How to Grow Hydroponic Tiny Tim Tomatoes from Seed to Harvest: Kratky vs. DWC
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
- The seed to harvest process of growing Tiny Tim tomatoes hydroponically two ways, using the Kratky method, and Deep Water Culture or DWC. Both produced sweet delicious tomatoes, although one grew bigger and faster than the other. Surprisingly the Kratky setup won out over DWC, the opposite result to when I grew sweet bell peppers.
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Definitely need to get sponsored by folgers
Ha Ha....the best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup!!!
Thanks Ants Thailand!
I’ve been watching your indoor gardening videos for like a month (I’m new to the hobby). What I absolutely adore about your videos is how authentic they are and how new and just average gardeners can relate! No expensive equipment, willingly to show failure, and my favorite no shouting out sponsors several times in a video. You also have a great sense of humor! I’m enjoying your channel so much. Thanks for all the great information.
Ive been watching a lot of your videos, i love how clear and informative you are. Your personality seems so humble and down to earth. You are a perfect person for a teacher
Ripe tomatoes in February, my mouth is watering. 💐🍅
Yup....keeps me happy until summer! Thanks Paw Lette!
Hi Tikky
I am Quebecois but I speak English well enough. I listen to a lot of video but honestly your videos are the best and they are very well explained, you are calm, calm and very interesting to hear your a real pro.
thank you for these beautiful and good videos.
Ray
Very interesting experiment and fun to watch the tomato grow in time series! Thanks so much for videoing the process and sharing the learning!
i love your voice and your smile and your style thanks so much for all the knowledge
Thanks so much !
Your videos are such a pleasure to watch for first time gardeners. You get straight the point and explain things in such simple terms. Keep up the good work!
Great job Tikki! Nice, clear instructions. Your eye for detail is amazing and your plants look fabulous! Thanks!🍅🍅🍅👍
Thanks Marty Rose, and the reward I get is nice juicy tomatoes in the middle of winter!!!!
@@TikkiOOO Yes. You do! Lucky you! I love some of the heirloom tomatoes but Tiny Tim is definitely my favorite cherry tomato!
Thank you for all your work. I love watching your videos.
I've learned so much from your videos. Thanks for sharing!
I love Kratky, in decent sunshine it’s totally off grid xx
After watching a couple of your videos I subscribed because you provide thorough and detailed information. Although I appreciate the videos from other content providers you never leave me wondering with a lot of unanswered questions. So glad I found your channel. Thank you.
New to hydro and looking to grow microtomatoes. I have everything but an air pump - and wasn't even sure the tomatoes would do well to begin with. Your guide answered so many questions for me and gives me confidence to try this out! So informative and to the point with a real control group. Thanks 😊😊😊
I have to say you are awesome! I loved the way you explain each step in your procedure. I took notes and ready to get going. My tomatoes are just starting to germinate and I have each part of the whole. I see that this video is over 2 years ago. Have you upgraded your lighting or made any changes. Have tried hydroponic growing outside? I live in Florida, so we have a longer growing period, but also have lots of chomping creatures, especially caterpillars that love tomato leaves.
My Granddaughter LOVED this video
I'm so glad! Does she want to grow tomatoes or just eat them?
She’s 3 so eating is more exciting than planting right now
Hi Tikki O. Another great video. I want to try the DWC method. Great outcome.
Kratky won this round......thanks Rocky USA!!!
Tikki, thank you so much for this informative comparison! I appreciate your careful methodology and thoughtful comments. I'll give kratky tomatoes a try!
I converted my Kratky tomatoes to DWC and the difference was very dramatic. Kratky to get started and then DWC. Your results are, indeed, puzzling.
I agree...puzzling! I just unplugged the air pump on the DWC. It could be Tiny Tim variety doesn't like its roots bothered, that was a thought in the comment section. Good luck with your tomaotes!
i cant believe i missed this three months ago lol so odd great video i love the way your voice hits me . im so alert while watching your videos . some youtubers voices put me to sleep so i cant learn anything i get too tired lol
I just started the kratky method, and have been following you, and I have to say, I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!!! AND WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW YOU!!! THANKS!!
Excellent comparison! Great job, Tikki. Thanks for sharing :)
Thank you for talking about food safe containers! You rock, Tikki!
Inspired by you madam I have started here in India and I thank you for your hard & sincere work may God bless you !
6:33 😄😄👍
Love watching your videos.
Fun and straight to the point explanation
My target cart is already filled with two hefty containers. Thanks 🙏🏽
Great experiment Tikki! Thanks for sharing your tomato adventure.😊
Thanks Sandra, I appreciate your comment!
Great comparison. I look forward to trying the two methods out. I'll start with kratky.
Good luck! Kratky has always done well for me with greens, herbs, but DWC has worked better for me for fruiting plants....until this grow! Thanks for the comment!
@@TikkiOOO Thank you.
I love your scientific method to compare as you grow.
This is a GREAT video. Thank you for sharing. Wifey and I are setting up a system, inspired by you. How much water did you add each time you added? I have read that if you add to much water, you could drown the plant, as some of the roots are for oxygen. Have you experienced any problems from adding to much water?
BLESSING UPON YOU.
Yes, you can drown the plant if you add too much water, keep a gap between the net cups and the top of the water. In these totes I usually add a gallon at a time, one time plain filtered water, then next time with nutrients, switching on and off, not nutes each time. Kratky needed more refills than DWC did. I know this doesn't sound 'scientific" but it works for me. So when I see the water level drop I add, not on any schedule. The water level doesn't drop much at the beginning, but once the plant starts to flower and fruit then it needs to be topped off more often. Hope that helps, and thank you for your kind comment!
@@TikkiOOO Ok👍
great video! so quick and efficient, you have taught me well ... thanks. and God bless. from Canada.
I enjoy your methods of Krafty gardening.
Thank you Mrs. Magee Leeray!
@@TikkiOOO you Are truly welcome Happy SUNDAY BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. ✝️🌱✝️🌱✝️🌱
You're an interesting lady. I love your empirical process. It is very helpful, thank you 🙏
That's great to know! I'm planning to grow tiny tim inside this winter. I grew in my greenstalk for summer. Yummy
My understanding about the Kratski technique it's effectiveness depends on the ratio of plant absorption of water and the volume of water in the container. The plant needs air from the roots. If the water level drops too slowly, the plant will not do well.
Great video. If you lighten up on nutrients, it will force the plant to focus more on fruiting and flowering.
Thanks Brandon, great advice!
Tikki you love your Folger coffee, they should sponsor you!
That would be a dream come true 👍!
Two years too late, but your issue on this run was the amount of oxygen in the tote. The stones were too small, so the air lines kept them near the surface until the roots were big enough to keep them under. I’m not sure the pump had enough air flow either way. You want an abundance of tiny, tiny bubbles breaking everywhere, but especially underneath the plants when they are young.
Iam really happy for you Tikki
You’ve come a long way 🙂
Great video
Thank you
Excellent results Tikki
I’ve heard great thing about the tiny tim
Will be trying soon as my aero garden maters are done can’t wait
Thanks Trackhoe, we are really enjoying these, they taste great! Good luck in the Aero garden!
Thank you so much for the awesome step by step videos
Love your videos. Seeing the whole process at once. Thank you 😊
Still following you in Poland. Nysa. Hope to have a green house arriving tomorrow.
Loved that thoroughly! Really appreciate your systematic method of explanation. Exactly how I need to understand. Thank you
Thank you firoz, I appreciate that!
I grew a Roma in my basement, Dutch Bucket method. The fruit was also larger than what I grew on my deck last summer. Your plants look awesome!
How did it taste compared with growing outside, same? Thanks for your comment!
@@TikkiOOO they tasted the same. One Roma in basement was using 1 gallon of solution per day! Had to use snow to get enough water. I don’t have ROS, so I use dehumidifier water otherwise. Currently focusing on lettuce and radishes. I have the same light as you. Having tip burn issues with lettuce only so I decreased wattage to see if that helps.
Fantastic test and presentation, thank you!! I suspect some roots don't like to be moved or agitated by the bubbler -- flexing cell walls might shake loose or confuse new growth? Certainly not worth replicating the test with a circulation-only pump. Another mystery (myth) solved by your efforts. Thanks again, Toto of the Greenhouse!
Hello gth042, interesting speculation that the roots don't like the movement from the pump. I am very surprised at the Kratky plant, it is producing tons of juicy tomatoes, big ones too! Thanks for your kind comment, I appreciate it!
From what I've been reading... deep water culture is supposed to be a liter of air per minute per gallon... those air stones appear to be maybe 5-10% of what it should be.
Grea video! Thanks so much for sharing. Your method and explanation were very clear and easy to follow. Can’t wait to try it myself.
Your videos are a delight. Subscribed.
Thanks Lisa, I appreciate it!
When drilling, if you run the drillin reverse it will take longer but give you totally smooth holes!
RealIy enjoyed this video! I like trying out different methods as well, to see what works better. I'm happy to see that Kratky won out on the tomatoes, I just started doing some tomatoes with different setups, and can't wait to see which ones are more successful. Thanks for the great video!
Thank you thank you thank you for being concise!
Thanks for your detailed and enjoyable comparison video. You've earned my subscription!
Fantastic Really enjoy and appreciate your hard work Outstanding your content can and will be shared with the whole family Thanks
I did the same comparaison, the kratky tomatoe did grow faster, but it also started to develop some root rot. I would highly recommend using DWC.
Most lovely video! Great start to finish too! I have started growing peppers in both DWC and kratky and was wondering if it is wise to keep the air pump running 24/7 for DWC tank? Thanks for the inspiration!
NICELY DONE..love your videos
I love your videos. You have inspired me to try hydroponics.
I have learned a lot! Thank you folgers!🤪 I mean thank you Ma’am ❤😊
Another nice informative video. Thanks for the good information and the effort. The Mars Hydro lamp consumes150 watts at the wall providing adequate light for the plants. The amount of light was a question in my mind, now answered. Thanks again.
Thanks Good Goat....always good to hear from you!
Your videos are always very informative and all questions are answered. Keep it up. I was sure surprised when the Katky came out on top. I was sure the DWC with aeration would produce first and bigger fruits. Thanks!
I can't explain it, but I've had better luck with the Kratky method growing several different plants. Tomatoes = Kratky won, Lettuce = Kratky won, Heatless Jalapeno Peppers = Kratky won, and Basil = Kratky won. I wonder if the aeration causes nutrient lockout issues. Just a thought.
I can dwc relies on the oxygen within the water where as kraty doesn't , in dwc the water needs to be at certain temperature for the water to hold the dissolved oxygen so if the temperature is to cold or to hot you get no oxygen or it's not nowhere as optimal where as the kraty gets its oxygen by hanging partly in the air
@@patrickwilson9783 this is prob the correct one. Also a test of just 2 plants isn't enough to give you a proper result
Thanks for sharing your experience. Can you please tell me the ambient temperature of your solution approximately??
Awesome experiment! Thanks so much!
Growing red robin variety at the moment. In what is supposed to be a short stocky plant, is now about 18" high, thin and spindly. Still looks healthy though. Contemplating pruning the top in the hopes it bushes out.
This is really awesome. Thank you for sharing. I am starting with hydroponics. so cool. Maybe I will give it a try. But I think I will start with something different. Just to get the hang of it.
Thanks Tiki for your videos
You are amazing! Thank you for doing these vids, they are helping me so much. I have 4 kratky jars growing as per your clay pebble paper towel method. So far, so good! Lettuce has sprouted! Woohoo!
That's great to hear, Woohoo!
The Tikki " Show " this channel is awsome and a bit funny 😅 and very informative 👍👍
Wow!! So fresh!
very cool test! gotta love kratky tomatoes
thank you so much for sharing your experience
Wow! Thank-you for this!
Great video! Thank you for posting.
You explain things pretty clearly. Can you be my teacher?
I love your thorough videos! I’m going to share on my Facebook group.
Wow, thank you jtuno122, I appreciate that!
I love this video, fun and informative.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the comment!
Thank you for the videos, lots of good info.
Very good..big thx for a easy to follow vid
Very good video! The only thing I can add is that is better to sand the holes after drilling.
For asthetic purposes or functional?
@@sandramort37 both
Thanks Eron....it would look nicer for sure. Luckily my net cups have a nice lip to them, so it covers up my very poor drilling job! Thanks for the comment!
This is another awesome video!
Thank you Thrown Meteor!
This little experiment is very interesting indeed. Your comparison to your pepper experiment with both setups is interesting too. I’m so tight and hate using electricity or water or anything for that matter, I would probably have just used the Kratky method lol..although I wonder if just a few hours aerating per day would help? I could justify using extra electricity for more food!! Thanks again for another great comparison. I’m very new to gardening and have been drawn to hydroponics but where I am in Australia, water is scarce so I’m looking for something sustainable to suit my situation. Thanks to people like you, it makes things easier for people like me with limited resources. Thank you Tikki! Jane 💕
Thanks Jane for your kind words, I'm sorry to hear that water is so scarce where you live. We get a lot of rain and snow, so water is plentiful. You might want to grow microgreens instead of full grown crops, the microgreens are easy to grow and use very little resources. Good luck to you!
@@TikkiOOO yes, I’m trialling a few options to see which one works best out here, I love the idea of microgreens, it’s just the setup costs I’m trying to avoid, I’ve become a bit of a tight bum lol life is throwing us in directions we’d never expect so trying keep costs down and production as high as possible and as sustainable as possible is a bucket list for me so I’m at the trial/experimental stage, (story of my life really hahaha). Having amazing resources at our fingertips and people like you documenting your work, is just such a pleasure to watch!
You must be fun out on a date!
@@FXNorm what’s a date? 😆 if by that you mean my being tight, then yeah I’m still fun, don’t need to go on dates to enjoy life these days. My life took a complete U turn which has caused me to live in a completely different way to how I have been so videos like these help! There are many ways of having fun! 💁
I think it's because root hairs were blown off by bubbles; it’s constantly hurting the root system. I'll try not use bubble stone, I could use outside water filter instead for adding dissolved air, keeping the water around the root very stationary, not always disturbed.
Blown off lol this chit is too funny!
Interesting. I've seen the same comparison but the opposite conclusion.
Fantastic video, thank you! I learned through a lot of experimentation this year with Tiny Tims. I used DWC but I'm pretty sure my office garden was too cool during the early part of the year as after 145 days, I'm just now getting red tomatoes. Lots of them though. So, can you talk to the temperature of the room you are using for hydroponics? Keep up with these videos, I love them. Such easy to follow instructions, and great documentation of what worked, what didn't work and the difference between Kratky and DWC.
Thanks JoAnn, someone commented here that they get Tiny Tim to ripen much quicker than I do....its probably the temperature, as with you. My grow area is around 70 F during the day, and has dropped as low as 60 at night, although its usually around 67at night. Its been so cold outside, making it difficult to keep the grow area warm, especially at night. So you hit the nail on the head, temperature is important. Thanks for the comment!
@@TikkiOOO My goodness! You responded so quickly! Thank you so much. I told my husband that I want to see if we can grow Tiny Tims outside too. Hoping to grow them essentially year round. Thanks again and good luck growing. BTW, mine ripened quickly after turning the daytime temp to about 72F. Still cool (60F) at night though.
An inexpensive aquarium heater would keep the roots warm 24/7.
Excellent info.
Would you mind sharing a video on how you set up your hydroponic lights and shelving and whatever else is required. How did you hang the lighting, what kind of shelving system you used, etc. I would love to have an idea of what to do. Thank you so much.
Excellent information 👍🏻🇨🇦
Hi Tikki
What was the air temperature? The DWC could have had coolish air being injected into the water lowering its temperature.
Maybe a cheap aquarium heater and thermometer might help.
Love your videos too.
Aquarium heater - sounds like a great idea!
Yep. 👍
Great video. Crazy to see how Kratky vs. DWC tests seem to go every which way, it certainly doesn't make it easy to decide whether or not to throw in an air pump when setting up a new grow when the various tests done seem to be 50-50 on whether Kratky or DWC wins out.
True. From the comments it seems that maybe Tiny Tim is more sensitive to the roots being disturbed, meanwhile I'm still picking off tomatoes from the Kratky, many more than the DWC, and larger. So my next Tiny Tim grow is going to be Kratky, no pump. Thanks for your comment, I appreciate it!
Walmart has $6 air pumps so I think it's worth it.
It’s almost as if different plants benefit from different systems
Can you please do a video on your lighting set up❤❤
That blows my mind!! Everything I've heard to date has said DWC beats kratky every time. So this is really fascinating, I wonder if it's possible that the one container had been given an extra dose of nutrient rich water?
Thanks Leanne....the Kratky system needed to be replenished more often than the DWC, so yes, it did get more nutrients over time. Then the question is, why did the Kratky in this case grow faster and thus need more replenishment. Food for thought? Thanks for the comment!
That is interesting, perhaps it was closer to your air input/outputs or fans? Also I noted that you are only using the 17 litre containers which is the size I’m using for my sweet pepper plants at the moment and I’m finding it very small and requiring filling often especially at the point when it’s growing the actual peppers I have to replace about 8 litres every other day! I’ve begun using a 70 litre tote to grow peppers and lettuce etc in and I know there is controversy over which plastic to use for growing vegetables in, and this particular tote that I’m using is a heavy duty tote because I didn’t want any algae growth in it so to get around the plastic issue I’ve lined the tote with a heavy duty food grade bag that I’ve cut to fit and have secured it within the tote. Do you think there would be any difference in using a food grade container versus using a non-food grade container that is lined completely no gaps or spaces with a heavy duty food grade plastic?? I don’t think there is but I would like your opinion as well. Thanks in advance and I’m thoroughly enjoying all your comparison videos, I know they take a much longer time frame to create then a lot of the other content people are putting out that’s why I find your information that much more knowledge based and factual. You’ve proven over and over the way things actually worked regardless of your individual bias when u start, very very interesting and sure has helped me with a lot of the decisions I’ve been able to make to continue moving forward with my hydroponics experiments. Thank you! 🥰🙏🏻🇨🇦
Outstanding! Thank you!
Thanks Genevieve!
Tikki, there is a tendency to grow, hydroponically, tomatoes, lettuce and peppers at home. However, these can be bought inexpensively in most grocery stores. What about bushy chiles that are not available in most grocery stores? Can you grow Chile Pequins, etc. hydroponically?
Good vid. If the air pump does not have a filter on it, you might be pumping contaminants into the water and if your roots are exposed to air, like they are in the Kratky method, you shouldn't need the added air pumped into the water.
Filter lol ummm what kind? you mean like a gas mask?
@@FXNorm Lol, no, sometimes contaminants in the air can contaminate the water so you'll be changing your solution more often if you can see it.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm planning to grow some myself and took some notes, hope I will make it work as well. Something I would be interested to know if you are willing to share: How tall and wide your Tiny Tim plants have becomе? And how much space you provided them?
Odd question. Do you replace the water with the Kratky method, or continue to replenish it? Really loved those pictures and the music...
I woulk like to know about the complete change of water in the 2 systems as well. Good question!
very nice video! much patience as well, ha fall short on picking the tomatoes I guess! I wish I could taste those too! :D
Thanks zeezeewhy for the comment!
Cheers Tikki. Do you measure Ph in the nutrientsolution? Ive been told that airation/ airstones in the nutrientsolution will make Ph lower over time. Would be interesting to compare PH in the two vessels. Best regards from Sweden!
Great job on the video
Thanks Mike F.!
I think the air stones lower the temperature of the environment, I imagine air stones would work better for lettuce during hot water. also the bubbles disturb the roots.
Great videos. I'm learning so much. Curious if you took PH readings of both plants when you started? Were they the same?
Thanks so much for this very clear video! A question for you...do you ever change the water/nutrient solution in both totes?
Hello Catherine, I don't change out the water completely, I know people do. Rather I "top it off" with fresh water when I see the water level drop, and then the next time I see the level drop I top it off with nutes, alternating each time. There is no schedule because in the beginning the plants don't use up as much water as they do at the end when they are flowering and fruiting, so you need to look at the water level. If you are not sure, then my motto is "less is more", but if the plants look like they need something more, then give them some nutes. Hope that answers your question, The water level stayed fine for the first month or more, so it was really towards the end that I needed to add. Thanks for the question and comment!
Thanks Tikki. I see now that if I'd only been patient, I would've learned the answer to my question! But in any case, I really appreciate you getting back to me and for all of your videos. You've been such an inspiration. We now grow all types of lettuce, parsley, basil, and now tiny tim tomatoes indoors with a lot of success. Keep drinking that Folgers coffee!