Here’s How Astronauts Grow Edible Crops On The International Space Station – SlashGear

As fresh food is so important for astronauts, there are several different methods they use to grow crops on the ISS. The first is a carry-on suitcase-sized garden called Veggie, or the Vegetable Production System, which was specially designed to grow edible crops for the crew. The two Veggie cases hold six plants at a time each, and the system has been in use since 2014.

Instead of using soil that would be full of Earth bacteria that could cause problems on the ISS, the Veggie system uses “plant pillows” made of Kevlar that hold a type of growth media made from clay. The system manages the plants using just a small amount of water, growing them all the way from seeds to fully harvestable vegetables. Veggie has been used to grow many types of plants, particularly leafy greens like lettuce, cabbage, mustard, and kale, and was even once used by astronaut Scott Kelly to grow a beautiful bunch of zinnia flowers.

In addition to Veggie, a newer growth chamber called the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) was added in 2021. This one has a substrate made of clay and filled instead of plant pillows, and while both systems use LED lights, the APH lights can be adjusted for many more colors and even infrared, allowing scientists to see how types of light affect plant growth. This one has been used to grow plants with slightly more complex needs like radishes and chili peppers.