Hydroponic Farms Grow Fresh Produce Year-Round

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hydroponic farms

William Shelton Jr. of Shelton Family Farm in Whittier grows 10,000 to 12,000 heads of hydroponic Bibb lettuce per week.

Hydroponics, the technique of growing plants without soil in a controlled environment, has been around for hundreds of years. Sir Francis Bacon first wrote about it back in the 1600s. His work spawned research, which led to discoveries concerning the mineral nutrients plants need to thrive and the development of technologies to deliver those nutrients without soil.

Today, hydroponic systems range from the simple to the sophisticated. They include both kitchen windowsill herb gardens and high-tech setups in massive commercial ventures. The term itself – hydroponics, from the Greek hydro, meaning water, and ponos, meaning labor – literally means “water working.”

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Water is working well, in fact, for North Carolina farmers who use hydroponics to grow lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and other fresh produce in greenhouses year-round. The controlled environment and carefully engineered nutrient delivery systems free these farmers from many of the limitations of field-grown crops – for instance, seasonal production, variations in soil quality and mineral content, weather and weeds.

As one part of its overall operation that also includes field-grown tomatoes and strawberries, Shelton Family Farm in Jackson County near Whittier produces 10,000 to 12,000 heads of hydroponically grown Bibb lettuce every week.

hydroponic farms

Shelton checks the conductivity of the nutrient solution that grows the lettuce. The hydroponic system runs around the clock, pumping water and nutrients to the plants.

“It’s a year-round operation that’s geared toward wholesale markets. It’s an intensive production,” says William Shelton Jr., a fourth-generation family farmer whose lettuce is distributed in grocery stores throughout the Southeast.

Prior to 1986, when Shelton began growing lettuce hydroponically, his farm, like many in North Carolina, primarily produced livestock and tobacco.

SEE MORE: Hydroponics 101

“I grew up on a subsistence farm here in the mountains, and we raised a lot of stuff for our own consumption. But as far as commercial enterprises, it was tobacco and livestock,” Shelton recalls. “When I graduated from college and took over the farm, I kind of saw the handwriting on the wall with tobacco, so we made the transition kind of early on. We’ve tried to diversify and fill a niche.”

That meant building greenhouses and installing hydroponic systems that currently occupy two 120-foot-by-96-foot ranges. A nutrient flow-tray system pumps the nutrient solution from an in-ground tank into plastic PVC channels. The channels are built to allow the water to flow through them via gravity, coming in contact with the roots of each plant as it passes through the channel, then drops into a gutter and returns to the nutrient tank.

hydroponic farms

“It’s an enclosed system that runs 24/7, and it’s very efficient from a water-usage standpoint because we recycle the water,” Shelton says. “The only water that’s actually consumed in the process is what is taken up and transpired through the plants.”

Water conservation is just one of the benefits of hydroponic farming. Other advantages include the absence of weeds and less potential for disease.

“Disease is more manageable, mainly because you’re keeping the tops of the plants dry,” Shelton explains. “They’re not getting hit with rain that’s dispersing disease organisms. And they’re not being hit with wind or hail or things like that.”

Constant, regulated uptake of an exact mix of mineral nutrients also makes hydroponically grown crops consistently nutritious and flavorful.

But, perhaps most important, the controlled environment of the greenhouse allows for year-round production, which means better access to fresh produce for consumers and more income for farmers. Shelton estimates that, due to the intensity of production – seeding, transplanting and harvesting every week of the year – his half-acre of greenhouse space yields the equivalent of 80 acres to 90 acres of field-grown lettuce.

Of course, hydroponic farming is not all a bed of … lettuce. While production is fairly straightforward, it requires constant attention, significant investment and a great deal of marketing. Shelton’s operation keeps him and four full-time employees busy all year long.

“Hydroponic farming is not necessarily for everybody,” he says, “but it is a viable alternative for people who are willing to put the work in.”

Scott Spahr, of Spahr’s Produce Farm in Lillington, echoes that sentiment. “It’ll work for anybody if you want to work at it,” he says. “But it’s not for everybody. It’s a lot of work. It keeps me busy every day.”

hydroponic farms

Spahr, who runs his Harnett County operation mostly solo since his parents retired, diversified into hydroponics about 15 years ago, gradually adding one greenhouse at a time as he could afford it. He started with tomatoes, then added lettuce, English cucumbers and bell peppers. Today, three of his five hydroponic greenhouses are dedicated to tomatoes – two for the spring crop, one for the winter crop.

“I seem to get better quality and size with two different crops,” he explains.

Selling exclusively at farmers markets, Spahr’s goal was to be able to make a living through the winter. “Now the winter market is almost as good as the summer market is,” he says.

– Carol Cowan

17 Comments

  1. Julia Fussell

    April 24, 2014 at 2:02 pm

    I live in Winston Salem. Where might I be able to buy hydroponic tomatoes and lettuce.
    Thank you,
    Julia Fussell

  2. Richard Stevens

    May 9, 2014 at 1:49 pm

    I just started gardening myself and these hyroponic tips might just motivate me to try selling some of these at my local farmers market.

    • Ricardo Estephans

      May 9, 2014 at 1:51 pm

      I think I saw someone at our local Franklin, TN farmers market selling these.

  3. David

    May 9, 2014 at 2:17 pm

    these are great

    • Richard

      May 9, 2014 at 2:42 pm

      Are you doing a garden this year or just mulching?

  4. austin donelon

    September 3, 2014 at 4:51 am

    hi i have started to grow hydrponics i got my bed water right but i do not know where i can go on internett how to feed my plants i live in wales uk [what i want to know is how to mix feeds my tank hold aboyt 60 gallons .sorry if this is not the place to ask AUSTIN DINELON

  5. Alex Lane

    November 23, 2015 at 8:09 am

    Thanks for the information. I have heard about hydroponics in the past, but had never really considered trying it out for myself. I love the idea of growing year around though. Even in a green house though, are there certain crops that cannot be grown during winter? http://www.excelhydroponics.com.au

  6. David Tenney

    February 10, 2016 at 1:05 pm

    I do commend Shelton’s farms on the way they do lettuce (HYDROPONIC) I can eat it from the root it is so tender. I purchase 4 sometimes 6 heads at a time. It is the best lettuce for sandwiches and salads I’ve ever used. I’m taking some to W.Va. to my sister, she was visiting one summer and she also fell in love with the lettuce. To the Sheltons, I will forever be a customer. I will try other produce, would you possibly grow GALA apples? Thank You for being concerned for the health of the people. DGT

  7. John

    April 26, 2016 at 7:09 am

    Anyone in guilford county doing aquaponics? My son and I have started with two fish tanks and 6 grow beds and would like help with best practices and to talk with others who are doing this.

  8. mohammad thamjid

    August 3, 2016 at 1:42 am

    hello am thamjid am working as engineer in green technology in Kuwait….from few months am facing the problem of spotted wilt virus.. how to control it there is even no cure for it

  9. James brady

    February 17, 2017 at 1:24 pm

    Growing organic food indoors isolves many of our environmental problem with water and transportation. Hydroponics and Aquaponics has been around for many year but more recently accepted in the West. Farmers that seeks higher profit margins for their product, they work year round but enjoy quality time with family while earning more.

  10. Lonnie Dykes

    February 20, 2017 at 8:58 pm

    my friend in Vietnam would love to do something on the order you are doing could you send him info on any thing that might help him get started
    thanks
    led678s@hotmail.com

  11. Esther

    April 20, 2017 at 1:03 pm

    I really want to start my own hydroponic farming here in Nigeria, how do I start, can I start with outdoor because the cost might be high, I really want to start something on my own especially planting lettuce like you do, please help

  12. mthokozisi

    May 16, 2017 at 6:37 am

    I am a student at fort Cox college who in need of experiential training in hydroponics on July 2017. anyone who can assist me plz your assistant will be highly appreciated.

  13. scott

    June 20, 2017 at 11:06 am

    I love this be able to grow my own food or grow for money!!!!

  14. Madhuprasath

    September 13, 2017 at 4:59 am

    Hi,

    I would like to know commercial details to do hydrophonics farm or distribution of lettuce in Tamilnadu. Request to sent the details to my email ID.

    Regards
    Madhuprasath

  15. kalpesh

    June 13, 2021 at 2:52 am

    I got some unique and valuable information from your article. Thankful to you for sharing this article here. How to raise hydroponic farming?

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