My second try at growing tobacco: @ramentamer

[ramentamer]

Like the title says, this is my second year trying to grow tobacco. The first year went very poorly. However, ordering from Whole Leaf Tobacco went great. So, I didn't have to resort to smoking pre-fabs all year.

Unfortunately, Whole Leaf Tobacco does not sell Yellow Twist Bud, and for whatever reason, I've got it in my head that I need some of that. So, my attempts at growing tobacco persist. I'm not great at it. I'm not really good at gardening, in general. But, this year looks far more promising than last year. The plants are short, based only on pictures I see on the internet. But, they are alive. Tobacco truly is the hardiest of plants, if it can survive my care.

This is what the garden looks like, this year:


Last year, I tried growing multiple varieties. This year, it's all Yellow Twist Bud. Some doing better than others. Though, none of them are 6 feet tall.

I have no clue when I'm supposed to harvest this stuff. But, I guess I'll cross that bridge after I've burned it.

Also, this thread is many months late. I was going to start it when I first got the seeds to germinate. But, I didn't. Better late than never, eh?

 

[deluxestogie]

when I'm supposed to harvest

Ripe-O-Meter: mature vs ripe

Immature Nicotiana tabacum leaf tends to be uniformly green, thin and flat. As it matures, the color slowly becomes mottled, and the very tip of the leaf begins to show a bit of yellow. Progressing from "mature" to ripe, the yellowing spreads, mottling increases, and the leaf texture becomes...

fairtradetobacco.com

Bob

 

[ramentamer]

Ripe-O-Meter: mature vs ripe

Immature Nicotiana tabacum leaf tends to be uniformly green, thin and flat. As it matures, the color slowly becomes mottled, and the very tip of the leaf begins to show a bit of yellow. Progressing from "mature" to ripe, the yellowing spreads, mottling increases, and the leaf texture becomes...

fairtradetobacco.com

Bob

Thanks, Bob!
By the looks of it, I have a few mature to ripe leafs. I was just going to cure the whole plant on stalk, but I think I can prune it a bit.

My original plan was "when the tomatoes are ready, so too is the tobacco." But, it's nice having an actual visual reference. So, I appreciate that.

 

[ramentamer]

Darn shame they didn't get as tall as anything in your garden, though. I think I didn't water them enough. I could also be more consistent with fertilization.

I pour in the "water" from my ducks' little swimming pool from time to time. But, I usually forget because cleaning the duck pool is a hassle and I generally just want to be done with it. And then I remember that I use that pooey water for stuff around the time I have it all emptied out.

I don't really know, though. As mentioned earlier, I'm not a green thumb. Most things I try to garden skip the growth and reproductive stages and go straight to decay. Which has benefitted me greatly in my mushroom garden. I can grow mushrooms no problem. Captain brown thumb, over here...

 

[deluxestogie]

You can simply wait for the upper leaf to show the earliest signs of maturity, then stalk-harvest the entire plant.

Bob

 

[ramentamer]

I grabbed about 7 leafs that were looking anywhere from "good" to "rough" and have them hanging, now. I'll monitor those and see how they go. I'll keep monitoring the plants too, and if any leafs start getting crispy brown edges, I'll yank those, too. Hopefully these guys get a little taller, though.

I got my next year's tobacco supply ordered from WLT, but it sure would be nice if I had enough to cure and age so that next time ordering season comes around, I could skip the burley and use my homegrown Yellow Twist, instead.

Speaking of which, I need to post my order for posterity's sake. I'll never remember my blend unless I do. It's probably not of interest to anybody except for future me. But here it is:

Also, going to add somewhere around 1 pound of Perique.

 

[ramentamer]

My plants are finally starting to grow!


I think that when people told me not to over-water them, I err'd too hard on the side of caution. I've been watering them much harder than before and they're getting much bigger.

 

[Florida Dave]

My plants are finally starting to grow!
View attachment 53190

I think that when people told me not to over-water them, I err'd too hard on the side of caution. I've been watering them much harder than before and they're getting much bigger.

https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B892&title=irrigating-tobacco is an article I found regarding irrigation for tobacco. I think my spring grow may have been stunted due to the lack of water during our dryer weather here in Florida.

 

[ramentamer]

Thanks! I appreciate it. I'll read into it when I get home.

 

[ramentamer]

I harvested my tobacco. I feel like it was the right time, but there will be that nagging throught in the back of my head, until it's all yellow, that I did it too early.