I'm growing hydroponic tomatoes indoors

[Prof]

Last season I started to grow some tomatoes in large pots outside..

They were regularly watered and fertilized and I had a few tomatoes on the plants..

Then we started to get high daily temperatures reaching into the mid 40's.!!!..

Even with the plants sheltered with shade cloth..they all  died..

This was the second time that it had happened..the first being at another location..

I decided I wouldn't try again..and besides at my age it was becoming impracticable to do any further gardening..

Then one day I happened to come across an article about growing tomatoes all year round indoors.!! This perked up my interest again..

I discovered that one could grow tomatoes indoors in a hydroponic system.!!

I liked the idea because you didn't have to worry about bugs and insects getting at your plants..and the containers were at bench top height..so no bending..no watering and you can have tomatoes all year round.!!!

I've always imagined that hydroponics was just for growing Weed, with all sorts pumps and bubblers  with lights everywhere and using lots of electricity.!!

What I discovered is that with simple systems you can grow all sorts of herbs, vegetables and flowers..

There is a system called the Kratky method..It's basically having a container with liquid fertilizer and putting a seedling suspended in the liquid..That's it.!! No pumps or bubblers or expensive lighting..

Looking at you tube video's I found people were even using ice cream containers and large coffee jars to grow tomatoes in.!! Some used what they call in the US Mason jars..

The more sophisticated ones used plastic tanks and grew several plants in them..

I decided to give it a try..The best place I found was in the laundry..It's out of the way and I found that the space between the washing machine and the cupboard was ideal..

In my next post I will describe what I bought for the system and I'll show the little table I made to fit between that space..

[Prof]

Yes I have used their Manutec product..

It worked reasonably well..Good for greens..not so much for flowering and fruiting..

At the moment I'm taking a whole new look at the nutrient situation..

I've discovered that just about all the formulae that's on the internet is way too strong in nitrogen..

Even the so called experts are using calcium nitrate in their formula and that chemicals NPK .is 15-0-0..All nitrogen.!!

I've decided to make my own from scratch.! I've bought the phosphorus and the potassium..and I'll use a commercial NPK mix that is low in nitrogen..

I think is only going to be the only way to get a good balance..

[Dave-1]

Morning @Prof 

Definently have learned a lot just by watching your experiments!

Dave

[Prof]

Thanks Dave..I'm glad I've been able to help you..

Are you currently growing hydroponic vegetables.?

[Dave-1]

@Prof 

Noooo, Always wanted to but never have got around to it. I do have in mind to grow cherry tomatoes in a pvc pipe type deal in a chicken coup that I have built (no chickens lol) as its markedly cooler behind the steel mesh I have used and covered so birds wont say "howdy" if I grow things like strawberries ect. Its on the "list" of things to try one day.... So until then I just watch and learn!

Dave

[Prof]

Dave ..Something to take into consideration when you think about putting in a system..

If it's outside the system is subject to the following..

1..Seasonal planting..

2..Infestation of all sorts of bugs..

3..Invasion of animals from rats to rabbits..

4..Extreme temperatures..

5..Temperature changes..

6..Strong winds if out in the open..

That's why I decided to have my hydroponics indoors..

If you have the space I would certainly advise it..

[Prof]

Hi..

Is there any one on this forum that has experience with growing vegetables Hydroponically.!?:

I've been doing it for some time now, but I have not come across this problem before..

My current tomato plants have bloomed but with all male flowers.!! NO FEMALE FLOWERS..

Consequently the male flowers are all dying off..I've added extra Bloom nutrients to the containers, but to no avail..

Any body have any ideas.!? 

Prof..

[JacobZ]

Hi @Prof,

I can't say I have any experience with hydroponic growing, so I will have to call on others, but I will note that all common varieties of tomato flowers have "perfect flowers", which means they have both male parts, called anthers, and female parts called stigma. As they have both parts, when grown outdoors, they are affected by wind and pollinating insects, which will help to transfer the pollen from the anthers to the stigma, whereas indoors, these external factors are not present.

In your situation, as the flowers are growing, but not turning into fruit, it seems likely that they are not self-pollinating as they would in normal circumstances.

I note some talk online about shaking the tomato plants or vibrating them with something like an electric toothbrush to encourage pollen to transfer between the male and female parts.

Have you tried anything like this?

I note from your previous discussion about your hydroponics setup that you do not appear to have fans. Is this something you have considered?

The air movement may help to naturally move the pollen between the male and female parts of the flower, removing the need for you to manually assist with pollination.

Allow me to tag @Noelle, @mich1972 and @robchin to see if they have any thoughts.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[Noelle]

Hi @Prof 

That's a pretty comprehensive response from Jacob! Tomato flowers do indeed have both male (pollen bearing anthers) and female (pollen receptive) parts.

While air and plant movement is responsible for some pollination and subsequent fruit set, insects perform most of the pollination, so growing tomatoes indoors without hand pollination is not likely to be all that successful. Even outdoor tomato crops over the past few years have been rather flaky due to a noticeable lack of pollinating insects such as bees!

The methods explained by Jacob should be successful but if you have time and energy, using a fine artist's paint brush and physically transferring pollen from anthers to stigmas in blooms should result in a much better fruit set.

[Dave-1]

Good afternoon @Prof 

I like the idea of gently brushing through the plants with your hands to help the fond/branches pass each other. I also wonder if the type of tomatoes require that the plants be physically closer to each other?

I do have a question Are they the seeds from previous seasons you are using or a new batch of seeds?

Dave