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West Paris Me.

Next year I would like to tissue test. Due to my budget I will only be able to do it twice. When would be the best times during the season to do these tests? thanks

10/29/2014 12:22:34 PM

Central Minnesota

First test Day 20, you want to have your plant right as they are ramping up and that allows time to get results back and then between Day 40 and Day 50 again so you can finish it out right. Obviously more is better but if I had to pick the two most valuable it would be those two.

10/29/2014 12:45:45 PM

Stanwood, Washington

How exactly do you use the info from the tissue test? Are you using foliars to dial in specific nutrients? How do you ensure that you are getting the correct amounts of the correct things and not getting too much or too little? Is it just kind of a guessing game as far as that goes?

10/29/2014 1:20:54 PM

West Paris Me.

Thank you

10/29/2014 10:26:40 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Kathy, Good question.

My opinion is although you can treat the results of a leaf tissue test via foliar sprays this does nothing to address the main root cause of the problems. Low Nutrient levels do not only exist in the leaves they affect fruit too. Low Nutrients are but a symptom of either uptake stress or environmental stress.

One of the most difficult things to address is not only what does the plant actually need but what is the best method of delivery to correct or dial in a deficiency.

Most micronutrients will be sufficient in plant leaves. Foliar spraying say for example can correct low Calcium (Ca) or other micros in the leaves. However in fruit it does not. This is in part because Ca is not mobile in the plant.

I have discovered that if you want big fruit they need to have larger concentrations of Micro nutrients at all times from the beginning of development of the growth tips and fruit bud all the way to the finish line.

The best way to do this is in providing the plant with a good supply of nutrients in the root zone. By ensuring you have maximum solubility of nutrients with no tie up issues you are helping young adventitious roots that are unsuberised to take up the nutrients they require.

Russ

10/30/2014 10:39:42 AM

West Paris Me.

Thanks Russ,

10/30/2014 12:31:20 PM

Muddy Waters

Makes sense Russ,I didnt due tissue test this year.I just fed them like hungry children.When they looked hungry I fed them.

10/30/2014 7:01:56 PM