Experience of hydroponic greens cultivation at Waikawa Fresh farm

The Waikawa Fresh farm was acquired by Tony and Lisa Dale-Lowe in 2018 near Levin. The transition to horticulture was a career change for the owners, dictated by a desire to work in the countryside and engage in productive labor instead of office work. During the plant growing process, the couple completely abandoned the use of soil, replacing it with an aqueous solution with a complex of nutrients.

The production process begins with obtaining seedlings using the "ebb and flow" method. The seedling tables are filled three times a day with nutrient liquid containing fertilizer. Upon reaching three weeks of age, the plants are transplanted into special gutters, resembling rain gutters, in which holes for planting have been made. The system functions by gravity: the liquid is fed to the top of the gutter, flows through the channel, and returns to the reservoir. Water for production needs is collected from the roofs of the 4500 sqm greenhouses.

An automated control system continuously monitors the balance of nutrients and pH level, activating the dosing of additives when necessary. The water circulates in a closed loop, being replenished only in the amount necessary to compensate for plant uptake or evaporation. This approach allows for the harvesting of salad crops just two months after planting, and the plants do not require additional cleaning or chemical treatment, as they do not come into contact with dirt, insects, or unauthorized persons throughout the entire growing cycle.

Since the end of last year, the farm has been using solar energy to reduce electricity costs. The electricity generated also powers equipment for farm maintenance, including a Nissan Leaf electric vehicle.