Add science data to your home grown produce efforts by using a Brix Refractometer to measure Total Soluble Solids in your crops. This allows you to monitor the results of your gardening efforts.
This device measures the amount by which light bends as it passes through a drop of liquid. Higher levels of sugars, proteins, vitamins and minerals in your produce will give higher Brix readings. Some growers believe that Brix readings equate to nutrient density levels, and comparing your measurements to reference tables can indicate the quality of your produce. Higher nutrient density increases produce flavour.
Brix readings can be affected by moisture levels and temperature, so it's important to take successive readings at the same time of day using freshly harvested produce. This high quality meter does have ATC (Automatic Temperature Compensation) to assist with standardising sampling.
A Brix percentage of 0-32 captures the range required to measure sucrose values in fruit and vegetables. Refer to product reference tables to find the right Brix meter scale for your application.