Rijk Zwaan's Hydroponic Solutions
Rijk Zwaan has developed a diverse range of hydroponic-friendly leafy vegetable varieties, suitable for various systems such as floating rafts, fixed and moving gutter systems (NFT), with or without artificial light, single/multi-layer vertical farms, and other soil-less methods. Visit your local Rijk Zwaan website for the local hydroponic assortment or contact your local distributor
Hydroponic benefits
Knowledge
Every hydroponic project is unique. From the initial idea until the consumption of the final product: Rijk Zwaan’s dedicated hydroponic team with different expertises is ready to support you on your hydroponic journey. By sharing our extensive experience and insights, we are determined to contribute to successful hydroponic projects.
Quality
When breeding varieties that can be grown in water, Rijk Zwaan pays attention to aspects such as high yield and efficiency, fast and compact growth, strength against elongation, leaf firmness, attractive colour intensity and good plant health (e.g. tipburn-free).
Partnerships
Rijk Zwaan works in close cooperation with growers, processors, horticultural suppliers, crop consultants and investors to ensure that retailers, foodservice companies and processors receive clean and attractive lettuce-based products in line with their needs.
Discover our concepts
These are exciting times for leafy greens because hydroponic is booming around the world. Rijk Zwaan has been working on varieties that are suitable for indoor growing systems for many years, resulting in a wide range of leafy vegetables that are suitable for all kinds of hydroponics systems: floating rafts, fixed and moving gutter systems (NFT), with and without artificial light, single/multi-layer vertical farms and any other method for growing leafy greens without soil. Our hydroponic assortment comprises several leafy greens, amongst others Lettuce, Endive, Swiss Chard, Kale, Spinach and Rocket. Below concepts are specifically suitable for hydroponic cultivation:
Salatrio
The attractive living lettuce bouquet with multiple different lettuce varieties combined.
Crystal lettuce
An open iceberg, known for its sweet crispiness, high leaf count, and robust characteristic
Knox™
Hydroponically grown and mechanically harvested lettuce stays fresh longer thanks to the Knox delayed pinking trait.
Cleaner, more efficient and more sustainable
Vegetables are increasingly being grown in a cleaner, more efficient and more sustainable way. Rijk Zwaan supports innovative production methods by providing extensive technical expertise and strong varieties that are resistant to diseases and pests. Hydroponic-proof varieties
Indoor growing systems are becoming more popular these days. When breeding varieties that can be grown in water, Rijk Zwaan pays attention to aspects such as high yield and efficiency, fast and compact growth, strength against elongation, leaf firmness, attractive colour intensity and good plant health (e.g. tipburn-free). Post-harvest aspects such as ease of processing and packing, on-shelf presentation, shelf life and consumer preferences are also taken into account.
Rijk Zwaan regularly organises demonstration trials at its breeding stations around the world so that visitors can see, cut, touch and taste the varieties for themselves.
Hydroponics video
Every Hydroponic project is unique. Watch the video of the highly automated greenhouse of one of our Belgian partners.
Read more about hydroponics
Salatrio: Rijk Zwaan demo reveals these five insights
The Salatrio concept – a single, colourful head of ‘living lettuce’ made up of three different types – has been around for years and continues to gain popularity worldwide. At the Salatrio Client Demo in early May 2023, Rijk Zwaan showcased 40 innovative combinations of leafies: more robust, more productive and easier to work with, offering more crunch, more crispiness and more convenience. “Growers are very excited to test these for themselves,” says Crop Coordinator Peter Sonneveld. Read on for the five key insights from the demo.
The colourful Tender & Tasty Trio is able to attract customers from across a store
For the Canadian lettuce specialist Whole Leaf, the Tender & Tasty Trio is a top seller. Consumers are surprised by this concept, which is based on Rijk Zwaan’s Salatrio, and describe it as an ‘edible bouquet of flowers’. “Combining three distinct textures along with eye-popping and contrasting colours, the Tender & Tasty Trio is able to attract customers from across a store,” says the senior director of Whole Leaf, enthusiastically.
Hydroponic lettuce increasingly grown in a semi-closed greenhouse
Hydroponics has been popular for years as a sustainable and efficient production method for leafy vegetables. Now, in a new development, growers are increasingly choosing to apply the method in semi-closed greenhouses, says Marc Celis, Crop Specialist at vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan. “That gives producers even more options for steering the crop.”
Hydroponic Services:
Rijk Zwaan works in close cooperation with growers, processors, horticultural suppliers, crop consultants and investors to ensure that retailers, foodservice companies and processors receive clean and attractive lettuce-based products in line with their needs.
Peter Sonneveld
Frank Bouland
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