Oldfellas 21-22 grow

[Redleaf]

I woke up with seven dwarf syndrome ..............,.sleepy, grumpy, dopey................

 

[Oldfella]

Hi all, a little update (day 34) on seedlings progress. As you can see in the picture some varieties are not as hasty as others.
I don’t worry about it as past experience has shown that they all catch up to each other in due course. So I’ll just keep them happy with water at the moment, when I get them all down to one plant per pot I’ll give them a feed of soluble seaweed fertilizer, ( from the bottom of course). We are getting high temperatures at the moment and I have to pull the curtains to keep the hot sun off or they will burn.

 

[JMorgan]

Spring has sprung in the Far North of New Zealand and it’s time to start thinking about my summer Grow.
Eney meny miny mo,
Which seeds shall I sow?
Virginia Gold of course is first on the list. Cures nicely just hanging on the line and can be smoked straight away, if you’re in a hurry, otherwise flue curing is best. Mixing a little Yellow Twist Bud and a touch of Izmir makes a great smoke.
So here’s the plan.
Bright Leaf
Virginia Gold
Southern Beauty
Lizard Tail Orinoco
Yellow Gold
Burley
Yellow Twist Bud
Monte Calm Yellow
TN 86
Dark
Small Stalk Black Mammoth
Bolivian Criollo Black
Adonis
Orientals
Izmir Ozbas
Prilep
Cigar/Pipe
Amarello Rio Grande
Havana 608
Little Dutch
Others/ unclassified
Red Russian
Tennessee Red Leaf
Ornamentals
Jasmine
Only The Lonley
(For the Bugs)

Looks like a lot but I’m only going to plant three or four of all except for Virginia Gold and a couple of the Burley.
Let’s get sowing.
I use Peat pots and plant out pot and all. This way you don’t disturb the root system and I’ve never had a failure.
This is how I do it.
Take a small pill bottle, drill a small hole in the lid say 2.5mm it needs to be big enough for the seeds to fall through. (See pic 1)
Tip the seeds into the bottle and screw on the lid. Tip the bottle upside down over the area to be seeded and tap the bottom. (You can practice on a paper towel, see pic 2)
Don’t forget to label the bottle. I put my seeds in a small zip lock bag and store them in the bottle. If you don’t have zip lock bags you can put a piece of sticky tape over the hole. Using one bottle for each variety avoids any seed from the one you are using becoming mixed up with the next.
Label the pots and place in a suitable tray. Water from the bottom only. A quick spritz over the top helps everything get started. Never water from the top again.
Now we wait.
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This seems like a great system. I wish I had seen it a little earlier.

Why do you say to never water from the top again? Does it reduce your ability to see when it actually needs water? (when the top shows a little dryness, as you said to me in advice)

I (via youtube) had been told 'spritz twice a day' so had been doing that

 

[JMorgan]

Hi all, a little update (day 34) on seedlings progress. As you can see in the picture some varieties are not as hasty as others.
I don’t worry about it as past experience has shown that they all catch up to each other in due course. So I’ll just keep them happy with water at the moment, when I get them all down to one plant per pot I’ll give them a feed of soluble seaweed fertilizer, ( from the bottom of course). We are getting high temperatures at the moment and I have to pull the curtains to keep the hot sun off or they will burn.

View attachment 39895

thanks, this answers my other question - what your thoughts were about liquid fertiliser

 

[Oldfella]

This seems like a great system. I wish I had seen it a little earlier.

Why do you say to never water from the top again? Does it reduce your ability to see when it actually needs water? (when the top shows a little dryness, as you said to me in advice)

I (via youtube) had been told 'spritz twice a day' so had been doing that

I will let another member answer your questions on watering as my answer is even when planted outside it's not a good thing to do.
1) if the sun shines on a drop of water it can cause burn spots.
2) you will find better Information here than you will on YouTube.
Check out the how to grow tobacco thread on the menu.
Oldfella

 

[JMorgan]

I will let another member answer your questions on watering as my answer is even when planted outside it's not a good thing to do.
1) if the sun shines on a drop of water it can cause burn spots.
2) you will find better Information here than you will on YouTube.
Check out the how to grow tobacco thread on the menu.
Oldfella

1:
Thanks, very true
2:
Already I realise this. I wish I had more time to dedicate to reading and absorbing the knowledge on this forum, but I will try to make that time. The depth and breadth of it has blown my mind, truly. Youtube seems redundant already... but at was at least a spark that ignited a dormant fire in me, serendipitously at the same time that Covid19 overloaded the postal systems and allowed a few lil seeds to arrive to me undetected.

JM

 

[Oldfella]

Hi all.
Back from my hospital stay. Apparently the body decided that it was time for my annual grease and oil change. Ambulance was lights and sirens this time. The older we get the greater the maintenance. We’re OK now, intravenous Antybugs have gotten on top of the infection. I think I’ll come back as ant. They never get sick because they have little Antibodies. Ha ha
My Sister and my Daughter took great care of my seedlings and as you can see they looking great.
My they have grown, they were only this big when I went away.

I’ll have to get back into it and get the ground ready to welcome them.

 

[Homegrowngoodnes]

Glad you are back! I thought it was strange not seeinv your posts.

 

[mbatini]

Glad you are back! I thought it was strange not seeinv your posts.

Good oil and grease for great maintenance!!!!.
IMHO, a little bit of tobacco deserves attention in the diet.

Happy to see you.
Bye
Mauro

 

[Yug]

Glad you are healed. Take care of your tobacco plans, but most of all take care of yourself.

 

[JMorgan]

Glad you are healed. Take care of your tobacco plans, but most of all take care of yourself.

^ Indeed!


Glad you are ok.


The seedlings look great! growth is full on, really inspirational. And can't wait to see the next pics

 

[JMorgan]

I think I’ll come back as ant. They never get sick because they have little Antibodies. Ha ha

 

[Oldfella]

Look what daunting Daughter done for me yesterday.
Photo is a bit fuzzy it was taken through the window.


And here is what she done today. I just have to get a bit more weed mat.

I've got to get these plants in the ground. As you can see they are screaming to get out.
Interesting to note that the plants on the center rack are smaller than the others. At the time of sowing my store ran out of my preferred brand of seed raising mix so I got a small bag of what used to be a good mix. It was full of sticks and rubbish, I think that they have sacrificed quality for quantity. I wont buy that one again.
I hope to get some plants in tomorrow, if the weather let’s me that is.

 

[JMorgan]

Look what daunting Daughter done for me yesterday.
Photo is a bit fuzzy it was taken through the window.
View attachment 40074

And here is what she done today. I just have to get a bit more weed mat.
View attachment 40075
I've got to get these plants in the ground. As you can see they are screaming to get out.
View attachment 40076 Interesting to note that the plants on the center rack are smaller than the others. At the time of sowing my store ran out of my preferred brand of seed raising mix so I got a small bag of what used to be a good mix. It was full of sticks and rubbish, I think that they have sacrificed quality for quantity. I wont buy that one again.
I hope to get some plants in tomorrow, if the weather let’s me that is.

Great to see some pics, what a great plot (and daughter!)

The difference in those middle rack plant sizes is full on hopefully they can catch up once they are in the ground

 

[Madhippy]

Bright Leaf, Burley, Dark, Orientals, Cigar/Pipe, Others/Unclassified Ornamentals. Were meant to be headings and I forget to put Harrow velvet on the list.
This pic was supposed to be at the top and I forgot it as well. View attachment 39540 My seed collection. All except for Virginia Gold purchased from NWS, great service, Thanks @skychaser.
Went for my bimonthly blood test today and it came back good so that's a bonus. The only problem I'm having at the moment is the lock down, it seems an infected person or persons breached the border illegally and came up North. These persons are refusing to co-operate and say where they had been so we have to stay in lock down. Means I can't get some of the things that I need as the shops are shut.
I just hope that it doesn't go on for to long. We are looking at Monday so the news said, we will see.

I am currently trying to flower a Bahia tobacco in my closet for seeds. Do you or have you ever grown a Bahia?

 

[Oldfella]

I am currently trying to flower a Bahia tobacco in my closet for seeds. Do you or have you ever grown a Bahia?

No. Sorry I haven't grown that one.
But tell me, why are you keeping your plant in a closet? I would have thought that a nice sunny position, or at least plenty of light would be better.

 

[Knucklehead]

I am currently trying to flower a Bahia tobacco in my closet for seeds. Do you or have you ever grown a Bahia?

One of our members sells seed including tobacco seed.

Northwood Seeds

edit: Bahia:
http://nwtseeds.com/Bahia.htm

 

[skychaser]

I am currently trying to flower a Bahia tobacco in my closet for seeds. Do you or have you ever grown a Bahia?

I don't grow my seed plants in my closet. The cows and horses kept stepping on them so I grow them all outdoors now.

Nice job on the garden prep Oldfella. Can I hire your daughter next spring? Your plants will be very happy to be freed from the pots. It's time for those babies to be in the ground. Keep us posted on how there are doing. It's nice to see something green and growing during the long cold frozen winters here.

 

[Oldfella]

I don't grow my seed plants in my closet. The cows and horses kept stepping on them so I grow them all outdoors now.

Nice job on the garden prep Oldfella. Can I hire your daughter next spring? Your plants will be very happy to be freed from the pots. It's time for those babies to be in the ground. Keep us posted on how there are doing. It's nice to see something green and growing during the long cold frozen winters here.

Hi @skychaser.
Re hiring daunting Daughter, you would have to talk to her husband about that. She has been away from him for a year now with only short trips home. She is up here learning about tunnel house growing for berries and stuff.
You would need a pretty big closet to grow your seeds in no wonder the stock trampled them, the area was too small.
Oldfella

 

[Oldfella]

Hi all was too busy today to get some pics of my grow but here's one of A photo of our fire at Kaimaumau North of my place. It started before Xmas and although now under control is still burning in the peat underground.
it burned over 2700 ha and destroyed a lot of native habitat. Shame really but it seems to happen every year. Careless holiday makers maybe?