Refractometer

juke

Member
Location
DURHAM
Hi, can anyone recommend me which refractometer I should be looking to buy there's plenty on Amazon just not sure which one to go for. Want it for doing cereals and grass.
Tia
 

Kidds

Member
Horticulture
I have one that I use to monitor apple ripeness (sugar content). Seems to work and I think you can test by preparing known strength solutions.
Mine is just a cheapo off ebay, I think the important bit would be to be sure you got one that covered the range of measurement you are likely to need. ie. mine for apples may not be the right range for grass.
 

EddieB

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Staffs
Can anyone recommend a good way of extracting the sap? I use a garlic press which just about works on cereals but not at all on OSR or peas. I did a brix test yesterday and even getting sap out of wheat is more difficult now that the plants are in ear.
 

farmbrew

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
North Notts
Same as my brewery tester. Calibrate it on water which will read 1000. Good tool as a guide in the brewery but I use a hydrometer to test specific gravity ( to calculate ABV% ) more accurately. Are you planning on silaging your cereals? Not sure why you need to test sugar levels otherwise....I hasten to add I'm an old fashioned farmer. :rolleyes:
 

juke

Member
Location
DURHAM
It's to test the brix levels ( sugar content) higher the brix level less likely to be attacked from insects, some would say it's a plant health indicator, it's more to satisfy my own curiosity than anything else.
 

willy

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Rutland
Can anyone recommend a good way of extracting the sap? I use a garlic press which just about works on cereals but not at all on OSR or peas. I did a brix test yesterday and even getting sap out of wheat is more difficult now that the plants are in ear.
After breaking about 10 I got this off amazon
Screenshot_20210606_112312_com.amazon.mShop.android.shopping.jpg
 

ajd132

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Suffolk
Spend the money on a mega garlic press and just buy a £30 refractometer. I bought an expensive electric one and it’s rubbish
 

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