Why might your hydroponic tomatoes not turn red in the greenhouse

Why might your hydroponic tomatoes not turn red in the greenhouse?

Date：22th Mar. 2023   | Source: YSteel    | Author: YSteel

Three stages of tomato ripening Tomatoes go through three stages of ripening: green, crusher and red.

1. The green stage is when the tomato is still firm and has not yet shown any color.

2. The crushing stage is when the tomatoes begin to brown.

3. The red stage is when the tomato is fully ripe and bright red.

Why might your hydroponic tomatoes not turn red?

1. Lack of light - One of the most common reasons hydroponic tomatoes don't turn red is that they don't get enough light. Tomatoes need at least eight hours of direct sunlight a day to produce the energy needed to turn red. If your tomatoes don't get enough light, they won't turn red no matter how much time you give them.

• Solution: Move your plants to a sunny area or supplement natural sunlight with a growth lamp.

2. Incorrect temperature - Tomatoes will not turn red if the temperature is consistently below 55 F or above 85 F.

• Solution: Check the temperature in the growing room and adjust it as needed to ensure it stays within the ideal range for tomato production.

3. Lack of nutrients - Tomatoes are heavy eaters and require a constant supply of nutrients to produce red fruit. They need a balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to turn red. If your tomato plants lack any of these nutrients, they won't turn red.

• The solution: Make sure to fertilize your plants regularly and supplement them with extra nutrients if necessary

4. Too much water - Hydroponic tomatoes also need the right amount of water to turn red. If a plant's roots are in too much water, they can drown and prevent it from getting the oxygen it needs to produce energy. On the other hand, if the roots aren't sitting in enough water, the plant won't get the water it needs and it will prevent the plant from turning red.

• Solution: Check the water level in the hydroponic system and make sure the roots are in a few inches of water.

5. Disease or pests - If your plants are infested by aphids, whiteflies or other pests, it may prevent them from getting the nutrients they need to turn red. In addition, diseases such as fusarium wilt can prevent tomatoes from turning red.

• Solution: Treat your plants with appropriate insecticides or fungicides and ensure regular maintenance.

6. Genetic factors - Certain types of tomatoes will not turn red, no matter what you do. The good news is that many other delicious tomato varieties do!

• Solution: Do your research and choose different types of tomato plants for next planting.

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