Air drying and mold

[Fisherman]

Hello,
At what point is mold most often seen? When leaf is still green? yellow? or almost dry?

My reason for asking is that in the flue curing process there is phase called coloring or yellowing that does not require much time or heat.

If one was to use a kiln or flue chamber to speed up the yellowing stage could he then air dry and avoid much of the mold problem?

I have some junk leaves outside now that have hung for over a week and now just turning yellow. The veins are still green. Not mature leaves but some full size.

 

[Seanz]

I mainly see mold along the mid rib when the lamina is mostly brown yet the stem isnt fully dry. Also if there is not enought airflow and the leaf sorta curls in on itself. i have had to frog leg a few hands cos of mold. mostly the bigger leaves ie tn90 and some of the nb11

 

[FmGrowit]

Hello,
At what point is mold most often seen?

Mold can occur any time conditions permit. Usually, that would be during times of excessive moisture like 3 days of rain. Improper ventilation is probably the biggest contributor to mold grow during the initial curing process.

If one was to use a kiln or flue chamber to speed up the yellowing stage could he then air dry and avoid much of the mold problem?

Mold is an on-going problem. There is never a point in the curing process that renders a tobacco is "safe" from mold. If tobacco is cured and stored properly for five years, it is still susceptible to mold.