Can we grow crops on Mars?

• this question may seem quite random, obscure, outrageous, what have you
• but it is a legitimate concern
• colonization of mars is being considered as a possible solution to the over population of this here Earth
• so what do you need to know before you transport a population of people to another planet?
• how you’re going to feed them!
• it is possible to grow plants on mars, but it takes a few extra steps
• Martian soil contains all of the macro and micronutrients plants need survive
• but that is not true of all of the soil on mars, so fertilizer may need to be added in certain places
• the soil also contains perchlorates which are toxic
• perchlorates could either kill the plants or make them too dangerous for humans to consume
• we solve this problem simply by rinsing the soil and the perchlorates wash right out

• NASA has been performing experiments here on earth using imitation Martian soil to determine which crops would be most successful on Mars
• the astronauts at the International Space Station have also been putting in some work
• for the first time ever, fresh food is on the menu
• food that they actually grew right there on the space station
• this project, entitled Veg-01 is being used to determine plant success in orbit and so far it’s been going pretty well
• the microbiological analysis of the first romaine lettuce crop says it’s safe to eat
• this outer-space gardening also has potential positive psychological impacts
• having the option to cultivate something green and growing in the midst of a very stressful living environment could do wonders for morale and mood

Seems we’re on our way to figuring things out, but will we be able to have solidified the success of extraterrestrial farming by the time the earth is no longer inhabitable? When will the earth become uninhabitable? Should we be focusing on our escape plan, or should we focus on the problems we’ve already created on this planet? This is a blurry subject and the only way to clarify is to keep on asking.