Vertical Farming with Water Spinach on Aeroponic Towers

by | Apr 15, 2024

Water spinach, commonly known as Pak Boong or Phak Bung in Thailand, Kangkung in Malaysia and Indonesia, Kangkong in the Philippines, is a leafy green native to Southeast Asia. It belongs to the convolvulaceae or morning glory family.

When growing water spinach on aeroponic towers, the first step is to soak the agricultural rockwool in water for about 20 minutes until it is fully wet. Rockwool is a soilless substrate made from basalt, the most common volcanic rock on Earth. It is often used in aeroponics and hydroponics as it allows for soilless germination. The rockwool comes with the tower when you purchase it.

Once the rockwool is completely soaked, put 5 seeds into each hole of the tray. Each tray has 98 holes. Add vermiculite on top of each hole after the seeds have been placed. Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral that is ideal for the germination process. It retains a large amount of water while maintaining the perfect water to air ratio.

For ideal crop-growth, place 5 seeds per hole

Grow up to 52 water-spinach plants in 1m2 

When germinating outdoors, the seedlings should be watered twice a day. After one to two weeks, everything will start to germinate. The seedlings will then be ready for transplantation to the aeroponic towers after a few weeks.
Water spinach should be harvested from the towers when it is approximately 30 centimeters or 12 inches tall. At this size, the leaves and stems are still tender.

Water spinach grows invasively, this is why the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) monitors and bans it. Fortunately, we are not growing our water spinach in the US.

Water Spinach Seeds

Whether enjoyed in stir-fries, soups, or salads, water spinach provides a delectable flavor while also offering a lot of health benefits. In fact, it is often referred to as a ‘superfood’. It is rich in vitamin A, C, and K, calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium. It also has high levels of lutein, beta-carotene, and zeaxanthin. These antioxidants are said to help fight oxidative stress, which is a major cause of heart disease.

At Agrotonomy, in our Tower Farms, we grow 52 water spinach on a single aeroponic tower in less than one square meter of space. Check out the video below to see how we grow water spinach without the use of soil, only water mixed with a 100% natural ionic mineral nutrient solution:

You can grab a copy of our e-books to discover more information about our innovative vertical farming method using aeroponic towers. 

We also invite you to pre-register for our ultimate Tower Farm course to learn from the worldwide leaders in Tower Farm Development.

Click here if you are interested in our Tower Farm Masterclass.