DWC Tomatoes

[Sativa Dragon]

Hello all,

Now that the season is over in the North for outdoor veggies, I am starting a new project,

DWC Tomatoes, some cherries and Beefsteak.

I have done some scouring of the net and nobody seems to have a system that is tried and true.

I would like to have a place for my used nute solutions from another DWC system, fortified with other cheaper nutes.

Any links Ideas or advice would be appreciated.

Peacw

 

[northerngrafta]

I've just started DWC tomatoes about a month ago from seed it's a beefstake variety that can yeild 1-2lb fruitits from plants of distinction I got it in one 20L bucket with a 250w over it few other plants catching some light at edges for now.

 

[Sativa Dragon]

Very Cool, Keep me posted.

Peace

 

[supermanlives]

I turned my waterfarms into dwc recirc setup once. had em in greenhouse. worked well for maters

 

[Sativa Dragon]

DWC recirculating system would be the shit outside in a greenhouse, the only problem been the temps of the water. Have to dig a trench and run the water lines underground to dissipate the heat.

Did you grow tomatoes in the water farms if so how did they turn out.

Peace

 

[supermanlives]

grew oxheart tomatoes and some cherry. the waterfarm setup was ok. I too made it recirculate buy adding one more bucket opposite side from control bucket with pump on timer. it was a lot better when converted to dwc tho.. I think getting rid of top bucket and using lid with net type pot allowed for better root mass hence better results along with smallass pump recirculating.and I didn't have to clean as much geolite either lol. I am pretty sure I had the greenhouse pics but when og went down they went too.i just threw out the airpump from that exact setup the other day.i don't plan on doing hydro any time soon

 

[Weezard]

Funny you should ask.

Got 6 DWC Tomato plants in 2. 27 liter rubber-maid tubs out on the lanai'i.
Our winter temps avg 72 F.

Did this in 2009 and got a 6' wide n 6' high cherry-tomato plant with fruit the size of plums.
Got some pics here somewhere;









Grew some basil and dill as well



This year, it's Mexican giant beefsteaks and Hawaiian pineapple tomatoes.
Also, threw some sweet pepper seeds at a 5 gallon DWC bucket to go with the jalapenos in coco.
Gonna make pepper jelly.

How does your garden grow?

Aloha,
Weeze

 

[Sativa Dragon]

Aloha indeed nice setup, I haven't grown anything outdoors in DWC, right now it is barely above freezing ha ha, afraid it must be an indoor project. Really nice fruit man really nice indeed.

Peace

 

[Ga farmer]

I have never found tomatoes grown like that to be good. They have little to no flavor, due to the lack of nutrients found only in soil that effect flavor.

 

[Sativa Dragon]

Well I started my Tomatoes today, going to build some water farms out of some nice black DNF nute buckets. Growing a standard Bush Beef Steak and a Standard Cherry, just have to come up with supports.

Any ideas?

 

[Sativa Dragon]

I have never found tomatoes grown like that to be good. They have little to no flavor, due to the lack of nutrients found only in soil that effect flavor.

I have heard that as well, I am hoping that I do not learn the hard way

Maybe I will pour some Pasta Sauce in the buckets eh? or maybe add some garlic or somthin eh?

Peace

 

[supermanlives]

in winter I got less and smaller tomatoes. I eventually added supplemental lighting to boost plants a bit. I also ran an hydro setup using bio balls and a big res and earth juice of all products. tomatoes were just as good as organic soil . pure blend pro also produced great maters FWIW ooh ya hand pollinating ,shaking and good fans help pollination inside otherwise I got lower yields. I ended up running my buckets in a straight row and using free fencing to tie em too. worked great.strings weakass cages and netting all were problematic for me.

 

[Weezard]

"I have never found tomatoes grown like that to be good. They have little to no flavor, due to the lack of nutrients found only in soil that effect flavor."

I gotta say, horsefeathers!

And this is not "something I heard somewhere".
Or "something that sounds right".
These are fruit that we grow,consume, and yes, compare.

Those DWC toms were some of the tastiest fruit that you will find anywhere.
I challenge anyone to a blindfold taste test.
I could taste no difference between DWC tomatoes and perfectly grown, very pricey, Organic tomatoes.
And I am extremely picky.
Why blindfold?
"Organic prejudice," it's everywhere!

Fortunately, this isn't about belief systems.
It's about science.

Seriously, grow your toms, taste your toms, ask your friends and neighbors which are better, but no tell them which is which first.

Or just for fun, label them. But switch the labels.
Then choke back the snickers when they claim, the "Organic" was so much better.

What leads folks astray here, is the insipid crap the sell in the supermarket.
That lack of flavor has nothing to do with "trace elements" and everything to do with genetics.
It's not lack of "trace elements", which all good hydro nutes contain, affecting the flavor.
Those toms start out tasteless and won't improve through growing techniques
Good tomato genetics are difficult to mass market.
They bruise easily, ripen rapidly, and should be ripened on the vine.

Instead, they breed for tough skins and delayed ripening.
And those losers are sprayed with pesticides, picked while green and hard, then gassed to turn them red.
Utter crap!

So, no worry, go ahead and dwc dem toms.
Just start with good genetics.
The flavor is already in the seed.
Can't wait for your taste test.

Aloha nui,
Weeze

 

[supermanlives]

the reason some hydro maters commercially suck is cause they harvest early and ripen with gas. and the strains they use are designed to store well. heirlooms rule but don't store ship well. I had greenhouses once 4 of em 2 small 2 big98fters.dont harvest earlyEDIT weezard beat me to it

 

[Sativa Dragon]

That makes complete sense, I have watched a few documentaries, on food and now I remember the picking when green and they do use the gas to ripen.

I am so glad you guys are on board here, I just need my Toms to sprout and then I am off to tasty tom land.

Woot

Peace

 

[supermanlives]

bad maters and high prices at market is what keeps me growing heirlooms when I am able. sort of like weed when I think about it lol. 99percent of store maters suck and the acceptable ones are scarce and expensive. I have used gh,pbp.fox farms,earth juice to grow maters all were good and way better than average store crap.start with good genetics. I am glad I grew up eating garden maters cause if I started on store maters I prob would say I don't like maters at all. heirlooms rule I like oxhearts a lot. can make a tomatoe sandwich they are so good. sweet and mild acid

 

[Sativa Dragon]

Yum sounds good, have to ask Mate, what do you mean when you say "Maters".

Peace

 

[supermanlives]

nickname for tomatoes ^^^

 

[Sativa Dragon]

Ha like tomaters, here I am trying to figure out if it was a language barrier, lol, Toms and Maters.

I am officially initiated into the world of Tomatoe Slang...

Peace

 

[supermanlives]

and like weed once you get growing your own the quality generally goes up and your cost goes down. heres a pic for inspiration oxheart mater lol