Improved crop yields are obtained by determining total dissolved solids (TDS) in a representative sample of transplants to determine strike rate as a logarithmic function of TDS before transplanting. Juvenile plants with high strike rate readings are transplanted. A refractometer having a logarithmic scale showing low medium and high strike rates as a direct readout from a juice sample is used. A bioregulator can be used to induce high TDS levels prior to transplanting. Particular application is to transplanting strawberry runners.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/813,938 filed Mar. 3, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,895, which is a continuation of abandoned application Ser. No. 08/362,565 filed Feb. 28, 1995, which is the 35 USC 371 national stage of international application PCT/AU93/00322 filed on Jul. 1, 1993.
