Wruk53 2025 Grow Log

[wruk53]

Man, that's a lot of swelling for a bee sting. Do you always react that way?

I will normally get stung at least a few times a year. This one was about the worst reaction I've ever had. No trouble breathing or anything like that. Bee stings always hurt like hell, but this one was a doozy. It still looks the same this morning.

 

[deluxestogie]

Bee sting - Symptoms and causes

www.mayoclinic.org

Considerations for the future:

• wear a long-sleeve shirt while mowing
• wear cotton, gauntlet gloves while mowing
  https://www.amazon.com/MCR-Safety-8200G-Gauntlet-Straight/dp/B009A503ZI

Bob

 

[plantdude]

I will normally get stung at least a few times a year. This one was about the worst reaction I've ever had. No trouble breathing or anything like that. Bee stings always hurt like hell, but this one was a doozy. It still looks the same this morning.

Probably one of those X files bees used to pollinate the genetically modified corn carrying the alien virus for the planned colonization of earth My wife was a big X files fan back in the day. Fun show but they made a few errors - like corn is predominately wind pollinated rather than insect pollinated. Oh well, what's a few minor details here and there when it comes to alien colonization...

 

[wruk53]

All the midribs are completely dry, so I moved all the tobacco from the garage to the lanai to bring it back into case. The RH is forecast to be in the seventies during the day and the eighties at night for the next week. By Monday it should be back in case. I'll probably tie it into hands on Monday or Tuesday and pack it into boxes for aging.

 

[WillQuantrill]

All the midribs are completely dry, so I moved all the tobacco from the garage to the lanai to bring it back into case. The RH is forecast to be in the seventies during the day and the eighties at night for the next week. By Monday it should be back in case. I'll probably tie it into hands on Monday or Tuesday and pack it into boxes for aging.

I'm using your cardboard trick with a whole tote of shredded and a small oak barrel that's aging some Burley. The best ideas are very simple and that one is genius.

 

[wruk53]

Comparison photos of Vuelta Abajo from May 2nd and now. It still has a slightly greenish tint, but it's softened up pretty good. I stripped it from the stalks this morning and bagged it for aging. The lamina is very thick on these, much thicker than I imagined they would be. It's also very resinous and sticky, more so, I think, than any other variety I've ever handled.

I stripped all the One-Sucker and Java Besuki yesterday and tied it into hands. Now just to wait for it all to age.

We had 4 inches of rain yesterday and it looks like more is on the way today and tomorrow. Rainy season is here!

 

[wruk53]

I started some Bolivian Criollo Black seeds this morning on coffee filters covered with paper towels. I'm just going with a single variety this fall. If they sprout, I'll transfer them to a 50-cell tray and hopefully they'll be ready to plant outdoors in early September.

 

[wruk53]

A few days ago, I transferred some sprouts from the coffee filter to cells in a tray. So far, I see sprouts in 45 of the 50 cells. I have enough cells with 2 or more sprouts to fill in the empties. I'm downsizing a little bit this fall; I've normally been growing 70 plus plants per season.

 

[wruk53]

It's been 2 weeks since starting the seeds on a coffee filter. I may wind up a few short of 50 seedlings. Good enough.

 

[wruk53]

Week 3.

 

[wruk53]

Week 4 since starting seeds. Once the seedlings get to about 6 leaves, they are about ready to transplant. Probably about a week from being ready to go outside. Last week, I set up my containers.

 

[wruk53]

Transplanted 46 seedlings of Bolivian Criollo Black this morning.

 

[wruk53]

One week from transplant. I planted the 4 spares on Sunday bringing the total to 50 plants. It's been mostly cloudy and rainy since last week, so the transplants have had it easy.

 

[wruk53]

2 weeks from transplant. Yesterday I pruned off 2 or 3 bottom leaves from each plant.
My newest neighbor has installed some bright security lights behind his house and I'm a little worried about how it's going to affect my plants when they begin to mature. Looking out after dark, you can clearly see all of my plants. We'll see. I'll try to take some nighttime photos soon.

 

[deluxestogie]

I'm a little worried about how it's going to affect my plants when they begin to mature.

My experience is that only certain varieties seem to be significantly affected by insecurity lights. The affected ones seemed to not know when it was time to stop growing taller, and when to stop growing more leaves, instead of beginning to bud. Those that were impacted grew to unexpected heights, like 12 feet tall. And my view of the night sky permanently vanished.

Bob

 

[wruk53]

3 weeks from transplant.

 

[Sergey Ukraine]

3 weeks from transplant.

Beautiful plants