What Does Brix Mean?
Brix is a unit of measurement to assess any dissolved solids in plant (fruit and vegetable) juices. These solids include amino acids, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and the sugars fructose and sucrose.
It is important to know the brix level (°Bx) of fruits and vegetables to determine and plan soil management practices. It also helps gardeners enhance the soil while determining whether they should increase the organic matter and soil nutrient ratios.
Brix may also be known as plant sap analysis.
Maximum Yield Explains Brix
The higher the brix level in fruits and vegetables, the healthier the plant is. Plants with a high brix level tend to taste better and can be stored for longer periods of time. In fact, high-brix fruits and vegetables do not rot as easily. High-brix plants have been known to produce seeds that germinate quicker, while resisting both frost and heat damage.
To measure brix, gardeners often use an apparatus known as a refractometer. This apparatus is very often used in viticulture to monitor the grape ripening process. To use the refractometer, viticulturists roll a leaf sample into a ball and squeeze some drops from it into the apparatus. The brix level will appear on a graduated scale.
