I slightly changed the blog style from my most recent ones. Today’s blog will be the start of more of a personal experience, documenting my successes and failures with my new hobby, delving into hydroponics.
Today marks a pivotal point in my gardening journey. While I’m no stranger to the world of plants and pots, hydroponic gardening is a terrain I’ve only dabbled in once on a tiny scale. My first brush with hydroponics was when I lived in the UK city of London. With limited space and a curious mind, I dipped my toes into this soil-less gardening method. Thanks to my partner for giving me a Click & Grown smart garden as a present back in 2019.
Fast forward to today, and my motivations have evolved. With the escalating prices of food and my preference for organic produce, self-growing has never been more appealing. Moreover, I’ve set myself a challenge: Can growing my salad crops hydroponically be more cost-effective than buying organic from the grocery store? Over the next few months, I plan to keep a detailed tally to find out.
Today, I brought various organic seeds, tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, Arugula, Kale, and peppers online from BC Eco Seed Coop, where I took the first step in this challenge. Their commitment to sustainable agriculture struck a chord with me. The thought of freshly grown tomatoes and peppers in my homemade salmon salad makes my mouth water.
The next piece of this puzzle? I’ve ordered two hydroponic kits from Amazon and eagerly waiting for delivery: the iDOO 12Pods Indoor Herb Garden Kit and the eSuperegrow Hydroponics Growing System.
iDOO 12Pods Indoor Herb Garden Kit: This kit comes highly recommended for beginners. Its compact design makes it an excellent fit for indoor spaces, and the built-in LED grow light is a boon. With 12 pods, I have ample room to experiment with diverse plants.
eSuperegrow Hydroponics Growing System: This is my choice for the more robust vegetables. I chose this system because the kit has a trellis, useful for taller planes like the tomatoes.
Both systems will occupy a spot in my home office. After trialling out both hydroponic systems, I aim to expand my indoor garden’s growing capabilities. It would be great to become self-sufficient in salad, vegetables and soft fruit in the next year or two. Over time, I want to introduce renewable power for lighting. I’ll probably write about that in a separate blog.
As I embark on this endeavour, I am under no illusion about the challenges ahead. There’s a science to mastering nutrient solutions, lighting, water levels, and pest control. However, the prospect of enjoying fresh, homegrown salads and potentially saving money in the long run keeps me motivated.
I’ll share regular updates on my progress, costs, and lessons learned. Stay tuned for some firsthand insights if you’ve ever been curious about hydroponic gardening or the economics of self-growing.
Until next time,
Happy gardening,
