Anything else that grows in the same soil will reduce the resources available to the growing tobacco. You might consider seeding a living mulch once the tobacco plants have approached maturity.
Bob
Madfarmer's 2023 Grow
- Thread starter MadFarmer
- Start date
Bob
Homegrowngoodnes
Well-Known Member
If razorback peas are like many legumes, should they not fix nitrogen to assist with the nice green growth of tobacco leaves? That being said, it might deplete some other nutrients at the same time.
"Most of the nitrogen eventually returns to the soil for neighboring plants when vegetation (roots, leaves, fruits) of the legume dies and decomposes."
Bob
Bob
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
Glessnor enjoying steady light rain. 
Six Piloto Cubano doing the same.
These were taken yesterday evening. 5/14/23
Six Piloto Cubano doing the same.
These were taken yesterday evening. 5/14/23
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
This morning, the Vuelta Abajo in the Attic Kiln
smells like cinnamon candy.
smells like cinnamon candy.
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
Pot Glessenor is 35 days in the pot.
The bed plants are 21 days in the ground and starting to grow literally up off the ground.
The bed plants are 21 days in the ground and starting to grow literally up off the ground.
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
Spied my pot Glessenor from the breakfast table.
Took this terrible picture before sunrise while picking a bunch of swiss chard. It's amazing what 4 days of light rain and moderate sun can do for tobacco.
Took this terrible picture before sunrise while picking a bunch of swiss chard. It's amazing what 4 days of light rain and moderate sun can do for tobacco.
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
Another week, 32 days for the bed - 46 days for the pot.
Even the burleys are getting into the act, though they're lagging. Do burleys start slower than other varieties or is it the luck of my grow?
Even the burleys are getting into the act, though they're lagging. Do burleys start slower than other varieties or is it the luck of my grow?
Alpine
Moderator
Yep, burleys are a bit slow at first (in truth, all the growth is happening under the ground). Give them another couple of weeks and you’ll be surprised.
pier
pier
The white-stem burleys begin with something of a shortage of chlorophyll, which they promptly compensate for, by spreading broad leaves.
Bob
Bob
GusAvocado
Well-Known Member
I was concerned because everyone ranted about how easy YTB is to grow, and mine looked terrible. Once it got established it shot out huge broad leaves.
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
Good to know! I'm also excited about trying some pre-kilning to see if it's palatable.
Keep in mind that the chlorophyll of White-stem burleys clears more rapidly than the other necessary chemical processes complete their alterations. So it will look beautiful before it is actually fully cured. Commercial growers in my part of the country cite Thanksgiving (late November) as a rough date for when their burley is smokable. Even then, it will be much nicer if you can allow it to age until May. Also, kilning before Thanksgiving sometimes aborts the ongoing, incomplete curing, and results in raw, grassy tobacco.
Bob
Bob
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
Not to count my chickens with a hatchet (family lore says this was a saying of my maternal great grandmother) but, Bob, you may have saved 1/3rd of this season's harvest from complete ruin. It was headed for Attic Kiln
with all the others in my original plan. Had I known this about YTB, it might have changed the calculus on this year's grow plan. But waiting until May to kiln something will give me a good excuse to grow out some other varieties going into winter.
Today I harvested enough hornworm eggs to make an omelette, if I were 10mm tall.
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
Day 40 in the garden bed. I 
Piloto Cubano.
This is what six days of strong sun, and gentle evening showers can do for your plants.
Top: 3June2023
Bottom: 9June2023
Piloto Cubano. This is what six days of strong sun, and gentle evening showers can do for your plants.
Top: 3June2023
Bottom: 9June2023
They're taking off now. They look great.Day 40 in the garden bed. I
This is what six days of strong sun, and gentle evening showers can do for your plants.
View attachment 46360
Top: 3June2023
Bottom: 9June2023
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
The potted Glessenor makes it to day 60, and the flower bud shows up right on time.
I've been neglectful with the fertilizer what with all the regular rain, so everyone got a dose today.
We've had record humidity this week, feels like South Padre Island outside without the saltwater breeze. The plants approve.
I've been neglectful with the fertilizer what with all the regular rain, so everyone got a dose today.
We've had record humidity this week, feels like South Padre Island outside without the saltwater breeze. The plants approve.
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
It's hot outside, but we haven't hit triple digits yet. The burley and Glessenor do NOT seem to approve. This is where getting them planted 30 days earlier would really help. So it goes.
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
Hornworms love burley. Soaked everything in BT.
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
Hot? Dry? Thirsty? Just apply some bacillus thuringiensis!
