How many times have you popped a supermarket fresh basil pot in your basket with the hopes of adding a Mediterranean freshness to your pizzas, pasta and risottos? Probably the same number of times you’ve thrown the poor plant in the bin, cursed the soil circle on your windowsill and vowed you can only have fresh herbs in the summer months. What about wanting just a nibble of the most delicate salad leaves such as rocket or lambs lettuce to add pizzazz to your plate? 

The New Buzz: Year Round Indoor Gardening

This might just be the last time you throw that basil out with the compost. There’s a new buzz phrase in town: hydroponic gardening. No, this isn’t something that would be more suited to a space ship than the kitchen; but it is slightly reminiscent of Matt Damon’s antics in the film “The Martian”. Hydroponics in its most basic form involves growing plants in a soil free medium, using liquid fertiliser solution to feed the plants as soils replacement. It’s becoming increasingly popular because of a number of positive features; with the threat of climate change potentially making traditional farming areas less productive, hydroponics offer solutions such as reduced water use and less pesticides on our food but most important is how versatile the systems are, allowing you to grow on rooftops, underground or even in the desert! The climate isn’t an issue as Hydroponics can be used in hot or cold environments. You don’t need to worry about the windowsill that gets blazing sunlight then drops to just above zero at night. You set up the beautiful garden and watch in amazement. Even Celebrity Chefs are getting in on it. Michel Roux Jnr has partnered with Zero Carbon Food to set up an underground farm housed in the Second World War deep-level air-raid bomb shelter in The Clapham North tunnels, London. Harvesting the likes of pea shoots and micro radishes 12 stories below ground level for Britains high-end restaurants and food stores! Who'd have thought it!?

Growing Herbs Indoors – How Easy Is It?

So how can this impact how you grow at home? Well, just like large scale farming limitations, not all people who enjoy growing their own plants have the luxury of fertile ground or the access to the space needed in a garden or allotment. A hydroponic growing system has a lot of positive features that would benefit anyone interested in cultivating herbs and vegetables at home.

The Pros:

• No gardening expertise is needed so even first time growers and novices should have no problem using the systems.
• It is a soil-free solution so therefore mess-free. For indoor growing, it means no dirt gets into the home.
• Growing times are reduced; from seed to fully grown in approximately 40 days.
• On average 20% less space is required than with traditional growing.
• There is no risk of nutrient leaching into the environment and no pesticides are needed either.
• Heavy work is reduced as no digging is required in planting or harvesting, making it ideal for the elderly or handicapped.
• Indoor systems are convenient for immediate use in cooking or garnishing as they can be kept as close to hand as you wish.
• They are especially useful for city living apartment or flats or homes that don’t have access to a garden and also with homes that don’t have fertile soil in their area.
• They offer year-round growing, so you don’t have to wait for your favourite plants to come into season.

The Cons:

• Some knowledge/research is needed in the beginning to operate the systems. However, most come with full how to use instructions.
• Not all plants are suitable to use. Drought resistant herbs such as coriander and basil can be trickier than others as they can go mouldy quickly. And large vegetables such as squash or melons wouldn’t work in a small indoor system.
• More supervision is often needed as waterborne diseases can spread quickly between plants if not caught soon enough. This isn’t such a problem with indoor systems though, as in the home you can keep a much closer eye on your plants.
• At home plug in models could be affected by power outages (we’re just playing devil’s advocate here!)

Getting Started With Your Indoor Garden

There are a number of systems available on the market, however here at The Emporium we think that for those wanting to dip their toes in to the waters of hydroponics a good starting kit is the Akarina range of indoor systems with built in LED grow lights. They even come with an integrated dimmer and timer, so this really is hands-off growing. The Japanese brand combine the innovation of Hydroponic concepts to a contemporary design which looks stylish in the home. The designs make a striking centrepiece to the dinner table, kitchen worktop or windowsill and the space-age look of the devices will certainly be a talking point for guests! Grow anything from your favourite fresh herbs, salad greens and flowers.

Goodbye Soil, Hello Delicious Meals

Hydroponics may seem like rocket science to the uninitiated, but it really is incredibly easy to get started. No more ploughing through the winter months without that fresh herb blast to your food, and no more battling the slugs in the summer. If you think you would benefit from any of the numerous positives of a Hydroponic grow system or if you wish to be a part of the huge environmental advantages to water-based growing, then Hydroponic planting might just be for you! We’d love to hear feedback on how people have gotten on with these types of products. Did you find them easy to use? Did they save you lots of space? What did you grow? Get in touch and let us know.