We joked that we ought to move a cot out to the farm so he could stay whenever he needed to. Tissue sampling involves collecting plant parts usually leaves and petioles at regular intervals during the growing season. For strawberries, samples should be pulled every week to two weeks. Knowing nutrient levels within a crop is especially helpful for growers who raise high-value specialty crops like strawberries. This information enables them to apply exactly the right amount of fertilizer during critical periods of flowering and fruit set.
Precise application saves money, protects the environment and optimizes yield and quality.
Tissue sampling is primarily a monitoring tool that lets a farmer know if his fertilization program is on track. The Edmunds first two sets of tissue samples indicated no problems, but analysis of the third sample revealed a need for nitrogen and Epsom salts. Once those needs were taken care of, subsequent tissue samples showed normal levels of nutrients. Weldon Edmund has farmed all his life, just like his father and his grandfather before him. For the most part, he has grown corn, soybeans and tobacco.