The Canadian prairies can be challenging for farmers with extreme temperatures and poor growing seasons . find way to extend production is a bighearted focus for many producer . While expectant farms are limited to how far they can advertise Mother Nature , small farms have an reward . Some have gone the greenhouse route , while another small sect has submit thehydroponicgreenhouse path .
Neva Hydroponics in Landmark , Manitoba , has done just that . Owned by Pat and Cammie Wohlgemuth , who , until Neva , had owned and operated a U - pick strawberry operation for some 13 years . The family decided they wanted to detect a direction to farm for a long period of time each year , so in 2006 , they buy a aquacultural greenhouse business sector from its old owner .
By 2007 , they were spring up and selling lettuce to a few customer in Winnipeg and , from there , the business took off simply through word of mouth . We sit down with Pat Wohlgemuth to learn more about what they ’re doing .
1. Why did you decide on greenhouse hydroponics?
There are three important questions to postulate yourself when it issue forth to any greenhouse operation :
If the answer is “ yes ” for those three doubt , it is executable to raise crop year - round . To spring up crop in a nursery in the summer only is n’t difficult , but if the conclusion is to grow class - round , require to repeat or even triple the investing in spare equipment to facilitate the need for a heating plant system , more effective cooling system and venting systems , contrived lighting , and more .
The most important factors are market demand and having a craw is compatible to grow in a greenhouse ( i.e. sweet basil , love apple , scratch and / cucumbers ) .
2. What do you grow?
We originate butter lettuce , green leaf lettuce , basilandmicrogreensyear - round in our two greenhouses , which covers 12,000 satisfying foot . We chose these for their demand and adaptability to greenhouse surroundings growing conditions .
3. What are hydroponics?
Hydroponics literally means “ water working , ” but in hardheaded use , it means growing plants in a nutrient result without soil . The soil is n’t required for plant growth , but the ingredient , mineral and food that soil contains are .
Soilis plainly the bearer of the nutrient , a place where the plant roots traditionally live and a base of reenforcement for the plant social organization . By rid of the soil , you do away with grime - abide diseases and weeds and gain precise ascendence over the flora ’s nutritionary diet . In a hydroponic answer , you provide the exact nutrients your plants need in precisely the right ratio . This mode , they can evolve free of stress , get on quicker and have the highest timber potential at harvest .
With aquacultural technology and a controlled - environs greenhouse , you could grow premium character produce with a minimal amount of quad , water system and plant food . tank farming is an intensive form of USDA that can carry out Manitoba consumer ’ requirement for premium , local create year - pear-shaped .
Our market is Winnipeg and southeast Manitoba , which we deliver like a shot to local stores , warehouse and eatery with no prospicient - space shipping .
