A hydroponic tower grows plants vertically: a pump lifts the nutrient solution to the top of the column, then it trickles down past the roots before returning to the reservoir. Choose one first by its number of planting sites, from 20 to 56 plants depending on the model, then by where you will grow. Indoors, pick a tower fitted with LED lighting; on a balcony or in a greenhouse, daylight is enough for most lettuces and herbs.
Towers are best suited to compact plants: lettuce, basil, mint, strawberries, chard. For tomatoes and other fruiting vegetables, an RDWC system or a Dutch bucket gives the roots more room. The guides Choosing a hydroponic tower and Maintaining a hydroponic tower cover selection and upkeep in detail.
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