deluxestogie Grow Log 2013

[deluxestogie]

Sunny View on a Black Friday

There is an old, double-hung window directly above my kitchen sink. It looks into the enclosed back porch.

View through the center pane.

About a third of my 2013 leaf still hangs in the shed. Another third hangs in the enclosed back porch. The other third has been processed (flue-cured or kilned or made into Perique or black Cavendish--or already smoked).

Hanging below the wire shelves, bagged bud heads await my never ending effort to clean and store the seed. Some tobacco plants (topped many times) from both 2012 and 2013 still grow in trays or 3" pots--just to see how long they'll hang around, and eventually to place into the ground to see if they grow normally. An interesting twist on excess seedlings.

The door between the kitchen and back porch remains open. Even though the porch windows have plastic weather seal, the porch is unheated, and can fall below freezing. I also keep an oscillating pedestal fan (and my Cozy Can) running in there throughout the winter.

Bob

 

[jekylnz]

It's lighter than I thought it would be. .should i expect ct shade.ct 49 F.L sumatra & magnolia to be quite light in colour shade grown?looking good there Bob...looks like you had a pretty productive year ..8-10Lb..does that sound like alot from 32 plants. .or is that a fairly normal amount?

 

[pakidaho]

Fate of Frozen Suckers

So glad you did photos, I have been sort of experimenting with the same thing. Noticed leaf that I had tossed to the elements changed color rather well..that is what spurred my thinking about there must be a simpler way to cure. I have one large pile of about ninety plants, stocks and all the un-primed leaf left on the plants...mostly smaller top leaf and lower suckers, under a large tarp but where they can get air but not a whole bunch of moisture... eventually the pile will be covered by snow. I shall see how it looks in the spring. Also have several plants stacked up around fruit trees in our orchard. Hopefully I will remember to report come spring when I get to see the results I also do not see this as a simple cure method, much agreement about possible quality, however I'd rather smoke it than compost it and I could do that later anyway...

 

[jekylnz]

Paki alot of people hang their leaf in trees etc to the elements. .the only thing I would advise is not to let it get to rained on .it will weaken nicotine content & flavour. . if you have some thick tree's that would stop most rain coming through the leaf will cure quite well. .I've tried a few different ways over the years. .the first time I grew tobacco. .I didn't really get into the whole process in depth etc..so I was just hanging them out under a car port. .pretty exposed to the elements. .and it all cured pretty good. .even though most of it ended up blowing away. .lol

 

[deluxestogie]

It's lighter than I thought it would be. .should i expect ct shade.ct 49 F.L sumatra & magnolia to be quite light in colour shade grown?

8-10Lb..does that sound like alot from 32 plants. .or is that a fairly normal amount?

The leaf color varies with stalk position, and also gets darker with aging or kilning.

1/4 to 1/2 pound of cured whole leaf per plant is a quite reasonable yield.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

Do you plan to kiln or age a few of the frozen leaves? If so please share the results.

Results are in. Since there were only a few leaves, I kilned all of it. The leaf after 4 weeks in the kiln:

Here's what I said before:

Before lighting the cigar, its taste was very slightly raw. It burned well, and was an acceptable cigar. The nicotine seemed low (for a combination of Olor, Vuelta Abajo and PA Red filler). Overall, I would say that it smoked about like slightly higher nicotine, mud-cured mud lugs--not bad, but not great.

CONCLUSION: Frozen leaf, if left standing until it color-cures, may be salvageable as smokable, low-grade leaf, though some of it may be rotted or otherwise unusable. You need to hand-pick through it to find what is alright. I certainly would not advocate freezing as an intentional curing method for late season leaf.

http://fairtradetobacco.com/showthread.php?2108-deluxestogie-Grow-Log-2013/page38#374

I stemmed and rolled all of the kilned, frozen suckers into CT Shade, to make a small corona.

As you can see, the filler is quite dark. The raw taste and aroma are now entirely absent. It burns well. There is a bit of tongue bite, so I suspect that the pH of the leaf has never climbed up to where it should be for a cigar. It's not bad, but not really a traditional cigar taste. I would compare it to smoking a cigar made from air-cured leaf of a flue-cure variety--it can be good, but never tastes like a traditional cigar.

I think it would make an interesting, minor pipe blending ingredient, and might also serve as a condiment in a cigarette blend.

What can be said is that, despite the apparent disaster of leaf freezing in the field, some of it can be salvaged to make reasonable and smokable tobacco. Unfortunately, since the leaf cells have been ruptured by freezing--causing the cured leaf to be translucent--aging or kilning of cigar varieties will not yield finished tobacco that is well suited for cigars.

Bob

 

[POGreen]

What an impressive Grow-blog , couldn't be more inspiring than this I'd say.......

 

[deluxestogie]

2013 Variety Summary Observations

Below, I briefly summarize the results of my 2013 grow. Some varieties were notably better this year than last. Others did not fare as well.

1. Bolivia Criollo Black
   • Origin: Bolivia
   • Height (untopped): 90"
   • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 30"
   • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 13"
   • Leaf Count: 24
   • Curing Methods: air-cured; flue-cured; Perique: Cavendish; kilning.
   • My Uses: Cigar wrapper, binder, filler; pipe straight; pipe blend.
   • Comments: Both a blessing and a curse. This is, by far, the most productive tobacco I've ever grown. The lamina color-cure with ease, from bronze to a deep red-brown. On the downside, the succulent stems have a strong tendency to mold if the conditions are not perfect. My solution was to immediately stem the leaf and feed it into a Perique press, or cook it for Cavendish.
     This variety has a peculiar, chemical taste after both air-curing and kilning. It might be mistaken for a mild "menthol" effect, though they are not the same. When rested for about 3 weeks after kilning, that taste seems to go away.
     For pipe, air-cured is interesting straight, as kilned leaf, and as Cavendish. I will replant in 2014, but only half as much as in 2013.
2. Çelikhan
   • Origin: Turkey (GRIN: Pi 494151)
   • Height (untopped): 27"
   • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 18"
   • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 5"
   • Leaf Count: 16
   • Curing Methods: Air-cure; sun-cure; flue-cure (not so good).
   • My Uses: Pipe blending.
   • Comments: Not nearly as aromatic as some other Orientals. My leaf was plagued with fea beetles (which seemed to avoid the immediately adjacent Xanthi). I won't grow it in 2014.
3. Iztepeque (589)
   • Origin: Costa Rica (GRIN: Pi 114370)
   • Height (untopped): 53"
   • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 18"
   • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 10"
   • Leaf Count: 19
   • Curing Methods: air-cure; flue-cure (just okay); kiln.
   • My Uses: pipe blending, cigar filler.
   • Comments: Moderate productivity. This seems to be better used as simply air-cured then kilned. Will not plant in 2014.
4. Dominican Olor
   • Origin: Dominican Republic (GRIN: PI 552617, identified as "WRAPPER")
   • Height (untopped): 60"
   • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 25"
   • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 16"
   • Leaf Count: 21
   • Curing Methods: air-cure; kiln.
   • My Uses: Cigar filler.
   • Comments: When this comes out properly, it makes a nice, medium-bodied filler. Unfortunately, this variety has a strong tendency to develop mildew throughout the lamina in curing conditions that show no mildew in any other varieties. I will not plant in 2014.
5. Florida Sumatra
   • Origin: Florida, US (New Hope Seed)
   • Height (untopped): 60"
   • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 24"
   • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 13"
   • Leaf Count: 20
   • Curing Methods: air-cure; kiln.
   • My Uses: Cigar wrapper.
   • Comments: This year, my FL Sumatra grew much better than in 2012--taller, larger leaves. Wrapper grade leaf made up about 80% of the crop. As a wrapper, it ranges from light brown to medium brown, with a fairly neutral flavor. It exhibits excellent stretch and sturdiness, and makes an attractive cigar. A definite repeat for 2014.
6. Glessnor
   • Origin: US (New Hope Seed)
   • Height (untopped): 39"
   • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 21"
   • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 12"
   • Leaf Count: 19
   • Curing Methods: air-cure; kiln.
   • My Uses: Cigar wrapper, filler, binder.
   • Comments: This year's crop was in boggy soil, and was not as good as in 2012. While I think it is a worthwhile cigar variety, I will not replant in 2014.
7. Guácharo
   • Origin: Venezuela (GRIN: PI 118177)
   • Height (untopped): 48"
   • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 26"
   • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 9"
   • Leaf Count: 27
   • Curing Methods: air-cure; kiln.
   • My Uses: cigar filler; pipe blend.
   • Comments: This bears some strong similarities to Bolivia Criollo Black. I did not have an opportunity to flue-cure it. Not planting in 2014.
8. Harrow Velvet (burley)
   • Origin: US (New Hope Seed)
   • Height (untopped): 36" (was 44" in 2012)
   • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 22"
   • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 8.5"
   • Leaf Count: 25
   • Curing Methods: air-cure (stalk); kiln.
   • My Uses: Cigar wrapper, pipe blend.
   • Comments: Flooding problem during 2013. Nonetheless, still makes lovely, mild blond wrappers. Likely planting again in 2014 (and topping at 16 leaves).
9. Jalapa
   • Origin: Nicaragua (GRIN PI 114315)
   • Height (untopped): 58"
   • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 20.5"
   • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 9"
   • Leaf Count: 20
   • Curing Methods: air-cure; kiln.
   • My Uses: Cigar filler.
   • Comments: Jalapa produces a medium-strong cigar filler with a rich flavor. Having grown it for two years, I have come to believe that it is highly susceptible to fungal brown spot. Will not plant in 2014.
10. Little Dutch
    • Origin: Ohio, US (Seedman)
    • Height (untopped): 38"
    • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 28"
    • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 6"
    • Leaf Count: 19
    • Curing Methods: air-cure, kiln.
    • My Uses: Cigar wrapper, binder, filler.
    • Comments: One of my favorites for cigar filler blending. Medium strength; rich flavor. Will plant in 2014.
11. Machu Picchu Havana
    • Origin: Peru (GRIN PI 116159)
    • Height (untopped): 65"
    • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 25"
    • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 16"
    • Leaf Count: 21
    • Curing Methods: air-cure; kiln.
    • My Uses: Cigar wrapper.
    • Comments: Much better crop than in 2012. Smooth and rich. Will plant in 2014.
12. Moonlight
    • Origin: US (GRIN PI 552702)
    • Height (untopped): 75"
    • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 20"
    • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 12"
    • Leaf Count: 27
    • Curing Methods: Air-cure, kiln.
    • My Uses: Cigar wrapper.
    • Comments: Moonlight is a light-colored, thin leaf shade variety that performed reasonably well in full sun. My leaf tended to be coarsely mottled. As a wrapper, it does not possess the durability and stretch of FL Sumatra. Will not plant in 2014.
13. Mutki
    • Origin: Turkey (GRIN Pi 494159)
    • Height (untopped): 47"
    • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 19"
    • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 10"
    • Leaf Count: 16
    • Curing Methods: Air-cure, kiln.
    • My Uses: Wrapper for small cigars; pipe blending.
    • Comments: Mutki is not particularly aromatic, and its flavor and aroma are subdued. In 2012, it produced a high percentage of wrapper grade leaf. For 2013, the leaf was smaller and of a generally lower grade. I will not plant in 2014.
14. Pennsylvania Red
    • Origin: PA, US (GRIN Pi 552741)
    • Height (untopped): 36"
    • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 26"
    • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 9"
    • Leaf Count: 25
    • Curing Methods: air-cure; kiln.
    • My Uses: Cigar binder, filler.
    • Comments: Another of my favorite cigar blenders. Deep red-brown color, rich flavor. Definitely will plant in 2014.
15. Prilep 66-9/7
    • Origin: Macedonia (Prilep Institute, via rainmax)
    • Height (untopped): 52"
    • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 13.5"
    • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 7.5"
    • Leaf Count: 52
    • Curing Methods: air-cure; sun-cure; kiln; flue-cure.
    • My Uses: pipe blender.
    • Comments: Richly aromatic and mild. Sun-cures and flue-cures very well. Prolific productivity. Will plant in 2014. A beautiful garden specimen.
16. Prilep 79-94
    • Origin: Macedonia (Prilep Institute, via rainmax)
    • Height (untopped): 51"
    • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 10.5"
    • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 7"
    • Leaf Count: 50+
    • Curing Methods: air-cure; sun-cure; kiln; flue-cure.
    • My Uses: pipe blender.
    • Comments: Quite similar to Prilep 66-9/7, but not quite as aromatic, not quite as productive. Will not plant in 2014.
17. Tabasqueño Prieto
    • Origin: Mexico (GRIN PI 114401)
    • Height (untopped): 58"
    • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 18"
    • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 9"
    • Leaf Count: 19
    • Curing Methods: air-cure, kiln, flue-cure.
    • My Uses: Pipe blender; cigar filler.
    • Comments: Top of plant tends to be floppy. Does not flue-cure well. Air-cured and kilned, it makes a decent cigar filler of medium strength. Will not plant in 2014.
18. Virginia Bright
    • Origin: Virginia, US (New Hope Seed)
    • Height (untopped): 57" (barely reached 24" in 2014)
    • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 23.5"
    • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 10"
    • Leaf Count: 18
    • Curing Methods: flue-cure.
    • My Uses: Pipe blending.
    • Comments: This is my preferred variety for flue-cured Virginia. Frenching problem this year. Will plant in 2014.
19. Vuelta Abajo
    • Origin: Cuba (transplants [bigbonner] grown from seed of jitterbugdude)
    • Height (untopped): 52"
    • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 16"
    • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 11"
    • Leaf Count: 16
    • Curing Methods: air-cure; kiln.
    • My Uses: Cigar wrapper, binder, filler.
    • Comments: Very productive of excellent, medium-strength, medium-brown filler grade leaf. Not much wrapper grade. Will replant in 2014.
20. Xanthi Yaka 18a
    • Origin: Greece (GRIN PI 552418)
    • Height (untopped): 36"
    • Leaf Length (10th leaf): 10"
    • Leaf Width (10th leaf): 5"
    • Leaf Count: 23
    • Curing Methods: air-cure; sun-cure; kiln; flue-cure (not very good).
    • My Uses: pipe blender.
    • Comments: Although it does not hold up to flue-curing, all of the other curing methods yield a mild, smooth, aromatic Oriental blender. Will plant in 2014.

Bob

 

[Knucklehead]

Very helpful review. Thanks for posting it.

Do you have any idea how a Cavendish process would affect a Perique processed leaf?

 

[deluxestogie]

Do you have any idea how a Cavendish process would affect a Perique processed leaf?

Maybe you get Cajundish?

After pressure curing, I don't know that there's much more that can happen chemically.

Bob

 

[DGBAMA]

Very helpful summary.

 

[workhorse_01]

Thank you for the summary. It has helped me make some decisions on my future grows.

 

[chillardbee]

Very nice record keeping there Bob. It's a good example for those of us that, if we were to keep records, that we could format it to.

 

[deluxestogie]

Will,
I actually track and record considerably more info than I've shown. I would be embarrassed to display it all (and it would be useless for most growers).

One characteristic that I've been examining in detail (and recording for each variety) is the nature of the ruffle that extends from each leaf stem onto the main stalk. GRIN data does not cover that. I'm finding that different varieties that are otherwise nearly indistinguishable, sometimes differ dramatically in their consistent shape, length and symmetry of the ruffle. I think its only use in taxonomy is in being able to say "it's definitely a different strain."

Bob