The second harvest, maybe

[vktr]

Hope this is the right forum to post this in. It's not really off topic.

Here in Southern Ontario I have from mid May to mid October (+15 days each term if lucky) to grow tobacco. ChatGPT (don't discard it, it led me to this forum, haha) told me that Aztec Wild matures in 60-75 days. And seemingly it was right: leaves although light green snap off the stock quite easily (transplanted starting May 2). On 6th of June I planted new seeds, they are now up to two inch tall and I started replacing the former generation with the new one. Looks like they grow a month faster than the ones planted in February. Will they make good plants in two and half month? I'll certainly tell you then but now I want to know if this effort is in vein.

 

[vktr]

To demonstrate the dilemma, here is a picture of old and new plants. Should I harvest the older leaves and plant new ones in their place or just leave them alone to ripen? Some older plants have just 3-5 leaves left.

 

[vktr]

I guess this is my "second harvest in Canada" blog New plants seem to be doing OK, they hate the heat though.



I have some more to go into the second bed, and that will be it. We'll see who matures before the frost. The cat doubts they make it.

 

[vktr]

An update: the good news is than the plants are growing well, the bad one is that this one wants to flower, others to follow. Saving the tall one for the seeds, mid season Monte Calme Brun on the left looks nice to the eye. I know I need to mow the grass and weeds but not when it's 35C outside

Should I add any fertilizer for the new plants? Not if they look OK I guess but your advice will be appreciated. The soil was mixed with compost at the end of the last season.

 

[deluxestogie]

Should I add any fertilizer for the new plants?

I can't offer much advice on N. rustica. Now seems like it's fairly late in the growing season to add fertilizer to plants that will need to mature their leaves prior to first frost.

Bob

 

[The Haroo ln]

I'll second bob on that. Fertilize now and you plants will take longer to mature plus colour curing will be almost impossible considering how late it is in the season.

 

[vktr]

My first harvest



and the second one is catching up (it's windy today)



Cheers!

 

[vktr]

The flower buds are beginning to open and I've started topping the plants this week. Will a month from now be enough for the leaves to mature? I know it depends but what to expect? Thanks as always for the info.

 

[deluxestogie]

Will a month from now be enough for the leaves to mature?

Maybe.

Bob

 

[vktr]

Maybe.

Bob

Thanks for the encouragement LOL.

 

[deluxestogie]

You might also limit any watering. Make them suffer!

Bob

 

[vktr]

You might also limit any watering. Make them suffer!

Bob

OK, that's easy.

 

[vktr]

Haven't watered 'em in days, is this the consequence or something I should worry about? Yellow patches started appearing on several plants' leaves, three or four so far.

 

[vktr]

The same shot as two weeks ago, they keep growing and the leaves are getting sticky. Still plenty of time left. I have 44 new plants, assuming eight good sized leaves per plant on average I'll have 350 more leaves, wow.

 

[vktr]

Two weeks on, free compost and the cat in the window pane