Nothing compares to the taste of red, ripe tomatoes picked straight from the garden unless, of course, they’re hydroponic tomatoes. These not only taste better but are easier to grow. Hydroponics is one of the best ways to grow fresh tomatoes year round. It’s also a suitable alternative for growing these plants in small spaces. Hydroponic gardening is a method of growing plants, like tomatoes, without the use of soil.
When tomatoes are grown using hydroponic systems, they are supplied with all the necessary nutrients for healthy growth. Rather than the roots needing to seek out these nutrients from within the soil, they are fed directly using a nutrient solution. As a result, the root systems of hydroponic tomatoes are smaller and plant growth more abundant, thus producing more fruit. This is just one benefit of growing tomatoes with hydroponics.
With hydroponic-grown tomatoes, their taste can oftentimes be improved by using higher strength hydroponic solutions. Well-grown hydroponic tomatoes taste better and are more nutritious than those grown by traditional methods, especially when commercially produced. In fact, fruit picked green and gas ripened isn’t tasty or as good for people as those that are vine ripened. The benefits of hydroponic-grown tomatoes has led to an increase in hydroponic farming.
Growing tomatoes the hydroponic way involves farming tomatoes in nutrient-rich solution. Since hydroponic tomatoes receive a closely monitored supply of this solution, all the required elements that influence healthy growth can be easily controlled. This includes factors such as light, temperature, humidity and pH levels—another benefit of hydroponic gardening. In addition, growing hydroponic tomatoes requires less maintenance, no weeding, and no troublesome pests or soil-borne diseases to contend with.
Most hydroponic systems come with step-by-step instructions and easy to use equipment, making it relatively simple for nearly anyone to use. They can even be easily constructed at home. The simplest form of hydroponic gardening uses the passive method, such as with wick systems. Other methods for growing hydroponic tomatoes and other plants include flood and drain, recovery drip systems, and the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT). They can also be grown using aeroponic methods, which involves that plants be grown in a suspended fashion and sprayed with nutrient solution.
One final benefit of growing tomatoes hydroponically is that it is more environmentally friendly. For instance, it requires minimal use of land area, it is more efficient in its usage of fertilizers and water consumption. In fact, all the nutrient solution is recovered in reservoirs, which are replenished and recycled.