First grow documenting, Wild Aztec Rustica: @Pj654

[Pj654]

Some growing nicely, some tiny, hopefully a few take off within the next couple weeks.
At first I thought it was shade but the largest ones barely get very much sun so it's not that, but most of the smaller were left with only 1 or 2 leafs some with only half of one, during / after all the hail storms so that made them drag behind a loooot whilst the larger ones were left with not as much damage.. have at maximum 8 ish weeks of sunshine before it starts getting proper cold out, 10 "ish" weeks before frost. Probably not much hope but hey I've learned quite a lot at least I guess.

 

[Pj654]

So I'm having some problems.. some hail came through killed quite a few leaves, but luckily it was small so most of them are ok due to their shade.
Many of them are sending out buds and they are tiny.. remove flowers and continue to let them go? I got excited seeing some real growth last couple days but now.. there is still a good 2 months of growing left but they are finishing already? Perhaps sucker crop?
Most of them are still very small not sure what to bother doing with these guys anymore any advice is very welcome.

 

[Pj654]

Close up and insides of one of the buds. I think they are buds not suckers?

 

[deluxestogie]

N. rustica blossoms, if allowed to open, will be bright yellow, short and jug-shaped.

Bob

 

[Pj654]

N. rustica blossoms, if allowed to open, will be bright yellow, short and jug-shaped.

Bob

Sorry, so you agree it is buds right? Thanks

 

[deluxestogie]

Probably buds. Let it do its thing for two or three days.

Bob

EDIT:

 

[Pj654]

Probably buds. Let it do its thing for two or three days.

Bob

Great.
Thanks sir!
Thanks for reference

 

[Pj654]

Week 6
Most of them trying to put out flowers. Removing them as they come. Will probably let suckers go?wild as I don't know if I'll be getting much of anything without them the main leaf are remaining quite small plants the healthy ones are only foot or so. .

 

[Pj654]

Immature flower
The plants are sticky as all hell

 

[johnny108]

I’d remove the flowers as they come.
I’d also remove all suckers, and settle for the lower yield, so the strength stays high.
I’ve never had more than 8 leaves from an Aztec plant.
When the flowers are removed the leaves will get bigger, and the plant will grow quite a bit.
This year I’m growing Yellow-109, which I had read would get 70cm tall. They flowered at half that height, but have grown to about 70cm after I topped them, and sucker them weekly.

 

[Pj654]

I’d remove the flowers as they come.
I’d also remove all suckers, and settle for the lower yield, so the strength stays high.
I’ve never had more than 8 leaves from an Aztec plant.
When the flowers are removed the leaves will get bigger, and the plant will grow quite a bit.
This year I’m growing Yellow-109, which I had read would get 70cm tall. They flowered at half that height, but have grown to about 70cm after I topped them, and sucker them weekly.

Sounds good! I'll try to keep the healthy ones clean and proper then, unfortunately many were very damaged by hail repeatedly so offshoots are all they got . But got fair amount doing ok. Thank god nasal snuff is my ultimate goal lol

 

[JungleGhost]

advice for growing rustica in containers? heard it effects nicotine levels,.

 

[JungleGhost]

I’d remove the flowers as they come.
I’d also remove all suckers, and settle for the lower yield, so the strength stays high.
I’ve never had more than 8 leaves from an Aztec plant.
When the flowers are removed the leaves will get bigger, and the plant will grow quite a bit.
This year I’m growing Yellow-109, which I had read would get 70cm tall. They flowered at half that height, but have grown to about 70cm after I topped them, and sucker them weekly.

can you grow in containers?

 

[johnny108]

can you grow in containers?

Yes! Nitrogen and water availability can limit nicotine, but containers do not.
(Limonka)

 

[JungleGhost]

gotcha

Sounds good! I'll try to keep the healthy ones clean and proper then, unfortunately many were very damaged by hail repeatedly so offshoots are all they got . But got fair amount doing ok. Thank god nasal snuff is my ultimate goal lol

how did it go?

 

[JungleGhost]

Yes! Nitrogen and water availability can limit nicotine, but containers do not.
(Limonka)

View attachment 56571

 

[JungleGhost]

whats optimal water/nitrogen conditions?

 

[johnny108]

whats optimal water/nitrogen conditions?

For nitrogen, regular water soluble tomato fertilizers work very well. Avoid time release fertilizers with rusticas- it causes problems with color curing, later.
I apply a full strength 20-20-20 fertilizer at transplant, then monthly until flowering, in ground. Once flowers form, no more fertilizer, or, again- color curing trouble.
For container plants, I use a semi-soilless mix and water weekly with a 20-20-20 fertilizer at full strength, plus 1/2tsp Epsom salts per gallon of fertilizer water. In soil, so much fertilizer is not likely needed, but 75% of my potting mix is inert. I’m almost growing hydroponically.
Regular tobacco tends to benefit from a bit of a dry cycle for its root growth and nicotine content (regular irrigation will reduce nicotine, but increase sugar content in flue cured tobacco, however- trade offs).
Rusticas do not like to be dry- when the soil top is dry 1-2 inches below the surface- water them. Withholding water from a rustica can stunt its growth.

 

[JungleGhost]

I was thinking about making a setup where I can water from the bottom but was worried about rootrot/overwatering. so yours stay wet 24/7 365?

 

[johnny108]

I was thinking about making a setup where I can water from the bottom but was worried about rootrot/overwatering. so yours stay wet 24/7 365?

I water from the top, just because it’s easier.
If I notice them dry- I water them.
When I break off a week old sucker, it’s a good half inch thick, and is juicier than a celery stalk.
My biggest problem this year has been summer rains on my in ground plants, which is actually managing to over water everything (pale growing tips, looking like it has a nitrogen deficiency is the tell.), including the rusticas! This is also causing a lot of Sun scorching on my rustica leaves.