Growing food in Canada is like going on an exciting gardening adventure! In the spring, we plant seeds for cool-weather crops like lettuce, spinach, or peas. During the summer, we grow warm-weather plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans. Then, when Fall comes, it’s time to harvest the last veggies and clean up the garden to get ready for next year. But what happens when winter arrives, and everything outside is covered in snow? Winter can make it really tricky to grow food outdoors because it’s cold, dark, and icy. But guess what? There’s a way to grow delicious veggies indoors all year round using something called hydroponics! Hydroponics is a super cool way to grow plants without soil. Instead, plants grow in water that’s full of nutrients, kind of like a smoothie for plants! It’s possible to grow your favourite veggies indoors during the winter, even when it’s freezing and snowing outside. It’s fun, it saves space, and it’s a great way to eat fresh food every day.
What is hydroponics?
Imagine a garden where you don’t need soil, where plants grow faster, and where you don’t have to worry about bugs or weeds. That’s hydroponics! Instead of planting seeds in soil, hydroponic gardening uses water to deliver nutrients directly to the plants. These nutrients help them grow big and healthy. We feel this type of gardening is perfect for Canada in the winter because:
- No bugs or weeds! No pests munching on your plants, so you don’t need pesticides.
- Grow more plants in less space. You can grow a lot of food even in a small room.
- Plants grow faster. Some veggies, like lettuce, can grow twice as fast in water compared to soil.
- Use less water. Hydroponics uses 90% less water than traditional gardening.
- Climate-controlled! Indoors, you can control everything: light, temperature, and nutrients.
How Can You Grow Plants Indoors in Winter?
Growing food indoors in the winter is like creating a little garden oasis inside your house. But how do we do this when there’s less daylight and it’s freezing outside? Here’s the secret: grow lights and warm indoor spaces, like a grow tent. Plants need light to grow, just like we need food to give us energy. In the winter, when there isn’t enough sunlight, we can use special lights called grow lights. Modern grow lights, like LED lights, are affordable, energy-efficient, and perfect for indoor gardening. They give plants all the light they need to grow strong and healthy. Since hydroponics doesn’t use soil, you’ll also need to feed your plants. Plants love nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. You can buy ready-made organic hydroponic liquid fertilizers, which are super easy to use, or you can make your own organic homemade nutrients. For example:
- Liquid kelp: Made by soaking seaweed in water for a few days. It’s like a vitamin drink for plants.
- Worm tea: Made from worm castings. It’s a natural and rich fertilizer.
- Homemade liquid nutrients: We like to add seaweed, nettle, comfrey, alfalfa, banana peels, egg shells
Choosing your hydroponic setup
Now you’ll have to figure out how to start your hydroponic garden. First, look at your indoor space:
- Do you have a sunny spot? If your room gets 4-6 hours of sunlight a day, that’s awesome! But if not, no worries, you’ll just need grow lights.
- What do you want to grow? Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and herbs are quick and easy to grow. If you want a challenge, you can grow tomatoes, peppers, or even strawberries! We even tried radish, Swiss chard, Bok Choy, zucchini, cucumbers. The list goes on!
Once you know your space and what you want to grow, it’s time to pick a hydroponic method. Two of the easiest ones are Deep-Water Hydroponic Culture and the Kratky Method.
The deep water hydroponic culture (DWC)
This method is like building a mini underwater garden for your plants! Here’s what you’ll need:
- A plastic storage bin with a lid
- Net pots
- A growing medium like clay pebbles (aka leca) or rockwool to hold your plant in place
- An air pump and air stone (these make bubbles in the water for oxygen
- Water mixed with liquid nutrients
- Grow light
How to set it up:
- Cut holes in the lid of your bin to fit the net pots
- Fill the net pots with clay pebbles and place your seeds or small plants in them
- Attach the air stone to the air pump and place it at the bottom of the bin
- Fill the bin with water and liquid nutrients until it just touches the bottom of the net pots. The roots will grow into the water!
- Place a grow light above the bin to give your plants the light they need
As your plants grow, their roots will be in the nutrient-rich water, soaking up everything they need. Just remember to check the water level and add more as needed. Every 2-4 weeks, change the water to keep it fresh and clean. This method is great for growing tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and leafy greens like lettuce!
The kratky hydroponic method
The Kratky method is the simplest way to grow plants hydroponically. It doesn’t even need an air pump! Instead, the plant grows in a still (non-moving) nutrient solution, and as it drinks the water, it creates an air gap for its roots to breathe.
What you’ll need:
- A container with a lid (like a mason jar or plastic bin)
- Net pots and a growing medium (like clay pebbles or rockwool)
- Water mixed with liquid liquid nutrients
- Grow light
How to set it up:
- Cut a hole in the lid of your container for the net pot
- Fill the container with water and liquid nutrients
- Place the net pot in the lid so the bottom of it just touches the water
- Put small plant in the net pot (We usually like to start seeds separately in coco coir and worm castings and when the plant produced it’s true leaves, we transplant into the net pot)
- Place a grow light above the container
As the plant grows, it will drink the water, and the water level will slowly drop. This creates an air pocket for the roots to get oxygen. The Kratky method is super easy and perfect for quick-growing plants like lettuce, spinach, and basil.
Why growing indoors is so rewarding
Imagine it’s the middle of January in Canada. There’s snow outside, and it’s freezing cold. But inside your home, you have fresh lettuce, herbs, and even tomatoes growing in your hydroponic garden. How cool is that? Hydroponic gardening not only helps you grow food all year long, but it also teaches you how plants grow and how to take care of them. The best part? It’s fun! You can watch your plants grow every day, adjust the lights and water, and finally harvest your own fresh veggies. Plus, you’re helping the environment by using less water and avoiding pesticides. It’s also a really great way to spend time with your family. It’s a win-win!
Start your indoor hydroponic garden today!
Growing hydroponically in Canada during the winter might sound like science fiction, but it’s actually really simple and exciting! With grow lights, water, and a little creativity, you can grow fresh vegetables and herbs indoors, no matter how cold it is outside. So, what are you waiting for? Grab some seeds, set up your hydroponic garden, and start your indoor gardening adventure today. Whether you’re growing crunchy lettuce, juicy tomatoes, or sweet strawberries, the joy of harvesting your own food in the middle of winter is priceless. Happy gardening!
