Can plants grow on mars?

In reality, the soil on Mars actually does have the nutrients plants would need to survive on Mars! The perchlorates in the soil would be leached out and separated from the water. NASA is developing a simulant, a replication of Mars soil, to better understand how it can be used for plant growth and other purposes. read more

In “The Martian,” Mark Watney uses the Martian soil to grow potatoes in the controlled environment of the “Hab.” In reality, the soil on Mars has the nutrients plants would need to survive on Mars. read more

Feeding a Mars Mission: The Challenges of Growing Plants in Space Sep. 21, 2016 — Plants will play a critical role in the survival of human beings on long-duration space missions, such as a mission to Mars. read more

When humans will settle on the moon or Mars they will have to eat there. Food may be flown in. An alternative could be to cultivate plants at the site itself, preferably in native soils. We report on the first large-scale controlled experiment to investigate the possibility of growing plants in Mars and moon soil simulants. read more