By Lynn Ascrizzi
In only a few decades, “hydroponic” has become a household word. Today, commercially grown hydroponic tomatoes, greens and herbs are sold regularly at farmers’ markets and grocery stores in Maine, and elsewhere.
One of the beauties of hydroponics is that the system enables fresh, local crop production, year-round.
Scott Howard, owner and operator of Olivia’s Garden in New Gloucester, ME, has been a hydroponic grower since 1997. His produce ranges from basil to lettuce, from pea shoots to tomatoes, grown in 18,000 square feet of greenhouse — less than a half-acre. “It’s the same as growing any crop. You are just delivering nutrients differently.”
An exciting benefit of hydroponics is higher, quicker yields that don’t decrease over time. “I get seven to eight times the amount of production I would from a soil-grown method,” Howard said. “It’s more scientific. I know exactly how much water and nutrients to use. I have more control with what’s going on with my plants. I change my nutritional formulation seasonally and at different plant stages.”
Hydroponics also reduces fertilizer use. There is no waste in its closed system; meaning, no fertilizers are washed into local groundwater. And, organic, hydroponic fertilizers, like Botanicare Pure Blend Pro, Advanced Nutrients and Mother Earth Tea are widely available, thus reducing chemical use.
Nonetheless, the USDA and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), do not define hydroponics as an organic practice, even if organic nutrients are used; namely because the system does not use the biology of the soil to feed plants. Howard, however, “works hard to grow clean crops, advertises that his produce is pesticide free and uses some organic products,” he said.
Home garden produce commonly grown hydroponically includes lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, kale, arugula and culinary herbs, like basil, cilantro and parsley. Hydro grow tents that range in size from 2-by-4 to 4-by-8 feet, are available for garden enthusiasts. The kits come with a water reservoir, table, grow pots, timer and pump and a starter pack of fertilizer. Cost for a 4-by-4 grow tent is approximately $450.
