Be Prepared and Fight Food Shortages with Hydroponics!

A series of events has created a perfect storm: climate change, departing the EU, global supply chain problems caused by the pandemic, and now the war in Ukraine.  We are already seeing the impacts with huge rises in fuel costs which impact most of us both directly and indirectly. And as well as rising prices, we have now been forewarned of potential food shortages which can cause a degree of panic or unrest. But fear not! You can fight food shortages with hydroponics!

It’s a great time to start growing your own and as well as standard gardening practices, hydroponics can provide a food source that is not only fresh, but overall saves you money.

The RHS defines hydroponics quite simply as:

“the science of growing plants without using soil, by feeding them on mineral nutrient salts dissolved in water.”

Apart from the practice of growing certain illegal plants, hydroponics has been used mostly in commercial situations until very recently. However, with an increasing interest in gardening and embracing a wider variety of options such as living walls and roof gardens, a desire to be more self-sufficient, and more people changing to a plant-based diet, hydroponics are now becoming quite common.

One of the greatest benefits of growing your food with hydroponics is that you have peace of mind knowing what nutrients you feed your food, plus you will learn a lifelong skill of how to create food within the confines of your home.

Instead of buying jars of commercially produced sauces, you’ll find picking your own organic produce and throwing it in a blender will provide much tastier and healthier food! If there was ever a time to learn to make your own food, it’s now, so do consider fighting food shortages with hydroponics.

It’s not just food – flowers can be grown very effectively at home, often to a better result than simply buying a full-grown plant. That can be a really sustainable way to ensure you have enough flowers to fill vases throughout the year. Most shop-bought flowers are flown into the UK from across the world and have a huge environmental impact. And unless you have a larger enough garden for a dedicated cutting garden, picking flowers for the home can often spoil garden displays.

Plants used in treatments such as aloe vera can also be grown at home. Imagination is the limit when it comes to the array of things you can home grow. Even fungus-based food such as mushrooms are available using modern growing technologies.

With a little research and observation, you can figure out what fruit/vegetables/herbs you use on a regular basis, what substrate they most prefer, what nutrients would be most suitable and what light would provide an adequate sun replacement for your chosen produce.

For instance, growing onions, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and most herbs is completely feasible in a hydroponics system. Certain exotic fruits may not be feasible due to the size of the plant, but if you have the space – the possibilities are endless!

Some people claim hydroponically grown onions and houseplants surpass traditionally grown versions of the same item. Due to the complete environmental control involved in hydroponics, you can create your own seasonality with the combination of light/heat control and regulated systemic feeding.

If the prospect of making your own vegetative produce interests you, then there is ample information from leading UK hydroponics specialists on what technologies are available, and how to implement them to maximum cohesive effect.

You know what went in, and how it was grown.

Also, it’s a great creative and educational hobby! Informed by scientific research being churned yearly by the companies that manufacture the products that fuel the hydroponics industry. You will learn about PH/EC levels for nutrient solutions involved in irrigation systems for plant feeding, air scrubbing via extraction, propagation, photosynthetic LED grow-lights and LST/HST techniques (low/high-stress training) to name a few of the techniques involved in hydroponics.

So, if you’re interested in learning more, and becoming part of this vibrant community of growers – Don’t delay! You won’t be disappointed!

A comment from the UK hydroponics specialists Progrow, exemplifies the nutritional, and spiritual fulfilment available through hydroponics.

‘Forming a relationship with the process to make your own food, gives you complete ownership of your bodily nutrition, instead of having to rely on corporate supply chains’.