Boosting client watercress yields
LettUs Grow partnered with a 4th generation UK hydroponic watercress grower to trial Advanced Aeroponics™ to increase their watercress production out of season.
The client’s goal was to evaluate the growth performance of baby watercress in our Advanced Aeroponics system versus their existing hydroponic bench setup. The client’s site is a hybrid CEA facility with both glasshouse and vertical farming in commercial operation. The client is considering our Aeroponic Rolling Bench (ARB) system for winter production of specialty watercress, so the trials were conducted in the vertical farming environment.
During the trial LettUs Grow provided additional on-site support including system maintenance checks, regular agronomy visits, enhanced environmental monitoring of temperature and humidity and additional engineering support to improve the growing environment.
Increased crop yield in 14 days under lights:
1.45kg/m² in 14 days
The growing time was reduced significantly:
Reduced by 1/3
The client’s annual potential yield was increased by:
52%
Key results
The trial demonstrated that using LettUs Grow’s Advanced Aeroponics delivered higher yields and an improved quality of watercress, significantly surpassing the client’s target benchmarks.
Quality crops, grown faster
The trial demonstrated a new methodology to the client to hit their target QA specification in a substantially reduced growing time, whilst delivering a high quality crop. The growing time was reduced by one-third.
Increased crop yield
Achieved crop yield of 1.45kg/m² in 14 days under lights, increasing the annual potential yield by 52% vs the target yield of 1.4kg/m² in 21-24 days.
Further optimisation potential
Further optimisation trials at LettUs Grow’s Advanced Aeroponics™ Research Centre achieved average yields of 2kg/m2 in 14 days, an effective annual yield increase of 114% compared to the client’s initial target.
Increased crop cycles
Reducing the growing cycle from 21 to 14 days offers flexibility to the client to meet customer orders, allowing for delivery on day 14, whilst increasing the annual number of crop cycles from 17 to 26 per year.
Next steps
The trial delivered positive results for the client and far exceeded their expectations. This has had substantial impacts on their forecast energy cost per kg of watercress and the cost of production for the facility expansion. Hitting the required harvest specification on days 14-17 instead of the prior expectation of 21-24 days not only significantly improves the facility’s yield potential but also offers flexibility in scheduling to meet customer orders.
What’s behind Advanced Aeroponics™
Advanced Aeroponics transforms plant growth by suspending roots in the air rather than soil or standing water. Using our patented ultrasonic technology, we deliver a precise, nutrient-rich mist directly to the root zone, creating an environment optimized for high-performance farming.
-
Documented yield increases exceeding 20%. The efficacy of our system is supported by rigorous analysis from Wageningen University Research (WUR).
-
Superior growth velocities compared to standard hydroponic configurations.
-
Direct atmospheric exposure ensures roots receive the critical oxygen levels required for peak metabolic activity.
Aeroponic Rolling Benches™
Talk to us
Talk to our team about trialling Advanced Aeroponics™ in your facility or exploring a commercial project.