To evaluate root health, soil cores are taken 4.5″ deep, two inches from the crown, between the crown and the drip tape.  Root cores are soaked and sieved, then scanned and analyzed using WinRhizo software to measure total root length.

Both cultivars Albion and Chandler are grown in a replicated field trial in a commercial organic field in Watsonville.  On May 7, root cores were taken from both cultivars and total root length are presented here.  At this point, root vigor and yield do not correlate.