Expensive to set up and space- and labor-intensive. Plus I don't have that much space to place a hydroponic garden, enough that would render sufficient food for the winter. Also it takes energy (grow lights, temperature settings) to do it right.
Now if I had access to a barn or warehouse (neither of which I have) and enough capital to invest in it (which I don't) then it might be feasible. Economics plays a role in these decisions, so with cash and space, I don't have the requisite basics to start a hydroponics garden that would provide meaningful amounts of food.
You'd be better off growing potatoes inside in containers over winter. They are amazingly hard to not grow. All they need is a sunny window & water, they'll do the rest. Put containers outside after last frost March/April and harvest in 2 months. Good way to kickstart your good weather gardening.
Forgotten potatoes are perfect. Get a big pot, at least 18" across the top and at least 18" high. Fill 2/3 with good potting soil and put 1 complete potato in. Lightly water then fill remaining 1/3 with potting soil. Check moisture level, shoud feel slightly damp but not wet, nothing on your hands wet. Put in sunny area and wait. In a few weeks you'll see shoots emerging. You can slow growth but not letting them get full sun or don't worry about. If the leave begiun to die off before winter ends, dig up and see what you have. Leaves die when they are done basically. On the 3 pots I did with goldens I got 12-15 half-sized ones In 2 pots and 30 shooter marble sized ones when I dug them up. Some I replanted and they continued to grow, the rest I ate. They were delicious. I have several shooter marble sized ones from spring left that just started putting out shoots. They are 20+ weeks old and still viable! Those are going in this weekend along with some sweet potatoes.
labor wise is no worse than outdoor gardening, in fact some may argue it’s easier because no weeding. You’re correct that it’s pricey to set up though, especially the grow lights.
There are other options however. You can grow a lot of things over. winter in cold frames for example. Kale, carrots, spinach, many other cold hardy veg will do just fine in a cold frame. If you have southern facing windows in your home you’d be surprised what you can get to grow in them in containers.
The main thing though is planning and growing things in the summer that store for many months. There are varieties of onion, carrot, squash, and potatoes that will store in the ground or in a root cellar for several months. And although relying on the power grid isn’t ideal, you can get a chest freezer and stock up a LOT of veg (i currently have several pounds of frozen okra in my fridge) and don’t forget learning to can. Canned veg can last up to 2 years.
While it is the wrong time of year to start on a lot of these things, it’s never the wrong time to start learning and planning.
Just to add here a little bit, it can be expensive to set up. I just spent maybe 400 bucks to set up a system using the Kratky method, tent, LED light, medium, nutes, seeds, containers and net pots. Granted, the veggies you can grow in there are somewhat limited, but will be a good supplement to what I saved from the summer. I should mention, in that seed order are my summer seeds also and they are unusual heirloom varieties, so could have been cheaper. Check your local nurseries for leftover seeds from this year on sale.
imo $400 is extremely reasonable for all that. i’ve seen grow lights that are well over $1k by themselves (see BlackDog lights). I found out last winter that green beans do great under inexpensive “burple” lights. I have a few Vivospectra lights that cost ~$130 and beans grew to normal outdoor size under them in just the soil nutes, no additional fertilizer, i was so impressed.
Look up growing food indoors wall hydroponics ....there's too many vids on youtube to count. You only need a wall and it can be done cheap with materials you can pick up at any home depot, like plumbing pipe. I picked a really easy, cheap one to get you started on the search
We can’t do it alone. We need to work as a community. You can easily fit a 5x10 tent with lights inside and just focus on 1 plant like organic tomatoes. Then trade the tomatoes with others for whatever veggie you need. Food can easily be traded in a nationwide indoor farming economy where we all focus on at least 1 kind of veggie.
So if carrots are lacking in 1 neighborhood, I would grow carrots because I can easily trade them due to high demand and low supply. No competition.
Learn/teach yourself how to fertilize soil by planting seeds; then grow your understanding of perspective...your choice represents the seed; the reality you perceive represents the soil. Fertilize that. Use your neighborhood for growth, and the more you do this; the more help you will get. Any empty garden is only a question away from being usable for growth. Show others how to grow food or make fertilizer on a balcony.
Expensive to set up and space- and labor-intensive. Plus I don't have that much space to place a hydroponic garden, enough that would render sufficient food for the winter. Also it takes energy (grow lights, temperature settings) to do it right.
Now if I had access to a barn or warehouse (neither of which I have) and enough capital to invest in it (which I don't) then it might be feasible. Economics plays a role in these decisions, so with cash and space, I don't have the requisite basics to start a hydroponics garden that would provide meaningful amounts of food.
^^^All the above.
You'd be better off growing potatoes inside in containers over winter. They are amazingly hard to not grow. All they need is a sunny window & water, they'll do the rest. Put containers outside after last frost March/April and harvest in 2 months. Good way to kickstart your good weather gardening.
Do you just cut up a potato and plant it? One time my potatoes grew through the bag when i forgot about them
Forgotten potatoes are perfect. Get a big pot, at least 18" across the top and at least 18" high. Fill 2/3 with good potting soil and put 1 complete potato in. Lightly water then fill remaining 1/3 with potting soil. Check moisture level, shoud feel slightly damp but not wet, nothing on your hands wet. Put in sunny area and wait. In a few weeks you'll see shoots emerging. You can slow growth but not letting them get full sun or don't worry about. If the leave begiun to die off before winter ends, dig up and see what you have. Leaves die when they are done basically. On the 3 pots I did with goldens I got 12-15 half-sized ones In 2 pots and 30 shooter marble sized ones when I dug them up. Some I replanted and they continued to grow, the rest I ate. They were delicious. I have several shooter marble sized ones from spring left that just started putting out shoots. They are 20+ weeks old and still viable! Those are going in this weekend along with some sweet potatoes.
You should make this it’s own post centered on survival skills and get everyone to share their useful tips. I think it would really take off!
labor wise is no worse than outdoor gardening, in fact some may argue it’s easier because no weeding. You’re correct that it’s pricey to set up though, especially the grow lights.
There are other options however. You can grow a lot of things over. winter in cold frames for example. Kale, carrots, spinach, many other cold hardy veg will do just fine in a cold frame. If you have southern facing windows in your home you’d be surprised what you can get to grow in them in containers.
The main thing though is planning and growing things in the summer that store for many months. There are varieties of onion, carrot, squash, and potatoes that will store in the ground or in a root cellar for several months. And although relying on the power grid isn’t ideal, you can get a chest freezer and stock up a LOT of veg (i currently have several pounds of frozen okra in my fridge) and don’t forget learning to can. Canned veg can last up to 2 years.
While it is the wrong time of year to start on a lot of these things, it’s never the wrong time to start learning and planning.
Just to add here a little bit, it can be expensive to set up. I just spent maybe 400 bucks to set up a system using the Kratky method, tent, LED light, medium, nutes, seeds, containers and net pots. Granted, the veggies you can grow in there are somewhat limited, but will be a good supplement to what I saved from the summer. I should mention, in that seed order are my summer seeds also and they are unusual heirloom varieties, so could have been cheaper. Check your local nurseries for leftover seeds from this year on sale.
imo $400 is extremely reasonable for all that. i’ve seen grow lights that are well over $1k by themselves (see BlackDog lights). I found out last winter that green beans do great under inexpensive “burple” lights. I have a few Vivospectra lights that cost ~$130 and beans grew to normal outdoor size under them in just the soil nutes, no additional fertilizer, i was so impressed.
Look up growing food indoors wall hydroponics ....there's too many vids on youtube to count. You only need a wall and it can be done cheap with materials you can pick up at any home depot, like plumbing pipe. I picked a really easy, cheap one to get you started on the search
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLEVQw-bHhc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UB7HEy4WJk
We can’t do it alone. We need to work as a community. You can easily fit a 5x10 tent with lights inside and just focus on 1 plant like organic tomatoes. Then trade the tomatoes with others for whatever veggie you need. Food can easily be traded in a nationwide indoor farming economy where we all focus on at least 1 kind of veggie.
So if carrots are lacking in 1 neighborhood, I would grow carrots because I can easily trade them due to high demand and low supply. No competition.
Learn/teach yourself how to fertilize soil by planting seeds; then grow your understanding of perspective...your choice represents the seed; the reality you perceive represents the soil. Fertilize that. Use your neighborhood for growth, and the more you do this; the more help you will get. Any empty garden is only a question away from being usable for growth. Show others how to grow food or make fertilizer on a balcony.
I take my chicken coop bedding and mulch my plants. No weeds plus fertilizer
Life to death to compost to life...meanwhile chickens picking everywhere.