bubbling swamp of murky green. “Oh great!” I muttered, “The water’s gone green!”

Learning Curve: The Fish Fiasco

My dreams of vibrant arugula were starting to feel distant as I buried myself in troubleshooting. I did a lot of reading online, but the more I learned, the more I freaked out. You see, I treated those tilapia like they were my own children, and it broke my heart when I noticed the first one floating. I mean, can it get any worse? So there I was, a grown adult, tearing up over a fish. It’s funny how we become so attached to these little creatures—each one with its goofy personality. But as I learned more about water quality and pH levels, I realized I had taken on quite the responsibility.

So, I scrubbed that tank like I was performing surgery, tossing in some algae eaters I picked up on a whim while trying to make things right. I reconfigured the setup, and slowly but surely, things began to improve. The fish settled, and I started thinking about those arugula seeds.

The Arugula Awakening

Now, let’s talk about that little green powerhouse. The seeds went in with a hope that outshone everything else. I used a fabric growing medium I found at the craft store, and after weeks of nurturing, I beheld the fruits of my labor—small green leaves poking through the soil like they were waving in the breeze. I marveled at my creations, their peppery scent filling my backyard.

Of course, just when everything seemed perfect again, I thought it would be wise to overwater—classic rookie mistake. My heart sank as I watched some of those lovely greens wilt and be overtaken by slime. Argh!

But I took a lesson from every misstep, each day learning more about balance, patience, and perseverance. “Hey, you’re not growing these just to impress anyone,” I reminded myself. “Just keep going.”

Finding Joy in the Journey

As the weeks turned into months, I learned to embrace the inevitable ups and downs of this fishy little endeavor. The tilapia thrived (eventually), and the arugula flourished, combined in a way only nature could orchestrate.

Through this, I found a beauty in imperfection. The water still smelled a bit funky sometimes, and I might’ve lost a few more tilapia, but the garden grew, and my heart swelled with pride every time I harvested those leaves. There’s a special kind of joy in growing your own food; I can’t quite put it into words.

So, if you’re eyeing the backyard and contemplating your own little adventure—do it! Dive in—literally! There’s no need for it to be perfect. Lean into the process, figure things out along the way, and you might just surprise yourself with what you can create.

And if you’re thinking about trying your own aquaponics setup, don’t worry about making mistakes. Just start. You’ll figure it out as you go, I promise.

If you’re curious and excited about learning, join the next session and take the plunge into a world of arugula and underwater friends: Reserve your seat!