Hydroponic Tomatoes for Beginners

How to start growing tomatoes indoors hydroponically 

 

In this article I cover everything you need to know to start growing hydroponic tomatoes at home. Here you will find out what you need to set up your indoor hydroponic system and what to consider when choosing one. 

 

The difference between hydroponic growing systems and other ways of growing indoor tomatoes is in the method of irrigation, the growing medium and nutrients the plants need. Other elements of tomato care are pretty much the same. Your plants will need good light, support, warm temperature and good ventilation. In this article I will mainly focus on what’s specific to growing tomatoes hydroponically. 

 

 

hydroponic growing system

Growing tomatoes hydroponically 

What is hydroponic tomato growing?

Hydroponic gardening is growing tomatoes without soil. 

What you need to grow tomatoes hydroponically

To grow indoor tomatoes with a hydroponic system you will need:

  • Hydroponic system 
  • Growing medium
  • Nutrient mix
  • Lights
  • Trellis
  • Seeds or seedlings

Hydroponic system

Let’s start with choosing a hydroponic system for your tomato plants. 

Choosing the right hydroponic system to grow tomatoes 

What to consider when choosing a hydroponic system for indoor tomatoes? 

Tomatoes can grow in most hydroponic systems, so you can’t really go wrong with it. Your choice will be related to your personal preferences and the amount of space you have. The things to think about before buying a hydroponic system include:

  • Its dimensions and the space you have
  • Irrigation automation
  • How you will position the grow lights
  • Fertigation 
  • Trellis structure 

Generally speaking, good hydroponic system for tomatoes will:

  • Be easy to assemble
  • Include trellis structure
  • Be easy to maintain
  • Have adjustable fertigation
How to choose a hydroponic system for growing tomatoes indoors?

If you want to know more about it, I describe different types of hydroponic system in this article: 

  • How to choose a hydroponic system for indoor tomatoes 

Growing medium

Hydroponic tomatoes grow in a non-soil material that supports their roots and holds the nutrients. Different types of growing mediums have different water retention capabilities. The most common growing mediums which replace soil are: 

  • Soilless mixes 
  • Coco coir 
  • Rockwool (for starters)
  • Clay pebbles 

Choosing the right growing medium 

What’s the best growing medium for hydroponic tomatoes?

Various soilless growing mixes work best for hydroponic systems. You can buy a ready-made soilless mix which you can find in your local gardening centers or online. You can also make your own mix using materials such as sand, coconut coir, vermiculite and perlite. 

Popular growing mediums to consider 

Rockwool
Rockwool works well for growing tomatoes hydroponically, especially for growing tomatoes from seeds and seedlings. 

Coconut coir

Coir is an excellent choice, especially when mixed with clay pebbles and in soilless mixes.

Perlite

Perlite is a popular growing material and it’s inexpensive. It’s pH neutral and works best in a mix with other materials such as vermiculite. 

Vermiculate

Vermiculate is a naturally occurring mineral and it’s used in soilless potting mixes due to its lightweight, ability to retain nutrients and allow their slow release.

Nutrient solution

Your tomato fertilizer is something you want to pay attention to. This is your plant’s food and your produce will hugely depend on it. 

What is the best nutrient mix for hydroponic tomatoes?

The best fertilizer will depend on the growing stage of your plants. Here is how:

Seedlings 

Seedlings and young plants will grow well with a general nutrient mix for plants. 

Flowering plants

When your tomatoes begin to flower, you may want to add a flowering nutrient mix, thanks to this you will have more flowers and more fruits. 

Fruit setting

Potassium rich mixes will help at the fruit setting stage. 

Fruiting 

At the fruiting stage, you can add phosphorous rich solution. Generally speaking, a good fertilizer for hydroponic tomatoes will include: calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sulfate of potash, monopotassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and boron.

How much nutrient solution do I need? 

Each tomato plant requires about 2.5 gallons of nutrient solution.

Lights

The lighting for your home hydroponic system will be the same as for any other type of indoor tomato growing. Hydroponic tomato growing systems are about the way if irrigation and growing medium, and there is nothing different about the lighting. 

Indoor tomato plants need a lot of light, 14-18 hours of LED light per day for maximum production. For best results choose full-spectrum LED lights that are specifically designed for tomatoes. 

To find out more about lighting for your indoor tomatoes check out this article:

Trellis

How do you stake hydroponic tomatoes? 

Training tomatoes will depend on the type of your hydroponic system and many hydroponic growing kits have a frame to support the tomato plants. However, if yours doesn’t or you’re making a DIY hydroponic tomato system, you will need some type of support. 

If you grow tomatoes in buckets, you can attach a trellis or sticks to the base. For larger containers you can build a wooden frame that will stand on the floor and around the base (this will give a stable support) and add strings to it. Another option, requiring less space would be support installed on the wall – this could work well for indeterminate tomato varieties. 

Remember to think through how you will stake your hydroponic tomatoes and how much space it requires before choosing and setting up the system. 

Seeds or seedlings

What is a better way to start growing tomatoes hydroponically, to start from seeds or buy seedlings?

It’s better to raise tomato plants for hydroponic systems from seed whenever possible. If you bring plants in from the outdoors, you may introduce pests and diseases to your hydroponics system.

If you decide to buy seedlings, remember that transplanting seedlings that grew in the soil isn’t ideal for your hydroponic tomato growing, as they could be infected with pests or germs.

How much space do hydroponic tomatoes need?

Depending on the tomato variety, hydroponic tomatoes require spacing of 12-24 inches. 

In the next article I will cover hydroponic system maintenance.

 

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Summary

Hydroponic tomato cultivation is a promising path to homegrown, pesticide-free produce. Even if you are a beginner growing tomatoes hydroponically isn’t difficult, especially if you opt for a ready-made hydroponic system. It’s enough to know some simple basics such as the right pH, nutrients and lighting to be able to grow your own tomatoes without soil. Other than that, hydroponic tomato care is the same as with traditional soil-based growing. 

What’s your experience with growing hydroponic tomatoes? Did you find it easy or difficult? What problems did you experience? 

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