I love strawberries. I don’t know too many people who don’t. Even people allergic to strawberries find themselves inexplicably drawn to them. But I don’t love those little red triangles that we get in the grocery store from Sep to Apr that come from somewhere way south of us. I know, it’s consumerism at it’s worst to want something so very much out of season, but I do.
But let’s back up the story. I grow hops, indoors, in special buckets. It’s in a system called hydroponics. Like those guys growing the funny weed that has been the topic of news for some time now. Well I have been reading about growers who been working out the kinks and creating a variety of hydroponic systems for growing these beloved little berries. I looked at my little hydroponic hops farm and realized I have unused real estate under those big plants. They take the same level of light and the same water and nutrient levels as strawberries. And there it was, the beginnings of an idea.
I phoned wonderful Apache Seeds and asked about starter stock for strawberries. These are the same starter plants farmers use to grow in the fields, tiny little 
runners, tied in bundles, virtually bare root. Sure enough they could get them for me. I had previously brought in runners from my backyard plants, and you could, if you wanted to carefully wash the roots. I have experienced first hand, the time it seems to take for them to acclimatize to the hydroponic system. These little starter stock plants have settled right in. In fact within a month of being planted they are already rewarding me with blossoms.
Why Hydroponics?
By now you are probably asking why hydroponics? Why not plop the little things in soil and let them do their thing? Some people argue that plants grown in soil taste better and maybe, to some, they do. The internet is full of arguments for both sides, but we’ve come a long way from the basic fertilizers and florescent lights. Much study has been done on the nutritive values of hydroponic plants, grown under lights. Certainly they have to taste better than those grocery store red things that have traveled thousands of kilometers to get to us. For me and many other indoor farmers, hydroponics is a clean way to grow. I can create a wonderful environment for plants grow in: the lights overhead; the medium in which they are grown; the chemistry of water; and the nutrients they receive. I am learning about the use of biological controls to balance insect predators and what to do to minimize problems like powdery mildew. Research has made it easier for my green thumb to work. All that being said, and science aside there is something magical about coming into the farm in the morning and seeing the first buds turning into blossoms. Especially in an Alberta winter. I can’t wait for a few more to open up so I can wield a paint brush and start pollinating.
Could you do this? It’s sounds complicated. Well, yes and no. There is a lot to learn and after asking a bunch of questions, you may decide that soil is the way for you. Just know that if you really want to grow great food indoors, there is still a learning curve, but the results are so worth it. Your local hydroponic shop can set you up with just about everything you need, if you want to grow hydroponically and a good garden center has experts to help with soil based farming. There is lots of great information online about growing both ways. I’ve learned a lot, reading and taking courses. There are kits you can purchase with everything you need to start with a few herbs, greens or microgreens before you started something more complicated, like strawberries, but certainly you could.
The Basics of Hydroponics – Water
Strawberries grown indoors require water with a pH of 5.3 to 6.5. You’ve probably not thought of testing the pH of your water before you water your plants. It might surprise you to know that our Edmonton city water rates at the 8.5 mark, which makes it more alkaline, what they call hard water. It’s that residue in your tea kettle and around the edge of your bathtub. A pH of 7 is considered to be neutral. If you have ever struggled to grow anything in your backyard, someone from a garden center may have suggested that you get your soil tested for pH. For 
your houseplants 5.5 to 6.5 is ideal, unless you have something that requires a more acidic soil. There are all kinds of amendments you can add to garden soil to change the acidity, but in hydroponics, a product called pH Down and a simple test kit is all you need. Even your houseplants would benefit from water that is adjusted for pH.
Along with higher pH, what comes from your tap has chlorine and sometimes chloramine in it. Anyone with a fish tank knows about the importance of treating for that. Have you ever collected rainwater for your plants, or noticed how green your lawn is from the rain compared to watering it? Chlorine and sometimes the disinfectant chloramine are added to our drinking water to keep it safe. The problem with those two chemicals for watering your plants, particularly in hydroponics is the removal of any beneficial fungi and bacteria which help plants take up nutrients. You can remove chlorine by allowing it to sit out in the sun for 24 hours, but chloramine has to be removed by filtering or chemically. Campden tablets will remove the chlorine and chloramine from your water, but they also increase the sodium levels. Before I lose you to all the science, if you want to grow better plants, and especially if you are thinking hydroponics, find yourself a good shop and ask about your options. If you are like me and just have to do the research, check out this article from High Times.
Growing Media and Containers
Back to my strawberries. They are growing well in their Bato or Dutch Buckets, wedged in between the hops. Bato Buckets are a frequently used system for growing a variety of tall or vining plants such as: tomatoes; cucumbers; or peppers. To learn more about setting up a Bato Bucket system, check out this great article from Upstart University.
So far I have used perlite as the growing media, especially for the hops as it drains very well. The side effect of perlite is the dust. You need a mask to work with it. There are other options but you need to consider drainage. Each media has a system for which it is ideally suited. Perlite drains well, but with little water retention, you have to set up a timed watering or be prepared to hand water every few hours, depending on plant requirements. Rockwool holds a lot of water is not ideal for Bato. Perlite/vermiculite mixtures are good but vermiculite holds a lot of water. Coconut fibre is becoming much more popular and is something I will be testing for the growth of the strawberries. From GPN an older article but it talks about a variety of growing media. Whatever you choose, if you are using Bato Buckets you need to keep the media from clogging the system. Painter’s filter bags are a great way hold the growing media and prevent it from being washed down into the watering system and into the pumps.
This article barely scratches the surface of growing hydroponically. I have much to learn but so far, with the strawberries, I have blossoms, and soon I hope to have berries. Whatever you choose to grow and however you choose to grow it, have fun, much luck and enjoy.