Dry
Core crumbles, no cohesion, dusty, falls apart in hand.
Severe stress โ photosynthesis halted, permanent root damage risk.
โ ๏ธ Irrigate immediately
Slightly Dry
Core barely holds shape, no moisture on hand, surface cracks visible.
Mild stress. OK 2โ3 weeks pre-harvest only.
Irrigate within 24 hrs
Moist โ
Core holds shape, cool and damp, slight sheen, no dripping.
Ideal โ roots actively absorbing. Target zone bud break through veraison.
No action needed
Wet
Very cohesive, water visible on hands, heavy and cold.
Root rot and fungal disease risk if prolonged.
Skip irrigation, check drainage
Saturated
Water drips from core, soil slumps on extraction.
Anoxic โ roots suffocating within 24โ48 hrs.
๐จ Fix drainage immediately
๐ก Field Tips
โข Push probe 12โ18 inches deep, mid-row, away from drip emitters
โข Always probe the same spot each visit
โข Fruit set & veraison: keep Moist โ most critical periods
โข Pre-harvest: 2โ4 weeks Slightly Dry concentrates sugars โ intentional only