WillQuantrill 2025: broadleaf redemption

[WillQuantrill]

Nice batch of hanging leaf. Keep an eye out for hornworm poop on the floor.

Thanks Knuck! Fortunately have not found any in the shed...yet.

 

[Knucklehead]

Thanks Knuck! Fortunately have not found any in the shed...yet.

That's always a good thing. It's heartbreaking when they get your wrapper leaf in the shed after you thought you were home free. Nasty little devils.

 

[WillQuantrill]

That's always a good thing. It's heartbreaking when they get your wrapper leaf in the shed after you thought you were home free. Nasty little devils.

Why its a good idea to take the time and inspect both sides of leaf before you hang it. I hung half of my Olor Ligero P2 tonight and found a nest! Not sure if this is Hornworm caviar? But they are no longer viable. And these leaves look great, nice and thick with the ones that aren't bug damaged (maybe 10-15%) hopefully cure out to a nice Maduro wrapper. Second picture I wanted to share because I was amazed how dark my CB Ligero is already and its only 2 weeks in. The flash kind of schewed the depth of color but it is exciting to check in to see what ya got. And no one outside of this forum can appreciate it. Ha

 

[deluxestogie]

The cluster of neatly packed, white eggs is common with many moths. Hornworm eggs are usually solitary. (Mama knows they have a big appetite!)

Bob

 

[The Haroo ln]

I usually wash my leaves straight after harvest and then hang them in the garden for a few hours to dry off before I hang them in my shed. It sure as shit gets rid of all the little white egg nests on them and the pigeon feathers!

 

[WillQuantrill]

I usually wash my leaves straight after harvest and then hang them in the garden for a few hours to dry off before I hang them in my shed. It sure as shit gets rid of all the little white egg nests on them and the pigeon feathers!

Ya mean City Chicken feathers? Haha

 

[WillQuantrill]

Had some spare time last night and decided to process my seed pods. This year's donor is Connecticut Broadleaf. Pretty good results for 1 plant.

 

[The Haroo ln]

OMG!! Now that's a serious collection of seeds. Very well done man!!!

 

[deluxestogie]

One tobacco seed pod may contain thousands of seeds. One plant may produce ¼-million seeds.

Bob

 

[WillQuantrill]

14 weeks 1 day since transplant and its a wrap for priming. No surprises in the shed as of yet and the leaf is coming along nicely. Dont think Im gonna be in too big of a hurry to start stuffing the kiln this year to allow for even coloring.

 

[WillQuantrill]

7 days Seco in the kiln, been a couple weeks
since I posted anything. Have some projects tring to get wrapped up before the cold sets in and there hasn't been much excitement to report. Moved my CB, H2K and Olor Seco into the kiln last week while the One Sucker is still hanging off the stalk in the shed. One observation has occurred to me though in the last couple weeks and I should have taken a pic or two to demonstrate but, some of my VISO leaves are still holding onto some yellow marbling in color and lighter than I had expected them to sure to. The thought occurred to me as I am blessed with a nice long growing season perhaps my leaf might air cure to a better uniform color if I transplant a month later. As it stands now I generally start priming in mid to late July when its so hot its easy to "flash cure" green without the right counter measures. I feel like what Im seeing now is a much lesser version of that which might be reduced later in the season. For about 3 weeks now the morning dew and humidity have been so prevalent that my leaf is still soft "in case" through the lunch hour. Where as mid late July the leaf really doesn't see this much RH. I also think amount of organic material has a contribution to slowing down the air cure process. Most of my Ligero has a nice even color when it was hung the shed was getting full. Anybody else wait to start seed for later than frost date transplanting?

 

[The Haroo ln]

As for your cigar varieties, sure you could start them a month later or you could sow a variety that takes longer to mature (maybe a burley) at the same time you started this year? Or now this is a long shot. You could give your final nitrogen fertilizer feed abit later in the season?

 

[deluxestogie]

Over the years, I've transplanted as early as possible (start of May, out of eagerness) and as late as the start of July (out of laziness). The early plantings have consistently turned out better than the late ones. While May, June and July appear as similar squares on a paper calendar, the sun angle and daylight duration is different. Another issue is that your curing conditions will change from year to year. Avoid applying fertilizer after the first few weeks in the ground.

Rather than moving transplant date, consider harvesting at a slightly more ripe state.

Bob

EDIT: Another consideration is that "first freeze" date may come early in some years. My overnight low (seen this morning) was 37°F. My "first freeze" date is supposedly OCT 16—the same as much of Missouri.

 

[WillQuantrill]

Over the years, I've transplanted as early as possible (start of May, out of eagerness) and as late as the start of July (out of laziness). The early plantings have consistently turned out better than the late ones. While May, June and July appear as similar squares on a paper calendar, the sun angle and daylight duration is different. Another issue is that your curing conditions will change from year to year. Avoid applying fertilizer after the first few weeks in the ground.

Rather than moving transplant date, consider harvesting at a slightly more ripe state.

Bob

EDIT: Another consideration is that "first freeze" date may come early in some years. My overnight low (seen this morning) was 37°F. My "first freeze" date is supposedly OCT 16—the same as much of Missouri.

Couple good notes here. This year I fertilized until topping, I'll cut that back. Thanks Bob

 

[WillQuantrill]

As for your cigar varieties, sure you could start them a month later or you could sow a variety that takes longer to mature (maybe a burley) at the same time you started this year? Or now this is a long shot. You could give your final nitrogen fertilizer feed abit later in the season?

After last year Im all stocked up on Burley for awhile. The Nitrogen may be something to explore, as for this season's crop think Ill just let it hang a little while longer see if there is any coloring left. Most of it looks great.