Harrow Velvet and Ontario Tobacco History

[Hemlock]

Very interesting read about the history of Harrow Velvet from the Harrow Research Station in Ontario. Lots of history of tobacco agriculture and varietal development. Pretty cool to be able to cultivate a seed variety from nearly 100 years back, that millions enjoyed before changes in consumer preference happened, and burley was banned from growing in Ontario in 1960.

A history of the Research Station, Harrow, Ontario, 1909-1974. : Ward, Gordon M. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Historical series (Canada. Agriculture Canada. Research Branch)

archive.org

 

[plantdude]

Your governement doesn't let you grow burley? Wow, what have we come to.
Let me go ahead and write this next part in... Wait for it... (edited by a moderator).

You're welcome, vote wisely in the next election. Probably best not to comment on that

Harrow velvet is a beautiful variety worth growing and a gift from the north. One of my favorite burleys in fact.

 

[Pj654]

Your governement doesn't let you grow burley? Wow, what have we come to.
Let me go ahead and write this next part in... Wait for it... (edited by a moderator).

You're welcome, vote wisely in the next election. Probably best not to comment on that

Harrow velvet is a beautiful variety worth growing and a gift from the north. One of my favorite burleys in fact.

I think it's fu**ed regardless unfortunately

 

[deluxestogie]

The ban on growing of burley (only in Ontario) was only for the 1960 growing season, due to market and production issues. Currently there is very little commercial demand in Canada for burley.

Bob

 

[Hemlock]

Yes I didn't elaborate. As a personal grower can grow any variety. It was a commercial grower limitation. I doubt there is any burley grown in Canada any longer. I read somewhere that Canadian cigarettes cannot contain burley but it might be non-Factual.

In any case, good to know others like it. I look forward to harvesting, curing and eventually tasting my small crop of 3 Harrow Velvet plants from this year.

 

[Hemlock]

Here's some growing instructions that came out of burley research. Perhaps for us northern growers of Harrow Velvet the highlighted below would be applicable to follow.

 

[deluxestogie]

The suggestion on "late" removal of suckers is likely an economic decision. Allowing suckers to continue to grow reduces the yield of primary growth. Suckering all at once, late in the season reduces labor costs. If the reduction in labor cost is greater than the reduction in the final value of the harvested crop, then do late suckering.

For the home grower, where labor is free, I would suggest removing suckers as they become large enough to safely snap off the stalk. This practice will optimize your yield.

Bob

 

[plantdude]

Yes I didn't elaborate. As a personal grower can grow any variety. It was a commercial grower limitation. I doubt there is any burley grown in Canada any longer. I read somewhere that Canadian cigarettes cannot contain burley but it might be non-Factual.

In any case, good to know others like it. I look forward to harvesting, curing and eventually tasting my small crop of 3 Harrow Velvet plants from this year.

Well thats good news, growing burley is acceptable in Canada. I always assume the worse after hearing about Canadian import issues for tobacco... and trucker issues.

I have some harrow velvet growing this year. Not doing great so far, but neither is everything else this year with our exceptionally wet spring. Never tried del gold, what's it like?
I do like yellow twist bud, which I had previously mistaken as a Canadian variety, but apparently originates somewhere in Kentucky from what others on the forum have said. It's pretty similar to harrow velvet in a lot of ways but is more mild. I wouldn't be surprised if they shared some lineage somewhere in their background. Yellow twist bud has never been a fan of our hot summers here but would probably do better in a cooler climate. Might be worth a try up north. Harrow velvet struggles a bit down here as well on hot dry summers. Both are still worth growing here in the south for their ease of curing if nothing else.

 

[Hemlock]

Well thats good news, growing burley is acceptable in Canada. I always assume the worse after hearing about Canadian import issues for tobacco... and trucker issues.

I have some harrow velvet growing this year. Not doing great so far, but neither is everything else this year with our exceptionally wet spring. Never tried del gold, what's it like?
I do like yellow twist bud, which I had previously mistaken as a Canadian variety, but apparently originates somewhere in Kentucky from what others on the forum have said. It's pretty similar to harrow velvet in a lot of ways but is more mild. I wouldn't be surprised if they shared some lineage somewhere in their background. Yellow twist bud has never been a fan of our hot summers here but would probably do better in a cooler climate. Might be worth a try up north. Harrow velvet struggles a bit down here as well on hot dry summers. Both are still worth growing here in the south for their ease of curing if nothing else.

My Harrow Velvet started late so they are small and not tight and leafy. Will keep at it and see how they turn out this year. Gotta keep the flame alive so will not judge after only one season.

Haven't tried Delgold. I posted an article about Delgold (link below) I will plant this next year for sure. Besides, it's very interesting to be a Virginia with Rustica in its pedigree.

I have a couple Little Yellow that are doing well up here.



Thread 'Delgold History'
https://fairtradetobacco.com/threads/delgold-history.13162/

 

[plantdude]

Harrow velvet and yellow twist bud (different than little yellow) both have that weird chlorophyll mutation where the leaves yellow rapidly. It's great for curing purposes, you can see what needs harvesting when priming, but the mutation decreases their overall fitness somewhat. Have to baby them a bit more, but they have their advantages - especially for people new to curing - and they make good burleys. Despite their easy air curing Bob and others on the forum suggest letting them cure for a few additional weeks when color curing - which I agree with.
I've not tried del gold but assume it has the same bright leaf mutation.

We've finally dried out a bit here, most of my crop is only a whopping 8 inches tall if that thanks to excessive rain. Most years I'm pushing close to two feet or more easy by the Fourth of July. Weird year. 92 today with a rain storm last night but the ground is less waterlogged this week. Things might finally takeoff this week.