Hydroponics at Penmore

pic of hydroponics set up

Early in the year

What is Hydroponics?:
Hydroponics is all about growing plants without soil. There are many different ways of doing this, the system used at Penmore is of our own design adapted from books and other peoples ideas.
Yes but how does it work?:
A complete feed of Nutrient solution containing everything a plant needs for healthy growth is added to ph balanced water and pumped from a tank by means of an aquarium pump 5 times daily to the highest point in an enclosed 100 mm pipe system. The water with the nutrient solution flows through the pipes by gravity and ends up back in the tank.
How do the plants get the water?:
A wick of capillary mating transfers the trickling water from the pipes to a perlite and vermiculite mixture in the flower pots. The perlite is totally inert and contributes nothing to the plant other than a good anchor point for the root system it also has excellent qualities of transferring the nutrient solution throughout the mix by capillary action and because it is inert it carrys none of the disease problems you might find in the soil
Why bother ?:
Plants grown in this system grow stronger, bigger and faster than in the soil.
How?:
The perlite mix has many spaces throughout it and allows for a good mix of air (Oxygen) to get to the root system. The root systems never become water stressed as there is always just the right amount of moisture in the perlite. The water feeding the plants is warm from standing in a black tank in the tunnel, this propmotes faster growth. The plants have no competition for the light or nutrients. The ph is correct and they have all they need for healthy growth easily available so the plants produces a smaller root system and put all their energy into growing a big healthy plant producing lots of fruits.
If its that good why don't more people do it?:
They do: most of the soft vegetables we buy in the supermarket are grown in soiless systems. Commercial growers have used these systems for years, but only recently have the compex nutrient solutions become easier for the home grower to use and this has opened up a whole new area for the budding horticulturalist.

pic of hydroponics set up

This year we are growing Tomatoes, Strawberries, Endive, Mangetout, Dill, Coriander, Parsley, Cucumbers, Garlic, Potatoes, Carrots, Lettuce, Spinach, Beetroot, Peas.

In previous years we have grown Pansies, Geraniums, Marigolds and Cosmos, all of which worked very well but you can't eat them so that was the end of that.......

pic of hydroponics set up

Use the back button on your browser or click here