Hydroponics anybody?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Damo on August 23, 2010 at 20:24

Hi Ian, I think most people are like me, technologically challenged! If you do set this up I'd be interested to see what the results are like.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Barry D on August 27, 2010 at 9:29

Worked for a hydroponics company as a teenager to earn some extra money while at school doing packing and stuff. When I tried things, they seemed to work - obviously you need to add nutrients and correct water etc.

The thing I'd wonder is the taste - are they as good? I think I can taste the difference between tomatoes grown organically in soil, and the ones I've grown in pots with conventional tomato fertilizer. Organically seem much more balanced taste, more earthy. Whether that's down to too much watering in pots, rather than nutrient / trace element quality is debatable.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michelle Wheeler on August 27, 2010 at 12:13

I ts worked quite well on some plants at Sparsholt where they are researching this way of growing.Start back there soon for my next RHS course,will try and find some good info for you from lecturers.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ian on September 3, 2010 at 8:30

Yea, the taste. You may have a point. Although it would be less of an issue with the chillies I wouldn't want to do anything that might adversely effect the flavour of my tomatoes  After all, that's why we grow our own. 

Barry D said:

Worked for a hydroponics company as a teenager to earn some extra money while at school doing packing and stuff. When I tried things, they seemed to work - obviously you need to add nutrients and correct water etc. The thing I'd wonder is the taste - are they as good? I think I can taste the difference between tomatoes grown organically in soil, and the ones I've grown in pots with conventional tomato fertilizer. Organically seem much more balanced taste, more earthy. Whether that's down to too much watering in pots, rather than nutrient / trace element quality is debatable.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ian on September 3, 2010 at 8:32

Thanks. Any info would be great. 

Michelle Wheeler said:

I ts worked quite well on some plants at Sparsholt where they are researching this way of growing.Start back there soon for my next RHS course,will try and find some good info for you from lecturers.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ian on September 3, 2010 at 8:37

I'm the same Damo. Just curious really. I might even be better of by growing less, getting better yields in a less overcrowded space. Does that make sense?

Damo said:

Hi Ian, I think most people are like me, technologically challenged! If you do set this up I'd be interested to see what the results are like.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Karen Spray on September 9, 2010 at 13:33

I'm thinking of giving this a try. I'm a bit of a techno person, so I quite like the idea of that side of it. And although at first it seemed antithetical to the idea of growing naturally, when I thought about it I thought that if I had got my act together this spring, I would have been happy to spend some electricity to freeze the harvest for the winter. So Lwhy not spend some on lighting to let me grow some over the winter?  A bit of googling 'just out of interest' revealed the existence of a big hydroponics shop ten minutes away, so I went for a look around. 
It might help to keep my enthusiasm going until my new bed is ready for the spring if nothing else. And no slugs!!

Ian said:

I'm the same Damo. Just curious really. I might even be better of by growing less, getting better yields in a less overcrowded space. Does that make sense?

Damo said:

Hi Ian, I think most people are like me, technologically challenged! If you do set this up I'd be interested to see what the results are like.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Damo on September 9, 2010 at 19:10

yes it does quality not quantity is the best way to go I suppose. It's the taste that counts at the end of the day.

Ian said:

I'm the same Damo. Just curious really. I might even be better of by growing less, getting better yields in a less overcrowded space. Does that make sense?

Damo said:

Hi Ian, I think most people are like me, technologically challenged! If you do set this up I'd be interested to see what the results are like.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Karen Spray on October 19, 2010 at 10:38

I thought I'd update this a bit from the reading and small experiment I've been doing, in case anyone else is looking for a winter veg project.

1) Is it organic? There is no 'organic' certification for hydroponic growing, so technically no. However, there are organically compounded nutrient feeds and if you know what you are doing you can make feed from things like worm juice etc for some systems where clogging is not an issue. Also it is possible to design a sustainable 'aquaponic' system which uses a fish pond or tank so that the plants clean the fish water by consuming the nutrients that would otherwise cause algae bloom etc, and potentially you get fish as well as vegetables.

There should not be any problem with a home system of causing pollution by releasing unused nutrients etc - the amounts used would be very small and proper systems would ensure that solutions were almost used up when changed. Spent solution can then be safely used for watering lawn or pasture etc.

2) Does it use a lot of power/water? It actually uses a lot less water than conventional growing as the water is normally contained and recirculated. There are patio planters which could theoretically survive 6 months between refills od their internal reservoir.

The power issue will depend on what you do. Hydroponic growing in a greenhouse in summer could use no power at all, or some solar power or grid power for a couple of pumps, depending on the system chosen. Growing out of season will probably mean providing extra light, but this is potentially a lot less expensive to run than it used to be with the advent of low energy fluorescents and the even more cutting edge LEDs. Extra warmth might also be needed depending on where you are growing. (Sustainable options suggested include rabbits or chickens to raise growhouse temperatures, which I imagine would also necessitate rather careful fencing!)

3) Taste! The theory that hydroponically grown veg tastes 'watery' is unfair, due to the fact that most people's experience of hydroponics is eating a commercial tomato. This may well not taste good, but the fault is in the grower selecting a fast growing commercial variety bred for early picking and easy transporting rather than taste. Home growers report that the taste of their produce is excellent, and many people grow conventionally as well so can compare directly. Traditional varieties can as easily be grown this way as commercial varieties.

This has got a bit long already, so I'll end it now and update again about my own experiments.

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion