Entry 4: Herbicide application, Brix, De-budding, and Osmocote

Most of the week was spent indoors due to inclement weather. 

Taking advantage of the sunny beginning of the week, we applied herbicide to the Figs and Feijoa in the field. When applying, we keep an eye on the wind to make sure the herbicide is not drifting and potentially damaging nearby trees or drifting onto workers. 

Brix tests were taken on the Peaches we've been collecting throughout the past few weeks. The early-ripening peach season is drawing to an end, and Brix is tested on each selection using 3 different samples from each to get a decent average. Each selection was also displayed for potential publication purposes in the case they become varieties. 

Later in the week, work was done on the pear and apple trees we recently grafted in the campus greenhouse. I plucked the sprouting buds from each grafted tree underneath the graft union, to give priority to the scion buds as opposed to the rootstock buds. Osmocote was then applied to the grafted apples. 

See you next week🌳