So, yesterday we let loose about how we’re introducing hydroponics into our garden repertoire. You might logically be wondering, what’s the angle on cold climate gardening?
We talk about this a lot around here, but soil temperatures are probably the most important thing we need to deal with as subarctic growers. In our research, we’ve learned that increasing the temperatures of our northern soils is far more important than raising ambient air temperatures.
This is why we grow a ton of food in containers. It’s also why you see us using raised beds. Even in our large in-ground community garden, we’re using raised rows and mulch to increase our soil temperatures. All of these techniques have a fundamental goal of increasing soil temperatures, which has a demonstrable impact on cold climate food and flower production.
By all objective metrics, water will conduct heat better than soil ever will. A lot better! In physics, this concept is called thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of water is over twice as performant compared to soil. Plus, like with our container growing efforts, we can still practice techniques that will increase the temperatures at the root zone. (e.g. using dark colored containers)
When hydroponics is practiced in warmer climates, the primary issue is usually too much heat. The reduction of that heat is usually the desired endpoint. Our theory is that our relatively cool ambient air, even during the peaks of summer, will help us achieve an optimal environment (on average) across our entire growing season.
Plus, hydroponics is well known for fueling rapid plant growth and fruiting. Clearly, this is also a potential benefit to the northern grower, especially when growing crops like peppers and tomatoes outdoors where maturity time absolutely matters. The faster one can achieve fruit in a short growing season, the more likely it is that fruit will mature within that short season.
But, this is all just theory at this point. In northern environments, those thermal dynamics can also work against us! While we can certainly harness solar energy to our benefit, thermal conductivity works in both directions of heat and cooling. What becomes warm with excess energy can also become quite cool when that energy just isn’t there.
Our objective is to see and understand how a highly thermally conductive environment like hydroponics will perform at extreme northern latitudes. If the theory plays out, there’s a lot of potential promise. Regardless, we’re excited to bring you along as we too are going to learn some stuff!
