Your Guide To Growing Tomatoes In steadyGROWpro
Tomatoes are the most commonly grown hydroponic vegetable in the world. SteadyGROWpro is an ideal media for growing a wide variety of tomato plants. SteadyGROWpro is:
Inert – allows for maximum nutrient intake to the plant. It does not attract pests
Sterile – eliminates algal, fungal and bacterial growth
Good aeration – makes sure the root zone is provided with ample oxygen
Optimum water holding capacity – facilitates healthy root formation
Picking Your Tomato Seeds
Tomato seed selection is critical to successful germination rates. Select varieties which grow quickly, are known to produce higher yields and can tolerate temperature fluctuations during the various stages of growth. Be sure the seeds you select are disease resistant and will produce good quality fruit. Never use seeds which are more than nine months old.
Preparing Your Indoor Garden
Prepare your indoor gardening area by cleaning, sterilizing and disinfecting with a disinfectant. If this is your first indoor garden, click here for a recommended layout and set up.
Sowing Tomato Seeds
Once the seeds are selected, sow them in steadyGROWpro sheets or plug strips. Make sure the steadyGROWpro product is thoroughly saturated with water.
Sowing in Plug Strips - Plug strips should be watered from the top only; place the plugs in standard 10" x 20" grower trays to capture any excess water. Push the seed down in the foam about ½" into the starburst hole using a sharp and thin object (ie: sharpened pencil). Place the seeded trays in a room which will maintain a temperature of roughly 80° F. At all stages of growth, you should shoot for a minimum of eight hours and a maximum of 12 hours of natural or artificial light per day. Check the media from time to time to make sure it is properly hydrated. SteadyGROWpro plug media should feel moist at the top. Be careful not to overwater the media. If the seeds are oversaturated or sitting in water, it will prevent proper growth.
Sowing in Sheet Media - Sheet media placed in a standard 10" x 20" grower tray may be subirrigated or watered from the top. Maintain a water level within the grower tray of about ⅓ the media height. Drop the seed in the prepunched holes. Place the seeded trays in a room which will maintain a temperature of roughly 80° F. At all stages of growth, you should shoot for a minimum of eight hours and a maximum of 12 hours of natural or artificial light per day. Check the media from time to time to make sure it is properly hydrated. SteadyGROWpro sheet media should maintain a water level of ⅓ the height of the media. Be careful not to overwater the media. If the seeds are oversaturated or sitting in water, it will prevent proper growth.
Germination And Transplanting To steadyGROWpro Blocks
Tomato seeds will germinate in eight to 11 days. When you see the formation of the first leaves, transplant the seedlings to steadyGROWpro blocks. Make sure the blocks are thoroughly saturated with water and nutrient supply before transplanting. Reduce the day temperature to around 70° F and nighttime temperature around 66° F. Water the steadyGROWpro blocks every two to three hours with 150 ml of water and nutrient solution. Drip irrigation systems are highly recommended as they ensure an even distribution of water and nutrients. For more on drip irrigation systems, click here. At this stage of the growth cycle, we recommend a nutrient solution of 50 ppm Nitrogen, 20 ppm Phosphorous, 50 ppm Potassium and 100 ppm of Calcium.
Transplanting To steadyGROWpro Slabs
After four to six weeks, when the seedlings are about 6" long, transfer the blocks to the steadyGROWpro slabs. Make sure the slabs are thoroughly soaked first with water and nutrient supply. You will find precut 4" x 4" holes in the steadyGROWpro slabs for you to place your steadyGROWpro blocks. When using drip irrigation systems, make sure that the drip tubes are placed on the blocks. Place your drip irrigation tube on the block near the main stem to effectively supply water and fertilizer to the actively growing stem and roots. During daylight hours, you should hydrate with 150 ml of water and fertilizer mix every two hours. Thirty-six hours after transplanting, cut two drainage slits at the bottom corners of your slabs. The slits should be roughly 1" in length.
Tomato seedlings will go through a vegetative stage of about two to three weeks. At this time you will start seeing flowers. The time from flowers to fruit will take roughly six to eight weeks. You will then see fruit growth at regular intervals until the plants are removed. Enjoy your fresh farm taste tomatoes grown in steadyGROWpro!
