Starting with the light source makes the most sense. We’ll breakdown the various components here. I’ll argue though that planning a setup this size and buying it incrementally will make the most sense. If you don’t have $600 laying around, you can step into hydroponics more slowly by starting with a deep water culture system or smaller ebb and flow setup. Here a a small diagram of the setup that will be described below. If you choose to use all organic and can find a buyer, expect a much more lucrative return.
Basil, however, at $3 for a young, fresh plant for pesto, will probably return your investment in as few as 2 years (6 inch diameter per plant = 8×4 plants in table = 32 plants x $3/plant = $96/harvest / 3 months maturation = $32/month – electricity – more nutrient – seeds = ~$25/month).
If you grow potatoes, it will take quire a while to recoup this cost. For a 48×24 inch ebb and flow (flood and drain) system, Your total cost will be around $600. To get started with hydroponics at home, you should take an inventory of your goals and budget to begin.
