As summer slipped quietly into memory, I lifted the red globe to my face and inhaled deeply. The scent of a ripe tomato—sun-warmed, earthy, unmistakably alive—is intoxicating, to say the least. With a small pang of sadness, I raised the blade and made the final slices of the season. Feast to famine in a single motion; this was the last fresh fruit from the garden. I didn’t relish the thought of returning to store-bought produce. Not that they’re terrible, per se, but they simply don’t seem as aromatic or flavorful. Mass-produced, imported tomatoes are missing something… perhaps it’s just love? But I digress. Autumn came and went in a flurry of color, and the first frost finally settled across the yard like a quiet warning. As I watched the squirrels scamper about—frantically gathering their winter stores—I found myself pondering a curious question: Could I grow tomatoes in winter? After all, my houseplants thrive through every season without complaint. Surely it must be possible. And as it turns out, cold-weather growing is indeed possible—and not just for tomatoes.

The hot house tomato I was able to grow indoors was red, beautiful and perfectly globe shaped. I made my sandwich and with a grimace of disappointment, took a bite. The flavor was NOT what the beautiful packaging had promised. As I ate, I turned the problems and challenges of indoor growing over and over in my head, Why did my seeds germinate so well in just water and fail so miserably when put to soil? Then it hit me… My plants didn’t need the soil, just some nutrients. After all, my aquarium plants always did incredibly well with the fish excrement feeding them. The Ph was regulated and monitored monthly as part of the tanks upkeep. The grow lights further fed the plants through photosynthesis. It was turnkey!

The research was exhausting but with time and many failed trial and error experiments, I finally got to harvest my first indoor-grown fruits. Delicious! the hydroponically grown (tomatoes) somehow tasted even better than my outdoor garden ones. Hydroponics has made leaps to mainstream. Hydroponics replaces soil with science—delivering nutrients, water, and oxygen directly to the roots in the most efficient way possible.  Learn more about hydroponics and how to effectively grow indoors this winter – HERE.

The folks at Grow Depot of Virginia will be a great help as you start or upgrade your quest to grow your specialized plants and achieve maximum success in flavor as well as potency. They will help you decide which hydro set-up will fit your needs and space. Their extensive knowledge of premium hydro-grows will make the challenges of your hobby easy to overcome and can even provide the best genetics you are after!
From Lighting, Timers, Nutrients, to Airflow it will all be under your control and help is within easy reach. You will have a successful automated turnkey grow with a quickness and no more trips to the “tomato dispensary” Now get to cold weather growing and get the Grow Depot!  We know the way to GROW.