Saving Hydroponic Tomato Taste

14 years ago

Hello

I am currently growing pink brandywine tomatoes in a waterfarm hydroponic system, indoors, under a 400 watt HPS, using the supplied general hydroponics nutrients at the suggested amounts (PH target level of 6.0). For context, this is my first attempt at hydrponics, and I am a fairly inexperienced gardener in general.

After approximately 100 days, they are finally approaching full ripeness and, after picking the first one, I realized the taste was very bland. I don't think I picked it too early, as the color seemed approrpiate and I felt a decent amount of give from a gentle squeeze.

I read that PH has a large influence over flavor, and I have been doing everything I can to keep a 6.0 level. I also recently purchased the organic line of general hydrponics nutrients for use going forward in hopes that this may help.

Can anyone recommend something I can do to yield a taste closer to that of soil? Apologies if there are other similar threads, I've flipped through dozens and nothing seemed to truly answer the question.

Thank you!

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Comments (4)

TheMasterGardener1
14 years ago
"I also recently purchased the organic line of general hydrponics nutrients for use going forward in hopes that this may help."

Flora Nectar!!!! general hydroponics.

This will work.
pjcampo
14 years ago
How about something that is OMRI listed (i.e. it should come from organic stuff like bat poop, kelp, etc.)?
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slb345
Original Author
14 years ago
Flora Nectar...great idea, thank you! I can't believe I overlooked that. Guessing it's too late in the cycle to make a difference on the ripening ones.

As for the bat poop/kelp idea, I was using liquid seaweed for most of the duration, which I assume represents that category.
TheMasterGardener1
14 years ago
Yea, what kind of system is it? DWC? If so you could be ok will the organics and don't get me wrong GH makes good clean organics in their general organics line, however, I don't think organics is that good in hydroponics.

Let me help you with a good complete program. Before I start I want to say you can grow good, clean tasting veggies with only a basic 3-part fertilizer so some other things could be wrong with what your bad taste is coming from. With that said water temp should be 60f-65f and air should be 75-80f, you need to flush the the veggies with water to get the chemicals out.
Ok here it goes...

You need a good cleaner, that is the key to hydroponics. GH makes a "cleaner" that you run with your nutrients that will help as well keep everything clean and no desease. Don't go heavy with the sweetener either that I recomended.

I am not favoring an one company, there are many trusted brands.

Hope this could help, I am sure there will be more help as I am not very experienced with true hydroponics. I grow beautiful container gardens of peppers and tomatoes. I use a good organic soilless soil mix, mixed with 70% chunky perlite. So 70%perlite 30% soil mix. I have to water 2 times a day and if I am not around I let them wick with flooded water in trays below. The results I get are the product of hydroponics and the ease and no ph worries of soil.