How to Grow Tomatoes using Hydroponic Gardening System

Whilst it is true that setting up a hydroponic gardening system is quite a complicated project, hydroponics is a fascinating subject and one that can reap dividends. Better still, it is an environmentally friendly growing method that can be adapted to small areas, even minimal apartment balconies.

Basically what it involves is growing plants without soil, but with plenty of nutrients and lots of water.

A History of Hydroponics

People have been practicing hydroponics on and off for centuries it would seem.  Some say it was a method used by the Ancient Egyptians which, given their knowledge of water is possible. Others say that it was a practice that began during the 19th century, when glass greenhouses were first used for propagating and growing plants.

William Frederick Gericke, an American professor of German descent who worked at Berkley University, is said to have coined the term “hydroponics”. This was announced in Time magazine on March 1, 1937! He also wrote a rather legendary book on the subject, The Complete Guide to Soilless Gardening. The way Gericke did it was to:

• make a shallow tank out of wood, metal or concrete
• waterproof the hole or container
• add water and nutrients, specifically the chemicals that plants need and get from the soil – calcium, magnesium, potassium, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorous and several minerals.
• top the hole or container with wire netting
• then pack excelsior (fine-curled softwood shavings) and peat onto the wire
• plant the seeds in the excelsior so that the roots would sprout downwards into the water.

Dr Gericke constructed his first tanks in his own back yard from redwood that he coated with tar. The tanks that he experimented with at Berkley were quite big; .01 acres or .004 hectares each. Time reported that he successfully grew and harvested as much as 1,224 lb or more than half a kg of tomatoes in just one tank.

According to the Time article: “Tomatoes are Dr Gericke’s joy”.  By using the hydroponic method inside greenhouses, with electrically warmed water, he was able to grow tomatoes for eight to nine months a year.

An article in The Rotarian magazine in 1939 stated that before one crop had died off, another was coming on. So onions would poke their heads through cucumber vines, while tomatoes pushed through potatoes – another vegetable he grew hydroponically with incredible success.

His vision was for the desert areas in the US to be able to create hydroponic market gardens that were “bathed in sunlight and free from pests”.

The early hydroponic systems were very expensive, particularly when done on a large scale under glass using electricity. But with the development of plastic materials, for tunnel covers and for drippers, it has become increasingly popular, not only for commercial growers, but for people at home wanting a hobby they really can benefit from.

The most important factor is that tomatoes need the right amount of light, humidity and nutrients. So it is important to position your greenhouse and tomato plants from north to south, to maximise the flow of natural sunlight. Temperature should not vary too much (a variation of 10 degrees between day and night is ideal), and humidity should be around 65% and 70%. Hydroponic nutrients are available from good garden stores and nurseries.

There are hydroponic kits available for hobbyists.

Hydroponics is an interesting method of growing your own tomatoes. Our book, How To Grow Juicy Tasty Tomatoes, can provide you with comprehensive information on hydroponics.