In our last blog we focused on three of the most important grower supply tools you can take with your when you’re out in the orchard. But not every form of inspection can take place in the field, and that’s why you need certain measuring tools that will serve you well back at the lab. Here are some of the most important tools that will help you learn about your fruit and your soil.

Refractometer

Different parts of your orchard can ripen at different times. When should you harvest your fruit? Which section is ready to pick? Taste can be subjective, and harvesting too soon can cause your customers to complain. That’s why you need a refractometer. A refractometer measure the sugar content of fruit juice, telling you the sugar content of the fruit. It’s useful for choosing your harvest time and for checking sugar content during processing.

Penetrometer

In addition to refractometers, penetrometer are another indispensable tool for determining fruit ripeness. This pressure gauge determines the rupture point of the skin; check the pressure used to puncture the fruit against the included chart to determine if the fruit is ready for harvesting. We have penetrometers for both soft fruit (peaches and citrus) and hard fruit (apples and pears). Not sure which you need? Simply contact us for advice.

Soil Testing Kits

An excellent test for gardeners and orchard managers, the soil testing kit use a very simple method to determine if you have too much or too little of nutrients such as phosphorus ,potash, and nitrogen, as well as testing pH levels.

When you need to make the most of your soil and fruit, Frostproof has everything you need. Start improving you harvest right here!