GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
When I was in Austin I heavily mulched my beds (2-3" minimum). That helped a lot during the hot summers.
Madfarmer's 2023 Grow
- Thread starter MadFarmer
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When I was in Austin I heavily mulched my beds (2-3" minimum). That helped a lot during the hot summers.
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
That's my plan, the hot weather just snuck up on me. I'll be making leaf mulch this weekend.
I know it'll get that hot eventually, but didn't expect it quite this soon. Also, the weatherman's forecast was a bit premature - we had low 90s and storms in the area this week.
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MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
My wife reported 1/10th of an inch of rain today. Chance of more over night, then the annual high pressure heat dome. I don't think it was enough to wash off the BT I applied night before last (discovered several deceased sphinx moth larvae when I came home.)
Plan for tomorrow is mulch a bag of red oak leaves and mulch every garden bed. Will also pot a single Jasmine tobacco.
Spied the tobacco bed while grilling dinner.
Plan for tomorrow is mulch a bag of red oak leaves and mulch every garden bed. Will also pot a single Jasmine tobacco.
Spied the tobacco bed while grilling dinner.
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
I have applied mulch to the tobacco bed twice in last eight days. With each new application I've noticed the plants, burley being the worst, then Glessenor, and at least one Piloto show something that looks like transplant shock.
The first instance faded to brown and did not affect new growth, I'm assuming the second instance will go the same.
The first instance faded to brown and did not affect new growth, I'm assuming the second instance will go the same.
I immediate impression is sun scald. Have the leaves been exposed to the sun while wet?
Bob
Bob
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
No, but on the first application I did spill mulch on the leaves and that mulch was high in fresh grass clippings.
I was more careful with the second one and that was all aged leaf mulch without any green material.
My understanding of sun-scald is that it results from the lensing effect on sunlight, from pooled liquid on the leaf, rather than the moisture itself.
Bob
Bob
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
The potted Glessenor has turned into a fine specimen. I have to remind myself that it is two weeks ahead of the plants in the ground.
I need to remind myself further, that the bedded plants were planted four weeks behind my 2021 garden and are more than two weeks away from my memory of my 2021 garden.
I need to remind myself further, that the bedded plants were planted four weeks behind my 2021 garden and are more than two weeks away from my memory of my 2021 garden.
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
This is some of last year's Vuelta Abajo. The top leaves and blossoms to my untrained eye looked like they flash dried green in December. I went ahead and kilned them in the attic anyway.
What does flash dried leaf look like when it comes out of th kiln? Do these look like that?
What does flash dried leaf look like when it comes out of th kiln? Do these look like that?
I can't tell. Let us know how it smokes.
Bob
Bob
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
My taller Piloto plants are frenching. (Showing frenching?)
Of the reasons for this, they're growing under the neighbor's hackberry trees, it's shadier than I'd like, and the root intrusion must be worse than I assumed it would be.
Also, there's a smaller previously dug bed inside the footprint of the new bed, which is good - but the remaining 1/3 of the new bed was compacted standing room around the old. I dug it up but didn't amend anything but compost. My soil tends towards alkaline so every other season I'll add soil sulfur to keep the pH down in my vegetable beds.
I'll apply some soon so perhaps the soil can be ready for a 'winter' grow.
The YTB shows some frenching too, but the Glessenor appears unscathed if stunted.
Next season's timing should be better. And I'll plant the tomato jungle further away.
Of the reasons for this, they're growing under the neighbor's hackberry trees, it's shadier than I'd like, and the root intrusion must be worse than I assumed it would be.
Also, there's a smaller previously dug bed inside the footprint of the new bed, which is good - but the remaining 1/3 of the new bed was compacted standing room around the old. I dug it up but didn't amend anything but compost. My soil tends towards alkaline so every other season I'll add soil sulfur to keep the pH down in my vegetable beds.
I'll apply some soon so perhaps the soil can be ready for a 'winter' grow.
The YTB shows some frenching too, but the Glessenor appears unscathed if stunted.
Next season's timing should be better. And I'll plant the tomato jungle further away.
I agree. Most likely it's a soil pH that's out of range for tobacco.
Bob
Bob
Good deluxestogie thread on frenching:
fairtradetobacco.com
Frenching - a general discussion
Frenching. Clemson Univ. Frenching (nonpathogenic causal agent) This disorder has been associated with toxins produced by a nonpathogenic bacterium, Bacillus cereus, and other nonpathogenic microorganisms. Frenching is more prevalent on wet, poorly aerated soils. This problem can be more...
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
I applied 1/2 lbs of soil sulfur to my tobacco bed, scratched it into the mulch and compost. Mother nature helped water it in with a rare July morning rain shower. It won't have time to fix what's planted now, but it should help my winter grow of Comstock Spanish and Vuelta Abajo.
It's your fault! I just added Comstock Spanish to my grow for next year. I've always been fond of it, especially for the dark maduro and oscuro cigar wrappers I can get from it. But somehow, I've forgotten about it for a number of years.
Bob
Bob
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
I sure didn't mean to influence anyone.
I realized Comstock Spanish never had a fair shake in my garden, with only one survivor in 2020. I liked the puro I rolled of it and other than that I don't remember where the rest went.
After poking around wikipedia I also came to the conclusion that many American tobacco varieties came from a climate that more my September through November than my June through August.
Marigolds and Thai basil also germinate well in a hot garage.
I realized Comstock Spanish never had a fair shake in my garden, with only one survivor in 2020. I liked the puro I rolled of it and other than that I don't remember where the rest went.
After poking around wikipedia I also came to the conclusion that many American tobacco varieties came from a climate that more my September through November than my June through August.
Marigolds and Thai basil also germinate well in a hot garage.
Raising Arizona was hilarious! 
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
Orb Spider with Burley
My grandmother used to call them Jacob's Ladder Spiders. They are cool to watch.
