cowboyjames74
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Should i remove any leaves near the bottom of the plant or just let them grow more?
tobacco seedlings with 6 leaves.
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There's no reason to remove any of the lower leaves of seedlings. What made you think there was a reason?
As the plant grows the lower leaves, or lugs, will begin to turn yellow and be very slow to grow. Here is my thinking on the issue. Plants tend to try and keep all their growth alive for as long as possible. as long as the straggly little leaf is looking ill, the plant will use up energy trying to keep it going. Now this is just a theory so far. But removing that leaf will cause the plant to put that same energy into the upper, healthier and larger leaves.
If I am going to prime harvest I will remove those lower leaves as soon as they look ripe. if I am going to stalk harvest I want to leave them on the stalk until they are very nearly completely dried up. I then pick them but they are still considered stalk harvest as they cured on the stalk. Later the majority of the plant will still be cut down and hung which is what is considered true stalk harvesting. I go the extra distance to harvest every single leaf because I am not able to grow many plants in the first place. I can afford to spend time on each individual plant.
If I am going to prime harvest I will remove those lower leaves as soon as they look ripe. if I am going to stalk harvest I want to leave them on the stalk until they are very nearly completely dried up. I then pick them but they are still considered stalk harvest as they cured on the stalk. Later the majority of the plant will still be cut down and hung which is what is considered true stalk harvesting. I go the extra distance to harvest every single leaf because I am not able to grow many plants in the first place. I can afford to spend time on each individual plant.
He's talking about plants that might be an inch tall. Yes, after the plants are in the field and about three feet tall, you remove the lugs.
His question is about removing leaves on seedlings. My guess is he read some bad information somewhere or he's relating how to grow something else to how to grow tobacco.
His question is about removing leaves on seedlings. My guess is he read some bad information somewhere or he's relating how to grow something else to how to grow tobacco.
If you're talking about removing leaves at plant/transplant time, yes, it's OK to remove the lower leaves and place the root ball deeper into the soil. New roots will sprout from the leaf nodes and stem. This is common practice with tomatoes, and works well for tobacco.
The plant draws nutrients out of the lowest cotyledon leaves though. Id let the plant decide when to drop them.
cowboyjames74
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Im just gonna let them grow there about 3 inches tall and doing well.
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