How Vertical Hydroponic Greenhouses Work
You’ve likely heard the buzz about hydroponic farming and vertical greenhouses or other indoor solutions. These systems can produce great amounts of food in a relatively small physical space, with little water and no soil needed. They protect their plants from outside contaminants, making them an excellent option for R&D and other research needs. And since they contain their own climates, they make commercial-scale farming possible in regions where it would otherwise be too hot, too dry, or too cold.
But before you jump in and invest in such a large change to your current farming practices and supply chain, you need to know a bit more. How does hydroponic growing work, exactly? How do vertical greenhouses function? What is the structure like? What about the seed life cycle? Most of all, can vertical hydroponic greenhouses really deliver what they promise? We have the answers right here.
How Does a Vertical Hydroponic System Work?
The first concept to understand is the idea of vertical farming. In a typical farm, plants are sown along the ground, typically in rows. This takes up a great deal of space and makes it very difficult to protect the plants from outside contaminants such as pollution and pests.
Vertical farms, instead, grow plants in stacks or towers. A single tower can easily hold dozens of plants, stacked one on top of the other, and all being fed nutrients and natural resources through the same system. With this method farms take up 99% less land, making them easier to contain in greenhouses that keep out unwanted contaminants.
Within the greenhouse environment, the climate can be closely monitored and controlled. This means growing seasons can be repeated as often as desired, leading to an average harvest cycle of 28 days. This leads to far greater yields than traditional farming methods.
How Does Hydroponic Farming Work?
Many vertical farms choose to use hydroponics as a method of feeding their plants. The basic idea of hydroponic farming is that plants are grown in water instead of soil. Of course, for this to work, nutrients must be added to the water to keep the plants healthy and productive.
Because nutrients are sent directly into the plant’s roots through water, rather than being absorbed out of the soil, they are more readily available for growth and health. Additionally, in hydroponic farming each variable is closely controlled, meaning plants are healthier, growing larger and producing greater yields.
What is the Structure of a Vertical Hydroponic Greenhouse?
Eden Green Technology’s vertical hydroponic greenhouse systems provide for a stable and controlled environment for commercial food production or research purposes. Our greenhouses are made with polycarbonate walls and a double layer polyethylene roof. Their modular construction means they’re quick and cost-efficient to build, and easily scalable for future consideration.
Inside the greenhouse, irrigation and water treatment is handled with advanced software, allowing for minimal water use. Heating and air conditioning are provided for, along with a venting system that ensures air quality remains ideal. We provide all of the pieces needed for production with our advanced propagation system. And an advanced pest management system keeps your produce healthy and pest-free.
How Does the Seed Life Cycle Work in a Vertical Greenhouse?
First, seedlings are planted in hydroponic media for growth in nutrient-enriched water with no soil necessary like peat moss, coco coir or rook wool. Once they are given some time to mature, the seedlings are transferred into our hydroponic towers, allowing dozens of plants to thrive in minimal floor space. There, the roots of the plants develop, allowing them to take in and make the most of our nutrient-rich water solution. Everything is temperature controlled and given appropriate sunlight, creating a microclimate that can be adjusted as needed for healthy, thriving plants.
What Can You Grow in Vertical Farms?
Eden Green’s hydroponic technology is constantly growing to include more and more options. Currently we offer systems for growing more than 50 types of plants, including leafy greens, peppers, and micro herbs. Here are a few of our more popular crops:
Spinach
Butterhead lettuce
Kale
Romaine
Mint
Lavender
Basil
We also have several experimental crops that are currently in testing in our R&D facility and coming soon to a hydroponic vertical greenhouse near you. These include:
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Celery
Cucumber
Many more
Eventually, we hope to have a great variety of plants on offer, feeding cities around the world with local nutrient-dense produce that’s affordable and healthy. The hydroponics concept does have limitations, however, and cannot currently grow tubers such as potatoes, onions, and garlic.
Does Hydroponic Farming Really Work on a Large Scale?
If you’ve been exposed to vertical or hydroponic farms in the past, it may have been in small-scale home gardening operations. While these are certainly viable options for a family or even perhaps a small community, they aren’t going to solve hunger problems in an urban environment or provide the type of yield that really makes a difference on a large scale.
But now, in a greenhouse covering only an acre and a half, you can grow 11-13 harvests for year round fresh, healthy produce. This equates to about 2.7 million servings of leafy greens annually, the kind that are both incredibly tasty and nutrient dense too. And the same large-scale greenhouse can provide 30 full time jobs, giving living wages and appropriate benefits to communities where opportunities may be scarce.
Want to learn more? Contact the Eden Green Technology team today to explore the options and benefits of hydroponic vertical farming. You’ll be amazed at how cost effective and practical our solutions really are!