Why Use Hydroponics or Aquaponics
Why Use Hydroponics or Aquaponics
Posted on January 8, 2018
Hydroponics, Aquaponics or Soil?
Your best chance for success in gardening in a survival situation is diversification.
Traditional soil crops paired with hydroponics and aquaponics, indoors or out, can increase your yields extend your growing season, and ensure food sources even if one method fails.
Example: Corn is not necessarily an ideal hydroponic crop, and does well in traditional soil methods. Tomatoes do well in hydroponic setups. You can increase your corn planting area, giving a higher yield of a crop that is versatile and can be stored easily.
Moving your tomatoes to a hydroponic setup gives you more control over harvest time, staggering crops to ensure you lose less of a highly perishable crop. If done indoors with lights, tomatoes can be grown year round.
Protein readily available and renewable
With aquaponics, not only do you create a symbiotic natural environment, but you get a complete balanced offering of food, with vegetables being grown and fish being fed. A readily available protein source never hurts.
Food unique to you and your needs
By using alternative methods of growing, You can give yourself and your family nutritional variety in winter months or off seasons. If done indoors, you can have food that may not grow in your climate or USDA zone.
Expanding the variety of your crops ensures your family’s health and can be a valuable asset for bartering.
What crops do best for each setting
Crops that do very well in hydroponics systems: tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, spinach, strawberries, and eggplants.
The best crops for aquaponics: leafy lettuces, kale, chard, basil, mint, arugula.
What this means for you
Think of the diversity you can add to your diet without sacrificing space for precious potatoes, corn, beans, and wheat. Imagine being able to offer such a variety in a bartering situation.
Hydroponics and aquaponics may seem complicated or like too much work, but they are worth the effort. It really doesn’t take much equipment or know how to start the simplest setups.
Both methods are becoming very popular alternatives to traditional farming, so information, kit plans, and physical kits are widely available.
Recommended reading:
Aquaponics Gardening: A Step-By-Step Guide
Hydroponics for self-sufficiency