ProZachJ's 2025 Grow Log

[ProZachJ]

Its that time of the year I start thinking about growing things!

This year I will do fewer plants than last year because I have gotten myself in to a multi-year project of restoring an 1875 eastlake victorian.



Current plans regarding the grow:

1. Build a float-bed in my greenhouse so that my plants don't die on weekends that I'm out-of-town working on the house
2. Read last years grow blog and follow my own advice regarding when to start, set out, etc.
3. This year my tobacco will be done in my garden area (where my tomatoes were last year) instead of my back field, so that they can be on automatic watering.

My main desires are:

1. I want longer maturity varieties as I would like to be harvesting in June-July instead of May-June.
2. I want to focus on large varieties both in terms of height and leaf size. Last year the big plants just made me happy.
3. I want to up my bright leaf game, since I struggled so much with Southern Beauty last year and a VaPer has become a serious player in my rotation I'm going to need stock.
4. Repeat varieties that I loved growing last year (Perique, Staghorn)

New to me varieties that I'm currently planning to order (any feedback or experiences with these varieties is welcome, as well as any other recommendations).

Del Gold
Solak 17
Blue Star 100

 

[Knucklehead]

I love it! What a great house. Keep us updated on progress.

 

[ProZachJ]

The seeds have arrived. Next step is to figure out my float situation else bite the bullet and buy some flood trays. 22 bucks for a single styrofoam 128 cell tray seems a bit steep but that's all I see available online.

 

[ProZachJ]

I decided to go with flood trays because they will be about the same entry cost as constructing float beds and buying float trays, but they will be able to utilize my existing shelving and be a more versatile solution as well as easier to clean and maintain.

I ordered four 2'x4' low rise trays which will accommodate 16 - 10x20 flats and I will still have two upper shelves for heat mats during germination. Pics once they arrive and get setup. The main downside to this choice is that no automatic irrigation can occur without power, but given my heating, cooling, and lights in the greenhouse already require electricity I'm not too worried about it, as long as I don't loose power for multiple days while I'm away I should be ok.

 

[ProZachJ]

I started to mock up the first of two germination stations. I still need to hang the lights and setup the reservoir, plumbing etc., but I think this setup is going to work well. Heatmat on top for four 72 cell trays and then I need to figure out a way to hold/organize the plants in each flood tray. I may just spread out to every other cell in the seed tray and poke holes in the bottom.

 

[ProZachJ]

In taking a supply inventory this morning I think I found my solution. These insert trays hold a 36mm plug and can be removed from the tray in 6x4 squares. This should allow me to start in a nice 10x20 germination flat and then transfer to a net flat when they are ready to go into the flood table. I can't believe I had saved these inserts after a grow 12 years ago and have now found they perfectly solve my challenge in my new setup!

 

[Skafidr]

I can't believe I had saved these inserts after a grow 12 years ago and have now found they perfectly solve my challenge in my new setup!

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7319666815725112622 View: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.mcfarlands/video/7319666815725112622

 

[Florida Dave]

In taking a supply inventory this morning I think I found my solution. These insert trays hold a 36mm plug and can be removed from the tray in 6x4 squares. This should allow me to start in a nice 10x20 germination flat and then transfer to a net flat when they are ready to go into the flood table. I can't believe I had saved these inserts after a grow 12 years ago and have now found they perfectly solve my challenge in my new setup!


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And that is how I ended up finding out I have three barely used screen spline rollers the last time I moved. Lord help me the next time...

 

[ProZachJ]

And that is how I ended up finding out I have three barely used screen spline rollers the last time I moved. Lord help me the next time...

At least your screen should be tight!

 

[ProZachJ]

Due to logistics issues....I planted too many tomatoes and peppers....the tobacco ended up in the same pots as last year. They should still work fine in the flood setup. I used @wruk53's media recipe. I used a toothpick to pick up 3-5 seeds and deposit them in the center of each cell.

Things are stacking up on this shelf as I'm still behind getting my second greenhouse ready to go. Hopefully in the next few days I can move things out there.

I'll probably do one more tray with orientals once I get more space setup.



Here's hoping!

 

[ProZachJ]

This morning I got my second greenhouse much closer to operational. 220v and 115v plugs installed. Heater and cooler hooked up to thermostat controls. Shelf moved over and setup



Still need to hang the heater, bring in the second shelf, setup the flood tables in a more permanent arrangement but at least my office is no longer glowing pink.

 

[ProZachJ]

Found this in the shed of the project house...Perique anyone?

 

[deluxestogie]

Looks like a nail keg, so likely would not hold liquids.

Bob

 

[ProZachJ]

Maybe I could line it with something?

 

[Florida Dave]

Looks like a nail keg, so likely would not hold liquids.

Bob

It looks exactly like a nail keg that was in the root cellar at my grandparent’s farm. It had the left over 20 penny nails from building their barn in the 50’s or 60’s (before my time)

 

[deluxestogie]

Maybe I could line it with something?

A heavy plastic bag would work. My concern would be that barrel is structurally not designed to withstand much internal pressure. (Also, that might make more Perique than you could use in many decades—and it will all be a single batch, whether it be excellent, okay or awful.)

Bob

 

[ProZachJ]

A heavy plastic bag would work. My concern would be that barrel is structurally not designed to withstand much internal pressure. (Also, that might make more Perique than you could use in many decades—and it will all be a single batch, whether it be excellent, okay or awful.)

Bob

I've never been accused of going too big before

 

[deluxestogie]

going too big

I see making one's own barrel of perique as design with a single point of potential failure. That's just my opinion, of course. I've made many batches of perique over the years. Some were spectacular, most were useable, a few were awful (and continue to be, after several years of "rest").

Bob

 

[ProZachJ]

Check out this guy that I found while shopping architectural salvage shops for the project.

 

[ProZachJ]

I see making one's own barrel of perique as design with a single point of potential failure. That's just my opinion, of course. I've made many batches of perique over the years. Some were spectacular, most were useable, a few were awful (and continue to be, after several years of "rest").

Bob

I hear you. Definitely a risk. On the other hand I would really love to get the process figured out from end to end given how much I loved growing the Perique variety and blends containing SJP. A few years of wasting some leaf on non-ideal results would be well worth it if eventually I landed on a homegrown, homemade batch that was spectacular and provided a decade worth of supply.

That being said, maybe a pound or two would be a wiser place to start. I bet this barrel would hold 20.