Tomato Cultivation in Simple Hydroponics

Age-paced modern farming no longer have to use the land. Various methods of farming can be used for those who want at it. One of them is in hydroponic farming. Own hydroponics is a way of farming without soil media.

Tomatoes have long known and consumed by the public and Indonesia either by upper middle-class people and lower middle income. Consumers tomatoes can be categorized into domestic consumers, consumer organizations (restaurants, hotels, and hospitals), and industrial customers, however to date the household consumers are described as the biggest consumer.

It has even become a hobby hydroponic farming spare time filler for some people. Not even hobbyists, there was also then that continue to be a business. Used hydroponics to grow vegetables and fruit. Even some vegetables and fruit crops have been planted in a hydroponic general. Call it cherry tomatoes, mini cucumbers, peppers, and green vegetables.

There are several advantages that are believed to be derived from a hydroponic crops than conventional farming (crops used in the ground). Take just one example, planting cherry tomatoes in hydroponics. First, the production per plant was bigger and better quality. Besides land cherry tomatoes can be planted throughout the year, if planted in the ground must have crop rotations. Of cultivated plants with hydroponics is also more easily protected from erosion and drought.

Lost after the harvest is smaller than conventional farming. While higher prices and relatively constant, not knowing the season. Although hydroponics crops cost more expensive than ordinary crops, but the selling price of an expensive product with a specific market share is a special attraction for the business man.

In the cultivation of hydroponic cherry tomatoes must consider several important aspects, namely:

1. Environmental Aspects

The cultivation of hydroponic cherry tomatoes are planned in the area Tawangmangun Karanganyar District, because the Tawangmangun meet most requirements of growing vegetables (cherry tomatoes) so in order to grow cultivated well no longer needed a lot of micro-climate modification (except for greenhouse production).

Cherry tomato plants in general can grow well at the optimum temperature is 16-25o C, maximum at 30o C. Rainfall is needed by these plants between 600-1250 mm / year. Too much rain causes the fruit to fall out. Cherry tomato plant is very responsive to water, water use cherry tomatoes adult is 0.5 liters / day. Humidity needed for growth of around 80-90%.

A good soil type is sandy clay.
These plants will flourish in the fertile light soil, containing humus, not stagnant. Soil acidity (pH) of about 5,5-6,5 is good ground for the growth of this plant. So that the cherry tomato plants are very suitable cultivated in hydroponics, because in a hydroponic cultivation system requirements grow more configurable and customizable than planted in the garden. For the cherry tomatoes grown in the garden sloping land needed 0-10 degrees.

Cherry tomatoes grown on medium-high plateau ranging from 700-1500 m above sea level. Although able to grow to 2,000 m above sea level. These plants are not resistant to frost (frost). Planting in the lowlands can be done with the system controlled greenhouse or plastic shelter to avoid the hot sun too much.

2. Production Aspect

In an effort agrobis of a competition or rivalry are common. It is precisely the existence of such competition will create an atmosphere of contestable markets or seizure great customer. So that will enhance creativity and innovation by the producers that their products could compete in the process of fighting over the market.

No exception in the culture of cherry tomatoes, a good production process is needed to produce tomato products are high-quality cherry that was expected to attract interest as well as consumer purchasing power continues to increase. One of the efforts boost the quality of cherry tomato is a hydroponic cultivation.

With intensive treatment, one plant in the hydroponic system can produce more than conventionally grown. Harvest by hydroponics also somewhat faster than the conventional way, because it did not take too long to wait for the planting or harvest.

Cherry tomatoes can be eaten fresh as a salad or cooked mixing as a spice or the main ingredient in a dish. Planting cherry tomatoes hydroponic method requires a larger capital, but the advantage is greater than the non-hydroponic methods or conventional. Greater profits that can be caused by:

a. Production per plant was bigger and better quality.

b. Land cherry tomatoes can be planted throughout the year, if planted in the ground must have crop rotations.

c. Lost after a smaller harvest.

Higher prices and relatively constant, not knowing the season. High prices due to the quality of fruit that remains and meet standards.

3. Marketing Aspect

Most products in hydroponic cultivation (including cherry tomatoes) in the market is more expensive than products of conventional agriculture. But its market goals were different from ordinary agricultural products. Prices are pegged to the technology of hydroponics plants are fairly expensive, in general it can be found in places such as supermarkets and shopping hypermarket. Because the final goal is the consumer market with high welfare levels upwards. Because as we all know that the Indonesian people in general who care and put quality products are consumed only high welfare level upwards, while the middle to bottom-oriented on what to eat, rarely, or even regardless of its quality.

So the purpose of product marketing hydroponic cherry tomatoes is increasingly clear, that is marketed in places where the objectives of its customers with high welfare levels upward, like a supermarket, hypermarket, and mini market. In fact, in the malls that "nota-bene" rarely sold horticultural products, particularly hydroponic cherry tomatoes.

During this hydroponic cherry tomatoes products are known to the public may come from the highlands such as the area of Malang, East Java, but with hydroponic cherry tomatoes from Tawangmangu this will create healthy competition and even attempted to master the market, especially starting from Central Java. Furthermore hydroponic cherry tomatoes products are expected to master the Indonesian local market and eventually will start the export.