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My 2009 Tomato Growing Experience Utilizing Deep Water Culture Method

As a native of New Martinsville, West Virginia i have always enjoyed growing fruits and vegetables. From watermelons to corn, i've tried it all.

Now living in Florida with no room for a garden i always try to plant atleast one or two tomato plants on my patio with mixed success.This year i decided to do something a little different by growing them in 5 gallon buckets using the " Deep Water Culture " method, or DWC.

Deep Water Culture growing can be difficult but very rewarding. Ph as well as temperature fluctuations can wreak havoc on a growing tomato plant. The plants are placed in net pots and filled with a growing medium such as rockwool or expanded clay pebbles. These types of medium are inert, which means they provide no nutrients and are used soley as a method of supporting the plant while retaining moisture. The next step is to place a bubbler stone, similar to the type used in fish aquariums, into the bottom of the bucket with an air hose attached to an air pump. The pot is then placed into a 5 gallon bucket partially filled with water and nutrients and the ph is adjusted to suit the plant, ( in the case of tomatoes a ph of 5.8-6.3 is ideal). I aim for a ph of 6.0.

In regards to TDS i normally try to stay around 800ppm because my plants seem to respond well at that strength. If you live in a cooler climate you may be able to increase this a bit, but for the weather i live in, depleted oxygen in the solution is a real concern.  

During the summer months the heat in Florida reaches into the high 90's making it hard to grow certain vegetables. We will be experimenting with heirloom tomatoes such as " Big Zac " and " Giant Belgium " . Our large test plant shown in the current photos is a " Giant Goliath Hybrid ", which is perfect for patio gardening and a choice specimen to learn DWC growing.

I will be updating the site at least 2 times a week with photos, PH and TDS measurements. I will document my successes as well as my failures and report both on this website.

Here you'll find updated pictures and news about us. Visit us regularly and see what we're up to.

Pictures

2009-06-14

Delicious Tomato- just bought yesterday.Notice upper leaves turning green.JPG
Delicious Tomato- just bought yesterday.Notice upper leaves turning green.JPG 2009-06-14

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DSC04109.JPG 2009-06-14

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DSC04110.JPG 2009-06-14

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DSC04111.JPG 2009-06-14

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DSC04112.JPG 2009-06-14

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DSC04113.JPG 2009-06-14

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DSC04114.JPG 2009-06-14

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DSC04115.JPG 2009-06-14

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DSC04116.JPG 2009-06-14

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DSC04117.JPG 2009-06-14

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DSC04118.JPG 2009-06-14

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DSC04119.JPG 2009-06-14

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DSC04121.JPG 2009-06-14

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DSC04122.JPG 2009-06-14

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DSC04123.JPG 2009-06-14

2009-06-12

look closely and you can see new roots growing.JPG
look closely and you can see new roots growing.JPG 2009-06-12

brown roots mean root rot..JPG
brown roots mean root rot..JPG 2009-06-12

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DSC04097.JPG 2009-06-10

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DSC04098.JPG 2009-06-10

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DSC04099.JPG 2009-06-10

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DSC04100.JPG 2009-06-10

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DSC04101.JPG 2009-06-10

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DSC04102.JPG 2009-06-12

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DSC04103.JPG 2009-06-12

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DSC04104.JPG 2009-06-12

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DSC04105.JPG 2009-06-12

2009-06-09

DWC.JPG
DWC.JPG 2009-06-09

2009-06-08 Update- My First Tomato

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DSC04086.JPG 2009-06-08

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DSC04080.JPG 2009-06-08

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DSC04081.JPG 2009-06-08

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DSC04082.JPG 2009-06-08

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DSC04083.JPG 2009-06-08

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DSC04084.JPG 2009-06-08

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DSC04085.JPG 2009-06-08

My First Tomato of 2009a.JPG
My First Tomato of 2009a.JPG 2009-06-07

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DSC04079.JPG 2009-06-07

More Blooms.JPG
More Blooms.JPG 2009-06-07

My First Tomato of 2009.JPG
My First Tomato of 2009.JPG 2009-06-07

2009-06-07 Update- I Found Bugs!!!

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worm.JPG 2009-06-07

bug.JPG
bug.JPG 2009-06-07

06/06/2009 Update

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DSC04033.JPG 2009-06-05

Leah's Tomato Plant 6-6-09.JPG
Leah's Tomato Plant 6-6-09.JPG 2009-06-06

Daddy's Tomato 6-6-09.JPG
Daddy's Tomato 6-6-09.JPG 2009-06-06

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6-6-09.JPG 2009-06-06

My Bubbler setup.JPG
My Bubbler setup.JPG 2009-06-06

Bubbler in Action.JPG
Bubbler in Action.JPG 2009-06-06

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DSC04045.JPG 2009-06-06

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DSC04046.JPG 2009-06-06

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DSC04047.JPG 2009-06-06

Leah's Baby.JPG
Leah's Baby.JPG 2009-06-06

Taken on 06/05/2009

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6-5-09.JPG 2009-06-05

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6-5-09a.JPG 2009-06-05

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DSC04042.JPG 2009-06-06

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DSC04044.JPG 2009-06-06

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DSC04045.JPG 2009-06-06

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DSC04046.JPG 2009-06-06

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DSC04047.JPG 2009-06-06

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DSC04030.JPG 2009-06-05

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DSC04031.JPG 2009-06-05

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DSC04033.JPG 2009-06-05

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DSC04042.JPG 2009-06-06

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Here is a quick video of my setup.

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