We live in Florida. Everybody has a screened patio out back (we call them lanai’s down here). Why not set up an outdoor hydroponic garden on the porch during the milder months? We do. Take advantage of all that free sun and mild temps!
Here in Florida, the winters are perfect for a hydroponic patio garden. The nights are cool (50-60) and the days are mild (65-75). Right now, we are growing romaine lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, carrots and onions out there. A true “winter garden”. They are growing like crazy, as you can see in the photo above.
But we cannot use the patio for our summer garden… it’s too hot (90 degrees +). I learned this the hard way. Last spring, I planted a big summer garden out on the lanai. The plants did thrive…. for a little while.
But the fruits never set, and the whole thing was a total failure. Why? Too darn hot! I felt sooooo bad. The nutrient solution was actually hot to the touch. I swear I heard the green beans scream in agony when the HID lamps came on.
In your locale, you may do just the opposite of what we do here in the semi-tropics. You might do all your winter gardening indoors, while the snow blows outside. Then move into outdoor hydroponics mode. Move your garden out to the patio for the mild summer months. (Canada? Am I talking about you?)
Make sure you use a portable hydro unit
Moving your indoor hydroponics garden outside takes a little planning. Your unit must either be portable, or fitted with wheels, or easy to take down and reassemble. If you live in the great white north, move your garden outdoors when the danger of frost is past.
For their first few days, “harden off” the plants with a little supplemental heater ’til they become acclimated to the cooler outdoors. And protect them from direct sunlight at first, or they may get sunburn!
Disadvantages of patio gardening
Bugs
Yep, you’ll have more bugs out on the porch. I guarantee it. Even if it’s screened in. So be on the lookout and nip those little critters in the bud.
I once had a whitefly invasion on my patio garden. It started with just a few. I ignored them, and before I knew what was happening, the entire garden was covered in them! It was horrible.
Since then, I have learned to always watch out for hydroponic pests.
Freaky weather
Sometimes Mother Nature just doesn’t cooperate, you know? We have occasional light freezes here in central Florida. Yikes! What to do with the patio garden?
Well, some of the winter plants do just fine with an occasional dip in the temp (broccoli and cabbage). And you can always put a small radiant heater out there to keep things reasonable. And for you
northerners, an occasional freak 95 degree heat wave in your normally mild summer can be dissipated with a couple of fans.
And let’s not forget the wind. Sometimes, a violent storm or “norther” just comes out of nowhere. It can destroy your beautiful veggie plants, especially if you have just transplanted some babies. Try to set up a windbreak for your patio garden if possible.
This whole patio gardening thing will only work if you live in a climate that has a mild season of 3-4 months where the temperature stays in that magic range of 65-80. If not, you’re stuck with indoor
hydroponics, or… if you should be so lucky… a hydroponic greenhouse.
Outdoor Hydroponic Garden Idea – Create a Backyard Fence Garden
Check out this amazing backyard fence garden created by one of our readers. His setup is amazing, and the amount of food and flowers he grew on this fence garden is incredible.
