Stalk-Priming

[istanbulin]

As written in the text this is not a new technique but probably abandoned due to higher cost even than regular priming method. TU (Tobacconist University) is calling it as a "hidden or lost" way of harvesting.

Totally a new way for me to harvest tobacco, "stalk-priming".

As seen on the image stalk priming is partially cutting the stalk with the leaf pairs from the top, probably 2-3 leaves in every "priming" (once a week).

As written, TU believes that stalk-priming helps fortify the harvested leaves by leaving the stalk in place and providing a "to go" container of nutrients.

Actually I don't think that stalk part may be a "to go" container for the leaf pairs attached on it. Because conversely, nutritients migrates from leaf to stalk when stalk harvested, not from stalk to leaf. Only this way plant may survive, with its stalk parts not with leaves. As you know there's no or very small amunt of sugar left in Burley (stalk harvested) after curing.

Another issue is the maturity of the leaves. Since stalk priming starts with the top leaves, there may be two options;

After topping the plant,

1st option - Waiting the top leaves to reach maturity
2nd option - Starting with the unmature top leaves

In the first option, lower leaves may be over mature, ripe or over ripe on the plant until top leaves reach maturity. So this option may provide only filler grade may be in lower quality. Also there's no reason to stalk-prime the plant, if it's fully ripe it's easier to stalk-cut.

2nd option is more complicated. So I want to come it up for discussion.

Here's the text about stalk-priming on TU.

 

[leverhead]

I was under the impression that when stalk harvesting the whole plant, that nutrients and water moved from the lower leaves into the stalk and then to the top of the plant. Last year I stalk harvested Marylands and hung them in the Garage, a few flowered and set viable seed while hanging. I posted a picture of the seed pods in this thread, http://wholeleaftobaccollc.com/forum/showthread.php?1288-White-seed-pods&highlight=white+seed+pods.

 

[istanbulin]

Actually, this is my first year on stalk harvesting. I tried stalk harvesting small amount of Orientals. I noticed that after all the leaves were fully dried out, stalks were still alive. I put them into water and they started to give suckers. If stalk stays alive it may supply nutritients to suckers or flowers.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

I just do not see any advantage to stalk priming. If you wait for the tops to become mature then the lower leaves will be too ripe. If you harvest the tops when they are immature you will get an inferior leaf. This was probably a technique used hundreds of years ago and then abandoned. It probably keeps cropping up because tobacco people like to do things "the old way". Back in Colonial Virginia tobacco was originally cured by throwing the primed leaves on a barn floor and covering them with hay. It took about 10 to 20 years for the colonists to realize there were better methods to cure tobacco.

 

[deluxestogie]

The method is discussed on Cuba-Junky: http://www.cuba-junky.com/cuba/cigar-harvest-stringing.htm

Bob

 

[istanbulin]

There's nothing about its advantages there. It says "the leaves of the basal area are lost with this method" and offers a "combined" method which improves yield and the quality of tobacco.

In combined method, harvest starts with priming 2-3 leaves after 45-50 days of transplant.

Then, there's a main cutting in 65-70 days after transplant (first stalk-priming - I guess)

After the main cutting, the field should be cleaned (without capons) to accelerate the development of the buds. In the case of the variety `Habana 92 ' the cutting of the stem should be carried out at an approximate height from the ground of ten centimeters to shorten the time of appearing the buds and to obtain better capadura.

The quality and production of capaduras can diminish mainly if more than one or two buds are left per plant, ...

So the main aim is formation and harvesting of suckers. 2-3 leaves are primed first and stalk is cut at 10 cm (4") from the ground, so there's no leaf on the stalk after main cut (?).

And there are two more cuttings; 36-43 days after main cut and 60-63 days after main cut.

 

[DonH]

I'm with JBD, I see no benefit to this method, because you are priming in the opposite direction than is optimal.