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Hydroponic tomatoes

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One of the largest hydroponically grown crops is tomatoes. They grow larger, faster and more uniformly in hydroponic systems and have quickly become used in some of the largest agriculture producers in the world. Most of the tomatoes in US supermarkets are grown without ever touching soil, so it is certainly true that most people have already consumed a great deal of hydroponically grown vegetables, however they are not limited to large hydro-farms. It can be very rewarding to grow hydroponic tomatoes at home, especially since they can be grown out of season, inside or outdoors.

Hydroponically grown tomatoes are delicious and packed full of nutrients. If you grow hydroponic tomatoes at home you can pick them right off the vine and consume them almost immediately whether it is on a sandwich, salad or alone. Fresh tomatoes are significantly higher in nutritional value than ones that have been sitting in a supermarket, those tomatoes were often picked weeks prior to being consumed.

To grow hydroponic tomatoes at home, you must first decide whether you will be growing them indoors or outdoors. Outdoor growing requires the least amount of work and supplies, but is limited by sunlight, changing seasons, and freezing or hot temperatures. A basic outdoor set up requires a pump, channels for the nutrient solution to flow down, tubing to re-circulate the solution and a material to support the plants as they grow. Once the system is set up and functioning, the sun will do the rest, just be sure to check the nutrient solution daily, and replenish it when necessary.

Colder climates and areas in the highest and lowest latitudes are difficult places to grow outdoors, so an indoor system is preferred. Some companies’ market smaller units designed for easy home set up, sizes range from about the size of a travel cooler, to the size of a stand alone freezer while custom built models can be made to fill rooms or basements. With indoor systems the entire process is controlled, you can determine the amount of light, type of light, temperature and humidity of the grow room.

To grow hydroponic tomatoes at home indoors requires the use of an external light. Tomatoes prefer lots of sun, but specifically they prefer light in the blue area of the spectrum. Metal halide lights are great for tomatoes because they provide the bluest light, although LED lights are making improvements in power and efficiency and create much less heat than halide or high pressure sodium lights. Heat from the lights has to be regulated, a hot environment is not ideal for plant growth and in extreme cases will completely dry out and kill the plant. Fans are essential to most indoor hydroponic systems, keeping temperature and humidity at optimum levels.

No matter where you choose to grow hydroponic tomatoes at home, indoors or out, it can provide a tasty and cost effective alternative to purchasing produce from a grocery store. An efficient hydroponic system uses very little water, and can pay for itself in only a few months.

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