First Harvesting

[indianjoe]

Finally got to priming some of the first mud lugs and lower leaves today. Silver River and YTB were first. The silver river has huge leaves (18-30") and the YTB was average to smaller (12-24"). YTB leaves were thick, alligator skin-looking and yellow, while the silver river was thick, alligator skin-looking, and not so much as yellow. Most of the silver river plants were already 3-4' with no blossoms forming and leaves as large as ergo that I grew last year. Looking to get some of the havana and other varieties tomorrow.

 

[FmGrowit]

Wow, That's some of the earliest harvesting I've ever heard of in the northern hemisphere. Are you planning a second crop for this year?...you sure have time for one.

Good work IndianJoe, post some pics when you have time.

 

[Chicken]

4-sure,,, i'd like to see some pics of your crop,

i thought i was first out of the gate,,,and mine aint no-where near ready

 

[indianjoe]

We had no winter to speak of and the harvesting is starting extra early. I started most of the seedlings in Feb, put them in the ground in Mar and here they are in May blooming, not all, but havana, and bursa. I topped bursa two weeks ago. A lot of my havana are smaller than in last years and bugs of all types have been terrible, alphids expecially. I staggered planting times to prevent all from getting ready at one time in case I got busy with other things.

I got many other seedings ready to go in the ground, but haven't had any rain in several weeks, with highs in the 90's and will get them in after some moisture.

 

[Daniel]

It is strange to read others are harvesting while my plants set inside and will not even be planted for two more weeks. My best guess on the smaller plants would be the earlier start and cooler temps. Plants need light and many are triggered by the hours of light and even the angle of the sun in the sky. There may be triggers or conditions that never got met for the tobacco with the early growing period. Very good move on your part though to get your crop out so eary though. others may find nothing will grow this summer do to it being to hot. I know I have been seeing a lot of comemnts like that on other forums in regard to gardens in general. It is getting to hot to fast this year.

 

[BigBonner]

It has been a strange winter . The CT Tobacco valley is worried that disease has over wintered . They have plants still alive from last year . Her is a link check out the Tobacco sprouts from surviving overwintering crown picture .

http://www.ctvalleytobacco.org/

 

[indianjoe]

I've thought about the disease factor as well. I checked on Admire for the transplants but would have to order a case from farmers cooperative and that is more than a years salary

 

[BigBonner]

I've thought about the disease factor as well. I checked on Admire for the transplants but would have to order a case from farmers cooperative and that is more than a years salary

Admire is only for aphids . Other diseases like root rot , dampening off , Targetspot , black shank ,ETC . Need different remedies like Terramaster for root rot , Dithane for target spot and dampening off .Orthene for tobacco worms , aphids , snails slugs and grasshoppers.
Ridomil for Black shank and blue mold .
Im speaking as comercial tobacco use .
These are only to be used if you have to . I know the signs and can doctor accordingly . I have been lucky I have not had to doctor any plants for over 10 years now .
But I have seen times when every farmer has the same problems and there is no other choice . Either make tobacco or let it die . Farmers can't survive on a dead crop .

Black shank should be no problem for any home grower as it is carried from field to field . I am black shank free . But back when tobacco was litterly everywhere here farms was over cropped with tobacco . This makes a breeding ground for diseases , which no longer exist because of the downsizing of tobacco acreages here .

I do use A generic admire on my commercial tobacco . There will be no aphids on the tobacco . Admire can be bought off ebay . The people selling it should not be selling these chemicals on ebay . I have to use my license to buy chemicals and I have to keep records of where I used it and how much .

The farmers in CT and others that make cigar tobacco use dithane a a preventitive measure for blue mold .In other words its used whether they have the disease or not .
Burley farmers can stand some blue mold . Holes in burley doesn't effect the quality very much . Holes in wrappers is Catastrophic to a farmer .

 

[indianjoe]

I have an ongoing consistent fight with alphids. I do not understand how admire can be sold on eflea and get by with it. I had to get a license for chemicals I get for around the farm as well. I can buy them, but since no one uses tobacco chemicals around here anymore, they come by the case.

 

[BarG]

Heres a link for some aphid eaters. http://www.arbico-organics.com/product/Live-Ladybugs I have a ton of these in my garden and no aphid problem.

 

[BigBonner]

I have an ongoing consistent fight with alphids. I do not understand how admire can be sold on eflea and get by with it. I had to get a license for chemicals I get for around the farm as well. I can buy them, but since no one uses tobacco chemicals around here anymore, they come by the case.

Deluxestogie did a post on Admire awhile back .
It was about admire kills honey bees that come in contact with it .
With the admire I use in my tobacco setter it goes two to three inches under the soil .

One pint of admire does over 22,000 plants .


BarG
The lady bugs are vicious . I have been bitten by them and they are mean when they get under your shirt .

 

[indianjoe]

BarG,
I have many wild lady bugs, it just seems that the alphids can outgrow them in a matter of days. This year is real buggy. I've been through the dawn dishwashing detergent, neem, acephate, and dragging a water hose 1/2 of a 40 is just too much, lol.

BB,
in that case, I only need 1/21,000 of a pint ! Lets see that might be five whole drops??

 

[Chicken]

i havent had a lot of bugs here in fla.

my hornworms are still tiny,,,, but i been pulling some of thier translucent eggs off the leaves,,,

no aphid's yet,

 

[indianjoe]

Chicken,
I hope you do not get any. I think I would rather fight hornworms with bt.....

 

[BarG]

Do the aphids get less severe during summer? I,ve never had them bad here.[knock on wood] I've been pulling a few monster hornworms lately. I haven't had any problems on the tobacco yet just tomatoes and potatoes . I'm hoping I can go as long as possible without haveing to drag them hoses to spray anything but water. My seedlings are looking up real good. Another week I' plant a row or 2. Alot of them can handle the sun but too small to handle insects.

 

[indianjoe]

BarG,
the alphids come and go. They are usually bad early and sometimes get bad later in the season. Get you some bt for the hornworms, you can't fight them alone. I tried several years ago to pick off all of the worms and eggs until I was picking off 100 or more per leaf and had to give in. Good luck with your grow, it looks like we are in for another hot one here.

 

[Chicken]

^^^^^

aint that the truth,,,,they bout ate my whole crop last year, before i got some b.t.

i pull worms,, and the next day, it was like i wasnt even out there, doing anything,

 

[BarG]

I had a havana plant about 8" tall ,big leaves with a good stalk. It had main stem broke accidently and was growing a big shoot as if nothing happened, practicaly dissapear over a 2 day period. The leaves would be laying on the ground around the stalk. About 3/4 " below soil at base of stalk I found a nasty looking plant killer about a 1 1/4 " long. I'm sure theres a name for them but I haven't tried to find out yet. A cross between a caterpillar and a grub. It might put out another shoot.

 

[Chicken]

baccy plants are very resiulant,,,,,, ive had some lay flat on the ground and continue growing,

 

[Rayshields]

BarG, my guess is a cutworm. I am having some nice plants lost to them...I got the b.t. spray on them today. Then it rained this evening...I will need to reapply, but just hope that there isn't too much damage tonight... I am finally all planted. We had gotten really dry with low humidity and lots of strong winds, so the rain was really welcome.