Are you interested in growing fresh, juicy tomatoes right in your own home? With the help of table hydroponic systems, you can cultivate hydroponic tomatoes indoors without the need for soil or a traditional garden. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of growing hydroponic tomatoes indoors, providing you with valuable tips and step-by-step instructions to ensure a successful harvest.
Introduction of Hydroponics
Hydroponics is a soil-less gardening method that allows you to grow plants using nutrient-rich water solutions. It is an efficient and space-saving technique that is ideal for indoor gardening. With table hydroponic systems, you can create a dedicated growing area for your hydroponic tomatoes, even if you have limited space.
Benefits of Growing Tomatoes Hydroponically Indoors
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Year-round Harvest: By growing hydroponic tomatoes indoors, you can enjoy fresh tomatoes throughout the year, regardless of the season.
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Controlled Environment: With table hydroponic systems, you have full control over the growing conditions, including temperature, humidity, and lighting, optimizing the growth and flavor of your tomatoes.
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Space Efficiency: Table hydroponic systems are compact and can fit in small spaces, making them suitable for apartments, balconies, or any indoor setting.
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Water Efficiency: Hydroponic systems use less water compared to traditional soil-based gardening, making them environmentally friendly.
Selecting the Right Tomato Plant Variety For Hydroponics
Choosing a dwarf tomato variety is a great option for tabletop hydroponic kits where space is limited. Dwarf tomato varieties are specifically bred to have compact growth habits, making them well-suited for small-scale hydroponic gardens. Here are a few recommended dwarf tomato varieties for your tabletop hydroponic kit:
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"Cherry Gold" ("Sun Gold"): This dwarf variety produces clusters of small, golden-yellow cherry tomatoes. It has a bushy growth habit and is perfect for tabletop hydroponics.
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"Tiny Tim": Known for its miniature size, Tiny Tim is an ideal choice for compact hydroponic setups. It produces small red cherry tomatoes and doesn't require extensive support.
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"Patio Princess": Patio Princess is a dwarf determinate tomato variety that is suitable for container and hydroponic gardening. It yields medium-sized tomatoes and has a compact, bushy habit.
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"Window Box Roma": This dwarf Roma tomato variety is specifically bred for growing in containers and small spaces. It produces meaty, plum-shaped tomatoes and is well-suited for hydroponic tabletop gardens.
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"Micro Tom": Considered one of the smallest tomato plants available, Micro Tom is an excellent choice for hydroponic kits. It reaches a height of only 6-8 inches and produces tiny, flavorful cherry tomatoes.
Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Hydroponic Tomatoes Indoors
Step 1: Choose the Right Table Hydroponic System
Select a table hydroponic system that suits your space and requirements. Consider factors such as size, design, and ease of maintenance. Popular hydropnics system include nutrient film technique (NFT), deep water culture (DWC), and ebb and flow systems. However, they may be too big systems to operate. We recommend a table hydroponic garden kit for you - Mars Hydro Hydroline12. In this guide, we will also be using this hydroponic gardening kit to grow tomatoes plants.
Step 2: Gather the Necessary Equipment and Supplies
To get started, you will need the following:
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Table hydroponic gardening system - Mars Hydro Hydroline12 Hydroponics kit
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Hydroponic nutrient solution (Hydroline12 comes with paired nutrients, you should prepare it yourself if you do not grow with Hydroline12)
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Tomato seedlings or seeds
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Thermometer and hygrometer for monitoring temperature and humidity
The Hydroline12 already includes the following supplies:
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Growing medium (e.g., rockwool cubes, perlite, or coconut coir)
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Hydroponic nutrient solution
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LED grow lights
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Timer for light control
Step 3: Germinate Tomato Seeds or Acquire Seedlings
If you're starting from seeds, germinate them in a suitable growing medium. Maintain the optimal temperature and moisture conditions to promote healthy seedling growth. Alternatively, you can purchase tomato seedlings from a nursery or garden center, or get seedlings from mature tomato plants by cuttings.
Tomato Seeds Germination:
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Soak the seeds in water for 6-8 hours.
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Place the soaked seeds in moist gauze or towels to initiate germination. It will take 1-2 days for the seeds to germinate.
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Rinse the seeds with water 1-2 times a day to remove the mucilage.
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Maintain a temperature of 20-25°C.
Tomato Seedlings from Cuttings:
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Select sturdy lateral branches measuring approximately 10 cm in length for the cuttings. Remove the flower clusters with buds and the lower leaves from the cut lateral branches, leaving 2-3 leaves at the tip of each branch.
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To ensure better rooting and faster healing, carefully make a clean incision at the base of the selected side branches using a razor blade. The incision should be smooth, resulting in a larger area of healing tissue, which improves the survival rate of the cuttings.
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Tomato side shoots can be taken directly without any chemical treatment. Alternatively, chemical control can be used to enhance rooting. Dip the base of the main stem in a solution of 50 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid or indoleacetic acid for 10 minutes before taking the cuttings. This method increases root growth by 20% to 30%.
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Maintain a temperature of 20-25°C.
Step 4: Transplant Seedlings into the Hydroponic System
Follow the instructions to assemble and install your Hydroline12 table hydroponic system. Ensure that the system is stable and secure. Fill the reservoir with the hydroponic nutrient solution, adjusting the pH level as per the instructions.
Growing from Tomato Seeds:
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Once the tomato seeds have small seedlings, fill the Hydroline12's tank with 5 liter of configured nutrient solution. Prepare the solution by adding 3ml each of nutrients A and B (provided in the Hydroline12 kit) every 1 liter of water.
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Place the seeds in planting cotton and gently insert them into the planting holes. Cover the holes with a plastic cover.
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Maintain an electrical conductivity (EC) value of the nutrient solution between 0.7-1.2.
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Select the "VEG" mode on your hydroponic system.
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Set the light pole height to the lowest position.
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Adjust the light intensity to the fourth mode.
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Maintain a light duration of 16 hours per day.
Growing from Tomato Plant Cuttings:
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Prepare the Hydroline12's tank and fill it with 5 liters of water.
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Place the tomato cuttings in planting cotton and carefully insert them into the planting holes. Cover the holes with disposable plastic water cups.
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Maintain an electrical conductivity (EC) value of the nutrient solution between 0.7-1.2.
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Select the "VEG" mode on your hydroponic system.
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Set the light pole height to the lowest position.
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Adjust the light intensity to the fourth mode.
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Maintain a light duration of 16 hours per day.
Step 5: Grow Seedling Tomatoes to Vegetative Stage
The Hydroline12 comes with led grow light itself. And you can also place it in a location where your tomato plants can receive natural sunlight to get more light and accelerate the growth process
. During the seedling growth, there are few things to note.
Grow from Tomato Seeds:
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In about 5 days, the new roots have grown out of the planting cotton, you can start to replenish the nutrient solution. Add nutrient solution when the pump is running, 5L of water with 10ml each of nutrient A and B.
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After another 2-4 days, some of the root length reaches the bottom of the planting surface, increase the light intensity to the highest mode.
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Remove the plastic covers.
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Maintain the EC value between 1.0-1.2.
Grow from Tomato Cuttings:
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In about 5 days, the new roots have grown out of the planting cotton, now start to replenish the nutrient solution. Add nutrient solution when the pump is running, 5L of water with 10ml each of nutrient A and B.
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After another 2-4 days, increase the light intensity to the highest mode.
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Remove the disposable water cup.
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Maintain the EC value between 1.0-1.2.
Step 6: Monitor and Maintain Growing Conditions For Vegetative Growth
After approximately 10-14 days, the tomato seedlings or cuttings will enter the new vegetative stage of growth. At this point, it is crucial to make certain adjustments and monitor various factors within the hydroponic system to ensure optimal conditions for your tomatoes. Follow these guidelines:
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Adjust the electrical conductivity (EC) value of the nutrient solution to fall within the range of 1.2-1.6.
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Select the "VEG" mode.
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Adjust the height of the light pole according to the height of the tomato plants.
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Adjust the light intensity to the highest setting (Fifth mode).
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Maintain a consistent light duration of 12 hours per day.
In addition to these adjustments, regularly monitor and check the temperature, humidity, pH levels, and nutrient concentration within the hydroponic system. Ensure they remain within the suitable ranges for tomato growth. Make necessary modifications or amendments as needed to maintain an optimal growing environment.
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Recommended pH Level: 5.2-6.8
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Recommended Huimidity Level: 55%-60%
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Recommended Temperature Level: 21°-26° (day), 16°-20° (night)
While it is beneficial to strive for these recommended ambient conditions, it doesn't matter if you are unable to maintain these conditions precisely. Tomatoes are resilient plants that can tolerate variations in their growing environment.
Step 7: Prune Your Tomato Plants and Replenish Nutrient Solutions
As your tomato plants grow, prune them to remove excess foliage and promote airflow. Provide support, such as trellises or stakes, to help the plants grow upright and prevent breakage.
On top of that, changing the nutrient solution will be also part of your regular maintenance tasks.
It's important to remember, the nutrient solution in the tank should be maintained at 3 liters or more. The lower the water level is, the more likely the concentration of nutrient solution will be out of balance. Replenish the nutrient solution when it is below 3 liters. It is also important to replace the nutrient solution and clean the water tank every two weeks.
Follow these steps for nutrient solution replenishment:
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Begin by preparing a new batch of nutrient solution. To do this, add 4ml of nutrient A to every 1 liter of water and mix it thoroughly. Then, add 4ml of nutrient B and mix well until both components are fully incorporated.
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Empty the existing nutrient solution from the tank and discard it. Or only replenish the nutrients according to the actual conditions.
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Pour the freshly prepared nutrient solution into the tank, adjusting the quantity according to the replenishment volume needed.
Step 8: Prepare for Flowering and Fruiting
The conditions required for tomato flowering and fruiting are similar to those during the vegetative period. However, there are a few key considerations, such as increasing the EC value and adjusting the nutrient supplementation approach.
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EC Value: Maintain an EC value of 1.6-2.0. If your tomato plants bear numerous fruits, you can raise the EC value to 2.0-2.5.
Replenish or replace the nutrient solution twice a week. Here's how to do it:
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Prepare a fresh batch of nutrient solution. Add 5ml of nutrient A to every 1 liter of water and thoroughly mix it. Then, add 5ml of nutrient B and ensure both components are fully incorporated.
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Pour the newly prepared nutrient solution into the tank, adjusting the quantity according to the replenishment volume needed.
Additionally, an essential process during the flowering and fruiting stage of tomato growth is artificial pollination. Without this process, you may not achieve delicious tomatoes.
Artificial Pollination:
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When flowers appear, you can facilitate hand-pollination by gently shaking the entire plant or rotating the inside of each flower with a small brush.
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Take care to ensure that every flower receives proper attention during the pollination process.
Step 9: Harvest Your Hydroponic Tomatoes
Once your hydroponic tomatoes have reached the desired ripeness, carefully and timely harvest them. If the harvest is not timely, the tomatoes are easy to crack. Enjoy the satisfaction of picking fresh, flavorful tomatoes from your indoor garden!
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1: How long does it take to grow hydroponic tomatoes indoors?
A1: The time it takes to grow hydroponic tomatoes indoors can vary depending on the tomato variety and growing conditions. On average, it takes approximately 8 to 12 weeks from planting to harvest.
Q2: Do hydroponic tomatoes taste different from soil-grown tomatoes?
A3: Hydroponic tomatoes are known for their excellent flavor and texture. With proper nutrient management and environmental control, hydroponically grown tomatoes can taste just as delicious, if not better, than their soil-grown counterparts.
Growing Tomatoes Hydroponically with Mars Hydro
Growing hydroponic tomatoes indoors using table hydroponic systems offers a rewarding and convenient way to enjoy fresh tomatoes year-round. By following the step-by-step guide provided in this blog post, you can create an optimal environment for your hydroponic tomatoes and harvest bountiful crops. With Mars Hydro Hydroline12 hydroponic gardening kit, growing indoor tomatoes hydroponically can be a joyful process! Embrace the joy of indoor gardening and savor the delicious flavors of homegrown hydroponic tomatoes with Mars Hydro!
By the way, if you already have a hydroponic system, try Mars Hydro VG80 as your grow lighting source. The VG80 can a great assistant to grow hydroponic tomatoes successfully!
