Growing your own food at home has never been easier, and micro dwarf tomatoes are an excellent choice. These tiny tomato plants are perfect for small spaces and can thrive indoors year round, providing you with a steady supply of fresh, juicy tomatoes. One of the simplest and most effective ways to grow micro dwarf tomatoes indoors is by using the Kratky hydroponic method, a passive, soil free growing technique. Even better, you can upcycle a common household item, like a skyflake cracker container, as your growing vessel.
Here’s how you can start your very own indoor tomato garden with this easy, cost effective way!
What Is the kratky method?
The kratky method is a low maintenance hydroponic system that doesn’t require electricity, pumps, or moving parts. It allows plants to grow in water with nutrients, and as the plants consume the water, an air gap is created in the container. This air gap provides oxygen to the roots, ensuring healthy plant growth.
Micro dwarf tomatoes are specifically bred to stay small, making them an ideal choice for indoor growing. These compact plants typically grow no taller than 12 inches, yet they produce an abundance of flavourful, bite sized tomatoes. Popular varieties include Tiny Tim, Micro Tom, and Red Robin.
Step by step
- Container: Thoroughly wash and dry the container. Drill or cut a hole in the lid that is large enough to hold a net cup. The net cup will support your plant and allow the roots to dangle into the nutrient solution.
- Fill with nutrient solution: Mix a hydroponic nutrient solution according to the instructions on the package. This solution provides essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for your plant’s growth.
- Plant your seedling: Start your micro dwarf tomato seeds in a starter medium like rockwool or coconut coir. Once the seedlings are about 2-3 inches tall and have developed a few leaves, transfer them to the net cup. Place the net cup in the hole on the lid, ensuring that the roots touch the nutrient solution.
- Provide light: Micro dwarf tomatoes require plenty of light to thrive. Place your setup near a sunny windowsill that gets 6-8 hours of natural light per day. Alternatively, use a grow light to provide 12-16 hours of light daily.
- Monitor and wait: The beauty of the Kratky method is its simplicity. As your plant grows, the water level will drop, creating the necessary air gap for the roots. Check the water level periodically and top it up with nutrient solution as needed. Within a few weeks, you’ll notice flowers and eventually, small tomatoes forming!
Tips
- Temperature and humidity: Keep your indoor environment around 18-24°C for optimal growth. Humidity levels of about 50-60% are ideal.
- Pruning: Although micro dwarf tomatoes are compact, you may still need to remove dead or overcrowded leaves to improve airflow and encourage fruit production.
- Pollination: Since you’re growing indoors, you’ll need to hand pollinate the flowers. Simply tap the plant gently or use a small brush to transfer pollen between flowers.
Growing micro dwarf tomatoes indoors using the Kratky method and an upcycled container is a fun and rewarding project. It’s budget friendly and perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy fresh, homegrown tomatoes even in the smallest of spaces. Give it a try, and bring the joy of gardening into your home!
We were so happy to bite into fresh tomatoes in the middle of winter, that we grew ourselves indoors!
The variety we grew is called Orange Hat. Great choice for indoor growing!
Happy Gardening!
