Damanadaplaya
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Off to a “sort of good” start. My purchased Cuban Criollo 98 and my Havana 608 seeds came up, but my own seeds from 2 years ago did not. 
Harrison 2025 grow blog
- Thread starter Damanadaplaya
- Start date
Oregontobaccoplants
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Awesome
Damanadaplaya
Well-Known Member
Coming along. The Cuban varieties are up and at ‘em, seeds from previous year did not work so I had to germinate a different batch. They sprouted! 
Damanadaplaya
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Hello sunshine
Damanadaplaya
Well-Known Member
I’m a little concerned about spacing, but it should be OK; future Cubans.
Damanadaplaya
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I had to use seven dust as I lost several plants to cut worms, and leaf munching worms. I also decided to mulch with oak leaves (free & abundant) to keep moisture in and weeds out. Each bed has 2 bags of Black Kow this year, and fertilizer. I have marigolds sprouting outside of the fence, and the front of each bed (facing south) has basil plants germinated. The bottle tree is to ward off bad spirits.
Damanadaplaya
Well-Known Member
I tested my soil, PH, phosphorus, pot ash all good, nitrogen was almost not there. I applied a good amount of blood meal at the drip line of each plant and watered it in hoping that will solve the issue. I told my wife the blood meal has really stunk the yard up. A day later, I found a dead possum the dogs have killed under my grill cover. It wasn’t the blood on my tobacco, it was a dead possum. There’s a country song in there somewhere….
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Damanadaplaya
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That looks viral to me. I would guess Tobacco Etch Virus (TEV). If you wish to keep the plants, just plan on handling them last on each trip to the tobacco garden, then wash your hands well afterwards. You end up with crummy tobacco from the affected leaves, but it is not harmful to humans.
Bob
EDIT:
fairtradetobacco.com
Bob
EDIT:
Tobacco Etch Virus (TEV)
There are a number of viruses that affect tobacco, and most also can infect or be transmitted from other members of the solanaciae family (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers). Details of the pathophysiology of these virus infections are not particularly useful for the home grower. In this...
Damanadaplaya
Well-Known Member
Thank you Bob.
Damanadaplaya
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Storm looks like it demolished my plants, I even have plants with wilted leaves. I tried straightening them but stems feel like they would crack. My question is, are leaves “not ripe enough” if the plant is harvested early? If it was a tomato I would know the answer. The leaves are sticky and healthy. What are thoughts on air curing plants that met an early demise? I’ll eventually ferment for cigars.
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I suggest allowing them to continue to grow. Stake them, if needed. Ugly is way better than harvested too early.
Bob
Bob
Damanadaplaya
Well-Known Member
Toppin and suckerin this morning….
Damanadaplaya
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Damanadaplaya
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Volado (bottom leaf) of the Havana 608 harvested and hung.
Damanadaplaya
Well-Known Member
Picking the top leaves of the criollo 98, pulled the plants. Havana 608 top leaves are
next.
next.The Haroo ln
Haroon
Qq, I'm also growing criollo 98 and I was just wondering how tall did yours get? Mine are only around 4-4 1/2 ft. Also how long after transplant did you harvest? Mine should be ready in for priming on around a week or so
Damanadaplaya
Well-Known Member
It was a weird grow. I planted March 28. There was a storm that bent some of the plants, and I could not bend them
Back without cracking the plant. I tested soil and put blood meal that was not supposed to burn the plant but I think did. The plants that got the right amount of nitrogen and did not get blown down, grew straight and tall, at least 6-7 feet. But I topped them several times too. It’s all an experiment. Comacho cigars use Criollo 98 in the blend (I was told)…
