Growing Hydroponic Tomatoes Indoors Using the Kratky Method
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- Опубликовано: 25 дек 2018
- Success! This was my first hydroponic tomato experience. I rescued these seedlings from the Aerogarden, the pods there germinated more than one plant per pod, so I decided to transplant the thinned out plants from the Aerogarden into the same setup I use for my hydroponic lettuce and other leafy greens, using the Kratky method. It worked! BUT, I did make one very rookie mistake, although I was still rewarded with a nice crop of cherry tomatoes for my efforts. And next time I will grow my hydroponic tomatoes in a BIGGER container!!! I hope you try this too! Thank you for watching.
UPDATED VIDEO GROWING TOMATOES IN A 5 GALLON TOTE:
• Easy System for Hydrop...
My Aerogarden from Amazon: amzn.to/2VfEIAo
Link to video on the Kratky method of hydroponics: • What is the Hydroponic...
You can find the items I use in this video on Amazon here:
Grow Lights: amzn.to/2LfU8zW
Nutrients: Grow Big by Fox Farms: amzn.to/2YwJpqe
MasterBlend Formula: amzn.to/2WfjZNo
Rockwool Cubes: amzn.to/2puNhZ6
Clay Pebbles: amzn.to/2G0AcOf
Mason Jars (make sure they are wide mouth): amzn.to/2GeoN0E
Net Cups 3 inch: amzn.to/2SpJlFD
Grow Lights: amzn.to/2GfcHEj
Growing Trays: amzn.to/2QRSyXn 
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This is the best video on growing tomatoes indoors that I have seen. Sometimes people don't update what happens at the end of the experiment but you showed everything from start to finish. Well done.
Thank you SharShar,! It takes time ( a few months) to follow a tomato plant for its entire life cycle and then piece it all together, that's why you don't see the ending in so many other videos. Thanks for leaving positive feedback, I appreciate it!
I loved that too. I had to stop moving due to the SARS contagion. But I'll be in my camper soon now. I'm so excited
who is Kratky? sounds very negative. it instantly associates with a lot of negative words.
Maybe u should go seek professional help before starting to grow flowers. Just my 2 cents @@seanleith5312
Great video. How do you give your plants light in winter
You are the only start to finish, intellectual, sincere, honest kratky video maker I've found. You have no idea how much you are helping not only my family, but eventually our community. I'm starting small grows of everything prior to larger productions for any issues I run into. However, I am very confident that my issues will be minimized because of your awesomeness.
I have two remaining Kratky tomato plants, the others have been transplanted into soil as it is April and they are ready to "harden" as long as temperatures won't go below freezing, one is over 6 feet tall. Her problem is fairly simple, she allows her plants to grow too many leaves. Pruning with the Kratky method is very important. Yes you CAN easily transplant to soil, however, you can also just keep the tomato plants growing kratky in hydroponic solution BUT you need to think about the GOAL. If you don't prune, especially bottom leaves, you have a plant that is always thirsty and also becomes droopy very fast. The goal is FRUIT. Kratky Method is a science almost but intuitive, keeping branching leaves too a minimum so the plant doesn't waste its energy. The rest of the plants energy goes towards fruiting (tomatoes). The Kratky plant has roots that seek nutrients (hydroponic solution) and roots that seek oxygen ('oxygen roots") and should not be drowned by the solution through overfilling.
OMG. You single handedly convinced me to switch to hydro. Thats it. Im done with soil.
Lol I do both. Some stuff are easy to grow in the ground like cilantro green onions. Some are a little bit more sensitive. You should do both. Something about getting my fingers dirty keeps me hopeful for humanity
How is it going!
She convinced us too!!
You might as well for indoors, some stuff needs too much nutes though just depends on what you’re growin
Both have advantages. Want to go on a weekend vacation? Hydro will need attention, coco hydro will hold enough water till you get back.
If I ever had teachers who talk like Tikki, I would never fall asleep, learn a lot
Well done. I just started playing with outdoor Kratky tomato. Plant is growing great in a 20 litre bucket. Thanks Tikki.
If you ever damage roots in thinning them, you can dip the root area in honey and put them in soil or hydro. They will use the honey to encourage roots galore. Hope this helps anyone else who may have damaged a few roots when moving them around. Also, after you have the third set of leaves appear, you can snip the lowest (baby) leaves off the plant and insert the plants 2nd leaf set to top of grow cube or soil. Gluck growers
Absolutely fantastic! Thank you for the level of detail in this video. I'm growing chili peppers Kratky and after seeing others grow tomatoes and finding your video, I am going to try this this fall.
This video is a jewel! Congratulations! I am from Caracas, Venezuela. I am trying growing plants indoor for the first time. It is a complete new affair for me. Your video plus your unique and crystal clear way to show and explain everything is already a how-to-do-it impossible to miss! Thanks a lot to share all of your experience. It is so useful and also very encouraging for people like me: beginners with no experience on the field! Thanks so much! Stay well and healthy! God Bless You and yoyr family! By the way: your plants and the beautiful tomatos show all the care and love you just felt doing the whole process! It shows in the video!!!! Thanks again!
This is a fantastic video! Thank you so much for putting this together, must've been a lot of work and patience.
Of all the videos I have watched about hydroponics, you are a blessing to all of us beginners! Thank you!
Best RUclips instructional video I have seen in a long time.
LOL, "I can't help myself!" Love it.
I’m starting my own tomorrow - thanks for the tips !
Thank you for these videos. They are so well done. I am planning on growing lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes and feel confident doing so after watching your videos! 🤗
Tikki's videos on home gardening in hydro are simply THE BEST videos you'll find anywhere! I am so impressed by her incredible knowledge and excellent communication skills! Thank you, Tikki, for your amazing presentations. Now I can't wait to try this.
Thank you Joe!
My family and I loved this video. Informative, creative, and clearly presented.
I really love your videos! I like how you let us see mistakes too and how you do experiments. I’m relatively new to gardening and this is day 1 of hydroponics and I’ve not only learned how to do stuff but also that failures and mistakes aren’t the end of the world ( I’m so hard on myself). I’m a teacher and I love how clearly you explain things. Thank you!
I am a retired teacher and I wish I had learned about kratky to put in my classroom.
Thanks for doing start to finish. I feel with a lot of youtubers that I get bait and switched into following an entire series that leaves off the end, or you only find out in the comments that it was a failure. With yours, the whole thing is there, including lessons learned!
Great video I love that you shared the mistake of needing a bigger container. We can learn more from that and see what happens in the video ❤️
Isn’t it fun, omg I love garden experiments so much. Great video.
Thanks Norma, I totally agree!
Great video! New to all of this, I learned so much! I kept wondering why people were putting foil around bases - and you finally explained it beautifully to deter algae growth etc. Thank you!
Your videos are really inspiring for a beginner like me. You are a fearless researcher and very honest.
The world needs more honest sharing of clear, concise, and thorough information. Well done.
You made it look easy. Great job!
This is awesome and you are so good at explaining this step by step! I so long for real food and not the junk from the supermarkets especially in the winter! Also your birds outside are a pleasure to see and they look as happy as your plants! Thanks so much
Thanks Joanne, I appreciate it! It is fun to grow, and it is rewarding when you can munch on stuff you grow yourself, give it a try!
So so informative and explained very well.
It’s hard to believe that you get fruit in an small jar! Great job and thank you so much.
I just binge watched 5 of your videos. I’ve already started tomatoes outside Kratky plus air stones. I can’t wait to start Lettuce from the bottoms of stalks. I was told by the owner of our local hydroponic store some grocery stores are getting wise to us and cutting the bottoms off! I hope he is wrong. I love ❤️ your style and the information you provide us. I look forward to growing vegetables inside this winter in order to save money and have fresh vegetables available. Blessings to you and your family. Stay cool.
Walmart and many stores sell gallon size jars of pickles, they work great for kratky and you get pickles!
Terrific video, thanks for sharing it!!!
I have used your video for my cherry tomato (and pepper) experiments. LOL I started the cherry tomatoes in the mason jars but after watching your video, I moved one to a large container that used to contain cheese puffs from Costco. Thanks for a very informative and educational video.
I love your attitude of continual improvement. It’s a lost art in our times. I was always told when you first start anything it will be hard. If you work at things you’ll improve. You clearly learned from any misstep and moved to correct it.
Tikki, thank you! This is one of the best instructional videos I have ever seen. Brava!!! I am now a fan and a subscriber! Cheers.
Thanks Heather, I really appreciate the nice comment!
5:33
All you need to do to keep the light out at the top of the jar ... is to put a Rubber Band around the top... leave the very top open where the plants are.
Thank you for sharing this great video.
Thanks for this amazing video. So thorough and I appreciate your experimental rigor! It really helps out when I have a shorter growing season without artificial light.
I have watched this video several times, and I learn more each time. I had bad luck with Kratky last winter because I used full spectrum white lights with a 4000 Kelvin temperature. Not nearly enough blue. But the plants in my Aerogarden thrived. ( I have only northeast and northwest windows shaded by trees.)
I just bought my third Aerogarden 45 watt LED grow light because my plants love the first two. I have tomatoes and a pepper in my Aerogarden (9 pod) and bok choy, lettuce and tatsoi under the grow lights. I have a miniature eggplant ready to go under lights as soon as I can find a gallon container!
Thank you so much for the step by step instructions and showing us constant progress updates of your projects.
Hi Sharon, thanks for sharing your experience. The Aerogarden is a nice unit with everything self contained...and the tomatoes and cucumbers like the aeration from the pump, and of course the proper light spectrum. Try using Kratky for lettuce and herbs, it works well. Happy growing!
best and so detail explanations, love your video :)
Thank you VanNelleX, I appreciate it!
Great video! Love the narration and information. I live in Las Vegas and our tomatoes have suffered in the recent years. Can’t wait to try this. Thank you for all the info!
You did better than I did my first time with Kratky. I'll bet you are a pro now. Cheers.
You are much better at describing all possible mistakes and help. Thanks a mil and well done! Am going to try..
Great video...very informative. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Thank you Brenda!
Great job mam. Thank you so much for doing this. I know it takes time to edit and produce a good video and I think you did a great job.
I am new to this method of indoor growing. Looking forward to this fun, interesting way of providing vetegatables from my indoor growing experience.
Thank you , this is the best video of planting using this method.
It's so nice that you showed and explained each stage of the growing process. Really shows it from start to finish. Thank you for sharing
Kyaide, thank you for the comment, I appreciate it!
This video really made wanna try out Kratky method. I am already shopping for basics :D
Thanks, greetings from Czech republic!
Hi Marysa, good luck with it!
Great job, fun and informative to watch. Thank you 😊
Great job. I am currently growing 3 kinds of tomatoes in home depot buckets with an air stone in each. They are doing great.
Excellent presentation,there are thousands out there that
do very poorly.
Just the info you need ,well done!
Thanks Rex drabble, I appreciate that!
Very informative video, thanks!
Thank you Brandon Miniman, I appreciate it!
I’m glad I found this vid!! It’s so helpful and you did an amazing job explaining and showing progress!! I look forward to seeing more❤️
very good video. To the point with very well documented progress the tomatoes plant made at key intervals. Thank you
Always love watching your videos! I am doing my first Kratky method peppers and tomatoes. My issue maybe the height. I bought a very good growing light, They are deep vibrant green because of it, like the ones in your aerogarden.
Great video!! Thank you so much!
Thanks Jason for the comment!
THIS IS A GREAT VIDEO. THANK YOU. YOU ARE SO INFORMATIVE. I JUST STARTED A NEW AEROGARDEN. I TRANSPLANTED MY OTHER CHERRY TOMATOES TO LARGER JARS, BUT THEY WERE GETTING TO TALL FOR MY GROW LIGHTS AND I DID NOT KNOW WHETHER TO GET SOMETHING TOBRACE THEM WITH OR CUT THEM. NOW I AM STARTING OVER.
Thank you. You're success and minor failure inspire me to do hydrophonic farming.
Thank you. I've never ever commented on someone's video but I had to tell you that you did a great job. Very informative;)
Thanks Jesi, I really appreciate the feedback!
This is wonderful! Thank you for sharing 😊 I just setup my new Aerogarden yesterday and also purchased some supplies to start the Kratky method. I'm not sure what I'll grow yet but tomatoes are at the top of my list. What kind of grow lights do you use? Thanks again from 🇨🇦
I enjoy your videos and your personality. I can listen over and over. Very informative and thank you!
Thank you Ming Ung, I appreciate the feedback!
Tikki, I'm watching all of these again, as a review. I got many of the supplies I needed from Amazon, and they arrived today!
I AM SO EXCITED! With your guidance, I may even have a shot at growing something successfully. 😁
Thanks Just Floating for the feedback, and good luck! Don't be discouraged if you don't succeed right away. Everyone has a different growing environment and different water, etc, so you will learn and adjust along the way. Enjoy the journey!
Nice. I took a cutting from an indeterminate cherry tomato variety and grew it Kratky style... but it keeps growing and growing, and I keep cutting it back. So now I'm growing a heirloom dwarf determinate variety called Tiny Tim (they only grow to 12-18"). I''m using the black home depot 5-gallon buckets, my plants are flowering and they are only down about an inch in nutrient after 5-weeks. THANKS for the electric toothbrush idea, I had an old battery powered one that I'm going to use.
yep, I think the determinate have a determination as to size, and the indeterminate keep growing and growing indefinitely .....is what a person told me....
Dollar store sells large plastic pots for 1$ ... your video was really helpful! Am going to give it a try ! Thanks
2 cents....thanks for your 2 cents, I forgot how great a resource the dollar store can be!
Thanks for sharing these comparisons.. I know now what would be my baseline to start with indoor hydroponics.
I love your video for the fact that you get to the point quickly and move on!! Thank you for great info and for not wasting my time. :)
New sub I liked your video. I have grown tomatoes using the Kratky method. I like to use 5 gallon buckets. They do pretty good. I really hate to kill seedlings so I like to find them a new home too. I was really glad to see you end up saving those seedlings :) Thanks for sharing :) Happy gardening!
Thanks Benja's Uber, good luck with the tomatoes!
Love the video.
Thank you Heirloom, I appreciate it!
I love your vids.. DON'T STOP.. thank you so much
Your videos are long, but NO complain.. They are educational. Two thumbs up for giving your time in making your point. They are easy to follow for someone like me who is just a begginer in hydroponics. Love from the Philippines!
Hi Dengs, thanks for the comment! BTW, you can watch RUclips videos on double speed! I often do that when the youtube video is slow moving, or the person talking is very slow.....thanks for watching, I appreciate it, and good luck with your growing!
Thanks for sharing this, a lot of great information there.
Thanks Peter for the nice comment!
Glad someone feels the same way I do when thinning plants lol
Thanks Tally Hall Enthusiast, I can't help it, it seems like such a waste.....even though its necessary! Glad you agree also!
I only plant one seed per pot. If it doesn't germinate then plant that pot again. Why would you waste germinated seeds/plants?
@@CurlyJoeX Thanks Curly Joe for the comment. The seedpods from the Aerogarden are preplanted with multiple seeds per pod, these tomato plants were "rescued" from those pods.
@@CurlyJoeX, that’s how Aerogarden reduces claims on their guarantee. Plus, it doesn’t waste the photons that the lights have been putting out during the time you’re waiting. ;)
I experimented with hydroponics/deep water culture, about 8 years ago. Since my General Hydroponics Flora Series were 8 years old ordered another setup. I took a couple cuttings from my tomato garden and got setup in 5 gl buckets with 6 inch mesh pots, 2" rockwool cubes & lava rock. They are looking Amazing and they are Giant! The Sweet 100 cherries are twice the size of the Better Boy plants and will produce Pure Satisfaction to me!!! I Love some Hydroponics! 😁
Thank you for the videos! I am ready to try this myself!! Please keep them coming!
Thanks Cindy for the nice comment.....and go ahead and start growing! I will keep the videos coming, of course, but its more work than the plants!
I love how detailed you documented your experience with this home project! Im so curious about how the aerogarden plants remain small but still put out a nice crop while the others get to grow so tall
It's because the Aerogarden has a 45 watt grow light that is very close to the leaves. Plants don't do as well in a window.
I really learned a lot from this video, keep up the good work.
- Cheers from Sweden
Uffeman, thank you for the nice comment!
Thanks so much. I learned so many new things for my first adventure into hydroponics! :)
Great Patrick, I'm so glad! Good luck with your continued adventures!
Wow so much patience to Make that video! Thank you very much
Glad it was helpful, thanks for leaving a comment!
Thank you for sharing! It is so helpful to see the progress of these tomato plants - it’s definitely helped me decide to transfer my Aerogarden Rosy Finch tomato seedlings to mason jars early one.. They are now at 21 days old and already at 3” tall. But the roots are getting quite long already (hence large mason jar will be needed soon).
What I was wondering - have you done root trimming on your Rosy Finch plants? I’m debating whether I should do this later on or not. Would be of great help. Thank you.
And again, thank you for sharing all of your Kratky adventures!
God bless the people who invented the kratky and the self watering planters and hydroponics.
Amen to that R. K.!
Agreed R.K. Humans can be so awesome when they use their knowledge for the betterment of mankind, instead of thinking of ways to crush other human souls. Good to be on the giving side of that equation.
Vickie Adams So true
Great video! Very interesting 😁 I cracked up when you couldn’t help looking at the roots again 😂
Thank you for this fantastic video. Super informative!!
will you kindly teach me how you change the fertilizer solution when the plant reaches to mature for flowering..
Awesome video! I made the same mistake with kratky tomatoes. I grew Tiny Tim’s in a pint jar and I got some tomatoes but it would have been more productive if it had more room for the roots
Great video! Thanks for sharing your experiences. I think I may dig out my hydroponics gear and try some tomatoes as well! I really appreciate the beginning to end result you provided.
Love that Kratky method! Thanks for the informative video, looks like my Kratky lettuce plants are gonna get some new neighbours!
Thanks for the comment Capi, good luck!
Many years ago, for my daughter's science experiment we grew buttercrunch lettuce using the Kratky method. I had the privilege of speaking to Bernard Kratky and purchasing the fertilizer from him. We used styrofoam fish crates. We cut 6 round holes on the lid of the crate. I took 6 styrofoam coffee cups and made vertical slits on the sides and poked holes on the bottom. The buttercrunch seed was planted in potting soil, about 1/4" deep. The styrofoam cups were suspended into water with hydroponic growing solution. Seedings appeared within one week. Beautiful long, white roots protruded from the slits and holes in the cups. The roots from the 6 cups "held hands." Within 6 weeks, the buttercrunch lettuce was about 12" wide at the top. The lettuce was large, like kale. The beauty of this non-circulating system is that it is simple and you don't have to worry about mosquitoes. We keep the crates outside along our house eaves so rainwater would not affect the water PH balance. We did not have to refill the water and there was no problem with algae build up.
Thanks Amy, Dr. Kratky is a legend! Thanks for sharing!
Did you notice a difference with the nutrient solution you used? The master vs. the other?
Love the way you teach about your tomatoes. You are a great teacher.
Great video. Lovely informational narrative.Will definitely watch more of your videos. Thanks.
You should use 5 gal. buckets for tomatoes and cucumbers. For anyone seeing this that lives in Barren county Ky. check with MSR (Midstate recyclers. They also have one in TN somewhere. They give them away for free and they are food grade they come from the hospital. Also check with your locale hospital or nursing home. Lawrence
Thanks Lawrence for the tips...you are right, next time I will do this using 5 gallon buckets or totes. But the results were not bad considering these grew in mason jars! But I learned my lesson. Thanks for the comment!
Thanks Evil Dude, I will look for the number on the tote, but its probably on the bottom and the tote is heavy at this point filled with water and plants! But I will try to lift and look, thanks for the tip, please let us know if your neighbor lives....
I use a 5 gallon bucket (12,12,6) right to the top then poured 1 gallon each but for some reason only got 4 1/2 gallon who figures.... Know about the recipe totally confused 5 gallon recipe: Add 12g (approx 2 tsp) CN to 5 gallons of water and dissolve completely. Add 12g MB (approx 2 tsp) and dissolve completely. then it said add 6g (approx 2 tsp) Epsom Salt HUH ???
again 12g, 12g, 6g why does it say all 3 said 2 tsp prnt.sc/npr2k5 that recipe must have an error it should say 12g CN (approx 2 tsp) 12g MB (approx 2 tsp) and should say 6g ES (approx 1 tsp)
coz I don't understand
@@TikkiOOO Wouldn't a 5 gallon bucket for each of 3 seedlings be too big for indoor gardening?
Not for tomatoes, they do better in a larger container.
Thanks for sharing 4-26-19
Thanks for sharing your tomato journey
Great video! Thanks for documenting the journey.
I appreciate your videos so much! It's like learning from a friend! What is your findings with the nutrient solutions you were trying: Fox farm vs Masterblend?
I was wondering the same thing.
I was hoping I'd find that answer too.
Idk but they didn't use enough, it's not 2-2-1 for 1 gallon of masterblend it's 2.4-2.4-1.2 ... So that would have hurt the results anyway possibly. In my experience testing maxigro/maxibloom, dynagro, flora trio, and masterblend they all work about as well for my tomatoes and peppers, and with how cheap masterblend is might as well go with that.
I might have missed it, but did you notice a difference between the grow big and masterblend? You got me started in kratky 1 year ago. I can't tell you how thankful I am. I am also trying micro dwarf tomatoes this winter.
She forgot about it! I am trying microdwarves too.
That was so interesting. Congratulations on a great video!!!
Put together very well...got my attention through out...I love cherry and grape tomatoes...thanks for sharing
Thank you Laura, I appreciate it!
That is awesome. What kind of light did you use? What state do you live in? Im curious because I am really far north and growing a tomato indoors up here is basically un heard of. If I can grow some tiny tomato plants that give me fruit over the winter then I would be extremely happy and grateful.. Thank you for the video!
Hi Alrachid, I am in Zone 5-6, some charts say 6, some say 5, the temps in the winter get to single digits F, some times below zero (not counting windchill), but today is brutally cold. Grow some lettuce and microgreens together with your tomatoes, they grow quickly and are delicious too!
I like the GE two foot fixture, you can hang it over the plants. It’s LED and VERY bright! (might be too bright for when you’re actually working in the kitchen. There are smaller models as well.
You are adorable!
Thanks Kim...I appreciate it!
Some excellent ideas. My wife is a potter and is planning the jars she will now make for our indoor gardens.
Wow that is terrific! If she is into fermenting or pickling she can also make the containers for that, they are called crocks, and people pay good money for them!
Very cool! Thanks for the video.