Temperature in air curing barn

[Michibacy]

As you may know I cure my tobacco in my barn with standard air flow, no heater (unless it's below 60*F) and with a small box fan.

Is there a certain temp. that curing needs to take place at? It's been rather cool here (less than 80*F in the barn) and the leaves are still yellowing just fine. I haven't noticed any mold problems even with decent humidity. During the day the barn reaches a max of 80*F (daytime) and a minimum of 59*F (nighttime).

Is there any perks to having a cooler or warm temp?

Any insight is appreciated.

 

[deluxestogie]

...the leaves are still yellowing just fine.

That's pretty much your answer. Higher RH during browning will lead to darker leaf color. Since RH is dependent on temp, you can just keep the temps within natural summer time bounds, and watch the RH. If the 3-day average RH hangs between 60-80%, you're in good shape.

Bob

 

[Michibacy]

Thanks Bob, you're full of good info, I knew there was a reason Don kept you here

 

[BarG]

!ve noticed on my cured leaves the ones that don't darken all the way when dry will darken further during ageing. I get 50% rh here regularly for some times weeks in a row during noon time till late evening. While also I may have rain showers or heavy rains everyother day for 2 weeks, with temps ranging from 70 to 102 degrees so far. Heres a pic of a half and half maryland 609 lug. The lighter side is not as cured, it was tucked inside another leaf while the darker side was fully exposed. the stem is about 90% dry.



I'll set this aside out of curiosity to see how long it takes in same conditions.

 

[leverhead]

Heres a pic of a half and half maryland 609 lug. The lighter side is not as cured, it was tucked inside another leaf while the darker side was fully exposed.

You've stumbled on one of the secrets of sun curing. No shat.

 

[BigBonner]

Maryland 609 will sun burn easy . The tobacco is supposed to be cut whole stalk and laid on the ground before spearing up .It is best to cut a couple of hours before sun down and speared up the next morning .

Sun burned Maryland will turn green and it will not come out . Cutting Maryland when it is cold will cause a color cure problem .
This also applies to about any cigar variety tobacco . Ct and Havana will do the same thing .

On my burly I leave it to wilt in the field and then it is housed in my tobacco barns . When the leaves are browned up but not fully cured , I close my barn doors up and let the tobacco slow cure from there on .
To fast drying will cause cure color problems .

 

[grgfinney]

My baccy is in an enclosed area with a fan gong nonstop but the humidity is very high I usually close it up at night and open it in the day when it's not raining, what can I do to lower rh? Hanging about 90%

 

[Knucklehead]

My baccy is in an enclosed area with a fan gong nonstop but the humidity is very high I usually close it up at night and open it in the day when it's not raining, what can I do to lower rh? Hanging about 90%

Heat. Air movement helps but at 90% the only cure is heat or move them to the house until the weather changes. I had that kind of humidity a week or so ago and my leaf that was close was put into bud bags and taken inside the house to finish up in bud bags under a ceiling fan. I just turned the bag over once a day and the stem dries fine and the few yellow leaves I had browned up nicely.

 

[BarG]

Maryland 609 will sun burn easy . The tobacco is supposed to be cut whole stalk and laid on the ground before spearing up .It is best to cut a couple of hours before sun down and speared up the next morning .

Sun burned Maryland will turn green and it will not come out . Cutting Maryland when it is cold will cause a color cure problem .
This also applies to about any cigar variety tobacco . Ct and Havana will do the same thing .

On my burly I leave it to wilt in the field and then it is housed in my tobacco barns . When the leaves are browned up but not fully cured , I close my barn doors up and let the tobacco slow cure from there on .
To fast drying will cause cure color problems .

I can't make leaf like you do yet Larry cause I aint been taught ! heh heh But your a good teacher. Thanks, I have been trying.

 

[Brown Thumb]

My baccy is in an enclosed area with a fan gong nonstop but the humidity is very high I usually close it up at night and open it in the day when it's not raining, what can I do to lower rh? Hanging about 90%

I used a dehumidifer set at 70% last yr. worked good.

 

[grgfinney]

Hey knucks I did the redneck version I took the brown leaves and put them in a pillow case inside