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Tissue Sampling
Tools:
  • Knife (optional)
  • Paper bag
  1. Fields can be sampled by walking a diagonal pattern through the crops. Non-uniform fields are sampled differently; see our sampling guide page for more on choosing sample areas.
  2. Take 50-80 petioles or leaves per sample.
    1. Leaves: Take only fully-expanded mature leaves.
    2. Petioles: Take only the petioles, remove the blades.
  3. Take approximately one sample for every 10 to 40 acres.
  4. Check the chart below for proper tissue sampling time as timing is important. For crops not listed, please contact the laboratory for specific information.
Plant Tissue Samples
Crop Plant Part to Sample Time of Sampling
Alfalfa Mid stems 1/10 Bloom
Asparagus Fern needles 4" tip section September
Cabbage Midrib of wrapper leaf At heading
Cantaloupe & Cucumber Petiole of 6th leaf from growing tip 6-8 true leaves Early fruit set
Citrus 5-7 mo. old bloom cycle leaves from nonfruiting terminals Aug 15 to Oct 15
Deciduous Fruit Trees except Peaches Mature leaf, 2-5 mo. old Spur leaves for almonds, apples, apricot, cherry, pear, plum and prunes June and July
Grapes Petiole - opposite cluster Bloom
Peaches Basal to midshoot leaves June and July
Tomato Petiole of recently matured leaf (4th leaf from growing tip) Early Bloom, 1" Fruit, lst Color
Woody Ornamentals Deciduous & Evergreen Recently mature leaf Late June to September December to March