Connecticut Broadleaf grow blog

[Patriotguy]

About the end of may I sowed some Connecticut broadleaf seeds in peat pots and transplanted them about mid june, most of them are a little over a foot in height now ill add pictures later today.
I did however notice an aphid infestation on the top part of one of the plants, I mean hundreds or little white worms and red little bugs so I am soaking some cigar stubs in water and going to spray it on.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

Spraying tobacco onto tobacco will do nothing for your aphid infestation. If you want to go the non-toxic route mix about a teaspoon liquid soap to a quart of water and spray onto your plants until they are dripping wet. Do this when the sun is not shining on them and do it several days in a row.

 

[Patriotguy]

 

[Patriotguy]

Spraying tobacco onto tobacco will do nothing for your aphid infestation. If you want to go the non-toxic route mix about a teaspoon liquid soap to a quart of water and spray onto your plants until they are dripping wet. Do this when the sun is not shining on them and do it several days in a row.

followed your advice, killed all the aphids within a day, can tell it basically dried them up they actually turned colors the next day and saw no movement like before. I sprayed most of them off with the hose.

 

[Patriotguy]

Went ahead and started harvesting the bottom half of the stalk most of them were snapping off crisply , have them hanging in my shed right now. Have topped all but the three biggest plants.

 

[Patriotguy]

I do have to admit I might've been incorrect in assuming it was broadleaf variety when i bought the seed they were just sold as Connecticut I think they are curing to more of what Connecticut shade is. Either way ill smoke it. This pictures from about a week ago, some of the yellowed leafs are more light brown and smell like bananas and raisins.

 

[Patriotguy]

So a little update, I am planning on building a proper kiln soon but I wanted to experiment and so I took a handful of cured leaf placed it in the oven in a very moist state and misted it every 30 mins with distilled water as it cooled down from about 120F degrees for about 3 hours. ive had these in a bag for a few days now and it has a cinnamon and raisin smell and made the leaf's darker. my question is this possibly helping jump start proper aging or have I changed the leaves into something less suitable for a cigar?

 

[deluxestogie]

I think your time would be better spent just building the kiln. Although you may sense a difference in the tobacco after 3 hours of heat and attention, all of your work has been for 3/24 of the first day of a month of kilning. And an oven may easily drift up to 149°F, killing your most important oxidizing enzyme.

The pain of building a kiln comes when you're done, and then kick yourself for having not built it sooner. One weekend project, and you're good for years.

Bob

 

[Patriotguy]

I think your time would be better spent just building the kiln. Although you may sense a difference in the tobacco after 3 hours of heat and attention, all of your work has been for 3/24 of the first day of a month of kilning. And an oven may easily drift up to 149°F, killing your most important oxidizing enzyme.

The pain of building a kiln comes when you're done, and then kick yourself for having not built it sooner. One weekend project, and you're good for years.

Bob

Got the wood sitting here, drawing up the plans as I type. Think ill be going the crockpot route with it