WHAT YOU CAN GROW IN A HYDROPONIC FARM

Hydroponic farms can grow a variety of produce (we’ve successfully grown over 140 cultivars in our growing systems!), but leafy green vegetables work best. Instead of putting their energy into large root systems, leafy green vegetables put this energy towards growing their leaves.

For container farms specifically, these types of vegetables make the most economic sense. If consumers will be paying more for locally grown, there’s got to be a noticeable difference – and leafy greens are a great example of the value added through hydroponics. The shelf life of leafy greens depends on their freshness. With a shorter time between harvest and consumption, locally grown greens retain their freshness (and nutritional value) longer. Consumers can taste the difference and double the shelf life of the produce in their fridge with locally grown hydroponic produce.

Here are a few examples of the best types of produce to grown in a hydroponic farm:

• Lettuces (e.g., (romaine, butterhead)

• Leafy Greens (e.g., spinach, kale, arugula)

• Asian greens (e.g., bok choy, win win choi)

• Herbs (e.g., mint, basil, cilantro)

• Microgreens (e.g., micro broccoli, red sorrel)

WHAT YOU CAN’T GROW COMMERCIALLY IN A HYDROPONIC FARM

With hydroponics, the question isn’t so much what you can or can’t grow, but more about whether hydroponics is the most efficient way to grow a specific crop. With that in mind, flowering vegetables, such as strawberries and tomatoes, have additional considerations (e.g. pollination) that need to be considered if they are to be grown year round. Further research is currently being conducted into how these plants can be reliably cultivated indoors, and at a volume that makes sense.

Other vegetables, such as rooting vegetables, which include potatoes and sweet potatoes, are most economically grown in soil. It’s also important to consider the growing cycle and the weight of the desired vegetable. For example, broccoli heads grow large and heavy, which make them a poor choice for hydroponic growing. Broccoli microgreens are a great alternative for hydroponic growers looking to expand product offerings.

2. BENEFITS OF HYDROPONIC FARMING

Hydroponic farming has many benefits over traditional agriculture. While these systems aren’t meant to completely replace traditional methods, they offer several advantages over conventional soil-growing, including less water, land, labour, and chemical usage.

They also bring the added benefit of being able to grow produce where the consumer is (growing hyper-locally).

Let’s break this down further:

1. YOU CAN GROW PRODUCE YEAR-ROUND

In many climates, growing year-round isn’t possible with traditional farming because vegetables can’t survive in extreme conditions. For example, in Ottawa, Canada, on average, your frost-free growing season is 152 days. For the other 213 days, the temperatures can dip to as low as -30 C making it hard to grow vegetables. With hydroponic farming, plants are being grown indoors, in a controlled environment. That means they can be grown year-round in any climate zone.

2. LESS WATER USAGE

Hydroponic systems can use up to 10 times less water than traditional crop watering methods due to the way the system is designed. By capturing and using water in a closed-system (and not allowing run off to drain into the environment), hydroponics are very water efficient.

3. LESS LAND USAGE

Another limited resource that hydroponic farming helps to save is arable land. Conventional farming only has one layer of planting, on the ground, and therefore requires large acreages for bigger yields. With hydroponic farming, you can take advantage of vertical space as well, by stacking plants on top of each other.

4. LOWER LABOUR REQUIREMENTS

Hydroponic farming is less labour intensive, which allows more food to be produced by less people. It can also participate in the conversation about labour in agriculture and how we can continue to advance technology and working conditions behind food production.

Recently, a small percentage of agricultural employers were under scrutiny for not adhering to their responsibilities and employing temporary foreign workers with minimal benefits, protections, and poor standards of living. (See this Marketplace expose touching on advocacy efforts to reform Canada’s agricultural worker program for more information).

While the majority of agricultural employers treat workers fairly, advocacy efforts won’t stop until this is the case for all. New ways of growing can have us reflect on the ways things have always been done in the industry, and advance production methods and labour equity.

5. USES FEWER CHEMICALS

It’s not necessarily that all chemicals are bad, but rather that consumers are trending towards knowing more about what goes into their food. In the controlled growing environment of a hydroponic farm, it’s easier to keep track of what goes into growing the plants. Plus, plants are able to grow faster and are less stressed due to less pest pressure. This is better for both growers and consumers, because there are quicker yields, and less chemicals required to treat potential pests.