Ben Brand`s planned grow log

[Ben Brand]

Thank`s again to Deluxestogie, Jitterbugdude, Rustycase and Skychaser for the seed. Without you guys I still would be at a zero.
My planned tobacco is:

KELLY BURLEY - wrapper

CONNECTICUT B/LEAF- filler

PENNSYLVANIA RED- filler

COMSTOCK SPANISH- wrapper

FLORIDA SUMATRA- wrapper

LITTLE DUTCH- filer

HAVANA 142- filler

BLACK SEA SAMSUN- filler

BLACK STALK MAMMOTH- wrapper

PENNSYLVANIA BROADLEAF- wrapper

HUEHUETENANGO- filler

VUELTA ABAJO- filler AZTEC RUSTICA- filler and garden I will plant about 130 plants, all will be sun grown. Any suggestions?

Ben

 

[johnlee1933]

I will plant about 130 plants, all will be sun grown. Any suggestions?

Ben

Ben, In my experience partial shade (40%) produces a more delicate leaf. I use all my grow as cigar wrapper. Therefore I recommend, if possible, that you try for partial shade for your Comstock Spanish, Kelly burley, PA broadleaf and Florida Sumatra. I'm lucky my shade is unavoidable. It's from surrounding trees. If you have any area with some natural shade try a few plants that way and see if you prefer the leaf for wrapper.

 

[deluxestogie]

Ben,
When do you start your seed?

Bob

 

[Knucklehead]

Nice grow list. I agree with John in regards to wrapper leaf and shade. I'm looking forward to following your grow this season. What are you currently smoking? I've recently received some whole leaf cigar varieties from Don at www.wholeleaftobacco.com that are just out of this world. The Nicaraguan filler and Maduro wrapper make as nice a cigar as any I've ever smoked. The Dominican filler, Criollo 98 wrapper and Ecuador Shade wrapper are also wonderful. Wholeleaf can have you spending pennies on the dollar immediately, and smoking cigars of your own manufacture is a very rewarding experience.

 

[Chicken]

i agree, for certain cigar varities the shade is your friend,

do some research on the way its grown in the shade,

 

[Ben Brand]

Bob
Planning to sow end of June, maybe mid July. Planting late this season, trying to avoid the summer storms.
Storm usualy from Sept to Dec. Want to plant late December.
RegardBen

 

[Ben Brand]

Thanks for the input. I will definitely do some in shade. Did most of my plants under trees in my yard last season, with the bad storms we had one tree was uprooted and dumped on my tobacco.
But I will replan and pland some wrapper in the shade. Thanks again.
Ben

 

[Ben Brand]

Currently smoking last years crop. Had a disastrous crop last year, cat messed up my seedling trays, knocked it off the bench, most of my seedlings were mixed in the trays, then we had major storms, planted all my tobacco under 3 huge trees, wind actually broke 1 tree and dumped it in my tobacco patch, but I do have tobacco to roll cigars, struggling with wrappers because of the damaged leaves. I had a look at the whole leaf website, a pitty I live in the wrong country, I would have loved to get hold of some. But I must say the few cigars that have rolled was pretty good so I am really pleased that I can smoke at least something good. Thank you for the interest. All the best with your season.
Regards
Ben

 

[Knucklehead]

If it weren't for bad luck, we'd have no luck at all .....

 

[Ben Brand]

Bob
Got my dates wrong, will only sow the end of July, not June. St

Know I jump the gun, but still cant decide how to reap, stalk or not. Hanging the tobacco in my garage, but the heat in SA I had some problems with the tobacco that dried to fast last season, garage roof is corrugated iron roof and gets to hot. Will definitely use white roof paint to cool it down, used it on my house and you cant believe the difference. Stalk curing is easier for me, but it being air cure tobacco I`m still not sure about the ripeness of the whole plant before I take it off, must the whole plant be yellow or just the bottom leaves? I suppose to reap the individual is easier to judge the ripeness. I am sure I will find the answers in this forum as the season gets on, but I must say again thanks to you guys I have found a tremendous hobby. Thanks again.
Regards
Ben

 

[johnlee1933]

Bob
Got my dates wrong, will only sow the end of July, not June. St

Know I jump the gun, but still cant decide how to reap, stalk or not. Hanging the tobacco in my garage, but the heat in SA I had some problems with the tobacco that dried to fast last season, garage roof is corrugated iron roof and gets to hot. Will definitely use white roof paint to cool it down, used it on my house and you cant believe the difference. Stalk curing is easier for me, but it being air cure tobacco I`m still not sure about the ripeness of the whole plant before I take it off, must the whole plant be yellow or just the bottom leaves? I suppose to reap the individual is easier to judge the ripeness. I am sure I will find the answers in this forum as the season gets on, but I must say again thanks to you guys I have found a tremendous hobby. Thanks again.
Regards
Ben

Aluminum paint works better than white if you can get a hold of it cheap.

 

[Knucklehead]

Aluminum paint works better than white if you can get a hold of it cheap.

Is that like Kool-Seal?

 

[johnlee1933]

Is that like Kool-Seal?

I don't know the trade name but it is regularly used on mobile home roofs for that reason.

 

[Ben Brand]

Iv`e got some white roof paint handy from a previous job, and it helped to cool the place down.

A question on bugs, last season I had problems with Aphids and what we call tobacco slugs ( Coleoptera- Chrysomelidae- A larva of some beetle, 1/4 inch long and looks like it carries its feces on its back ( unlucky), what I want to know is, if I don't want to use harsh chemicals can I use aztec rustica "tea". Must the tobacco be green or cured for the "tea"?

On a more pleasant note, had a very nice cigar last night. Blend-Little Dutch, Pa Red, little bit of Perique and some Burley Turkish mix ( thanks to the neighbours cat, knocked my seedling tray over and mixed the seedlings) Really nice draw, nice aroma, and the brandy wasn't bad either.
Regards
Ben

 

[Knucklehead]

The rustica recipes I've seen called for dry leaves ground to a powder. I think dish washing detergent and red pepper were also added. It is a contact pesticide, it must be sprayed on the critter, just spraying the leaves won't work.

 

[johnlee1933]

Iv`e got some white roof paint handy from a previous job, and it helped to cool the place down.Ben

By all means go for it. Free is the right price.

 

[DonH]

The rustica recipes I've seen called for dry leaves ground to a powder. I think dish washing detergent and red pepper were also added. It is a contact pesticide, it must be sprayed on the critter, just spraying the leaves won't work.

Spraying the leaves will work for a few days unless it rains and washes it off. Also, you want to spray after the sun is off the plants or the leaves will burn. Learned that the hard way last year.