G’s grow log 2023

[Kiwisaffer]

I have placed the Virginia Gold in the old glass sunroom to cure. Gets direct sunlight through the old glass panes and being a glass room it gets pretty warm in there during the day.
I think it’s curing ok. It’s done 3 days so far. I was nervous about leaving it outside to sun cure as it could rain and I’m not there to bring it inside, so thought the glass room would be the next best thing.

 

[Kiwisaffer]

I always enjoy going out to my tobacco patch after work to check on the progress. The warmer weather is finally kicking in with most days now in the mid 20’s (degC). I am irrigating every day now, twice a day some days as my bags are small and the potting mix can’t hold enough moisture for a few days due to the size of the plants.

A few more are ready to be topped.

In the first picture there is a plant (front centre right) which I labeled Vuelta Abajo but I looks nothing like the Vuelta plants around it. It looks identical to the little Dutch plants a few rows in, so I definitely mislabeled that one. Not sure exactly where it went wrong.

 

[deluxestogie]

A common source of mis-identified plants is from the method of seeding the germination pots or cells. If more than one variety of seed is sprinkled onto the soil of adjacent containers, a seed from one variety can easily jump into the wrong cell by electrostatic charge. Of course, being human, we sometimes just write the wrong identity on a label.

Bob

 

[Kiwisaffer]

Picked some more leaves for curing. Things looking thinner in the grow bags at the moment.
Question, does the tobacco taste better if the majority of the leaf has turned yellow on the plant or just the tips, before picking for colour curing?

 

[Kiwisaffer]

I think I have found some mold on my leaves in my drying/hanging rack. I have different sets of leaves drying at different stages and I didn’t want things to dry out too much in case some leaves flash dried green. But maybe things are a little too humid in here. These leaves were tucked up inside each other as they were drying so couldn’t air out.
Have got the garage door open during the day to keep the air moving.
I have some other pictures of colour changes with my leaves that I will post in the next post.
Do I just bin the below leaves or will they come right in the kiln?

 

[deluxestogie]

Looks like Aspergillus niger. I would discard the portions of the leaf that have molded.

Bob

 

[Kiwisaffer]

Looks like Aspergillus niger. I would discard the portions of the leaf that have molded.

Bob

Thanks Bob. I’ll cut those potions out. These were the first primings from the little Dutch plants.
Below are some more leaves that I’m a little uncertain about what the markings are. A lot of my leaves get these little dark spots very soon after hanging them up. Almost looks like pockets of chlorophyl that don’t escape/turn yellow with the rest of the leaf…I’m really not sure.
I’ve tried to get pics of both front and back of the leaf. I don’t want this grow to end badly so am a little concerned.

 

[deluxestogie]

So long as the spots are brown, rather than black, I would just allow them to fully color-cure, and see what you have.

Bob

 

[Kiwisaffer]

Just been checking in on the drying again. Some are coming along quite nicely. But the cc98 is drying quite differently to the rest with these dark brown patches. Not sure why. The Costello negro also seems to be doing this but to a lesser degree.
Some stray leaves on the far right of the drying rack that have fallen off their drying variety wire and I’m not sure what variety they are. Will be a “licorice all sorts” blend when it’s ready.

One of the leaves “flash” dried green as I think I brushed it too vigorously just before I hung it to get rid of bugs and dirt. Not realizing that the dirt and bugs come off easier once they’ve started to go a bit more yellow. You can still see the brush marks on the leaf as it has dried. I really didn’t brush that hard either.

Finding a few aphids in and amongst these leaves still (in amongst the green/yellow ones).

Is it ok to handle these leaves while they’re drying (but not too dry when they can crack) to make sure leaves are sticking together and not drying properly.

Sorry for all the questions

 

[Kiwisaffer]

Been searching through the forum for more info on these brown marks if any one else has had them.

Brown spots show during the curing process.

Hello, I started growing my own tobacco for the first time this year and after harvesting the leaves I hung them in my shed. Now brown spots appear on some of the leaves. Is this normal or is it a fungus? Greetings from Germany and thank you in advance!

fairtradetobacco.com

what are the spots from

Hey everyone. This is my first attempt at growing and I have started with burley and virgina gold. Im from Augusta Ga and have recently had some leaves get to the point where I believe they are ripe. So I went ahead and grabbed a few and am now attempting to air dry/cure under a backyard gazebo...

fairtradetobacco.com

So much info on this site

 

[Kiwisaffer]

Also had some really strong winds over the weekend and the plants with seed bags on them act like sails in the wind. This plant went over and just wouldn’t straighten and shaded its Neighbour too much, so I have helped it back into place with a small tie-down.

 

[deluxestogie]

seed bags on them act like sails in the wind.

I recall that about 8 years ago, my tobacco in the ground experienced a strong wind gust that snapped off the bagged head of one 6-foot tall (2m) plant, but didn't blow down any of the other plants, bagged or not. Distance from one or more fences or trees, fence height, as well as the incident angle of the wind can bring about capricious impacts.

Bob

EDIT:

 

[Kiwisaffer]

These bags are planted right next to a fence so the wind coming over the fence got very turbulent. For the most part they have been protected. Not being held in the ground but by only a little grow bag, this CT shade plant just blew over bag and all. Only 9ltr worth of dirt/soil/mix in these so quite light/small on the bottom end.
Was able to just pick it back up when the wind died down. No damage to the leaves that I can see atm.

 

[Kiwisaffer]

Was tired of guessing how long to make the wire hangers for coloring curing so just made my self up a silly little jig with nails and now just fold the wire along the pathway. The piece comes down and back through the middle to help support the weight of the leaves while they still have a lot of moisture.

 

[Kiwisaffer]

I don’t “formalize” the last 2 bends until all the tobacco is strung for the particular variety. Hanger is completed with last 2 bends above to show finished product. Wirepath is anticlockwise during manufacture. Not sure if that was clear from the picture.

 

[Kiwisaffer]

Picked some more leaves today, was rushing to get the next set of ripe leaves due to some approaching rain showers, which did actually eventuate. You can see there are still some leaves that are ready for picking but I’ll wait until tomorrow once they have had a bit of sun on them to dry the surface.

 

[Kiwi Smoker]

Picked some more leaves today, was rushing to get the next set of ripe leaves due to some approaching rain showers, which did actually eventuate. You can see there are still some leaves that are ready for picking but I’ll wait until tomorrow once they have had a bit of sun on them to dry the surface.

They look great, I'm a bit behind after a disastrous start as a first timer and had to throw my first lot out and now a couple of months behind. I'm based in Lower Hutt and summer is a month late making matters worse, where are you?

 

[Kiwisaffer]

They look great, I'm a bit behind after a disastrous start as a first timer and had to throw my first lot out and now a couple of months behind. I'm based in Lower Hutt and summer is a month late making matters worse, where are you?

I’m in Hawke’s Bay. Ordinarily I’d say we’re warmer and dryer, and definitely less windy than you, but that’s until a cyclone Gabrielle decides to make landfall.
Our summer has been late too but I’m pretty stoked with what I’ve managed in my first grow all things considered.
I’ve got more seedlings in the tray and ready to go once this lot is finished. I’m going to try and go back to back now that the bags and everything is setup. Just hope to get them out before April before the real risk of frost happens.

 

[Kiwi Smoker]

I’m in Hawke’s Bay. Ordinarily I’d say we’re warmer and dryer, and definitely less windy than you, but that’s until a cyclone Gabrielle decides to make landfall.
Our summer has been late too but I’m pretty stoked with what I’ve managed in my first grow all things considered.
I’ve got more seedlings in the tray and ready to go once this lot is finished. I’m going to try and go back to back now that the bags and everything is setup. Just hope to get them out before April before the real risk of frost happens.

Yeah, Gabrielle was a big one and I sympathise with you. As you might have seen in the news we had a tornado whip through here last month blowing shop windows in and lifting roofs. Managed to get my buckets into shelter with just a minute to spare from the near marble size hail stones. I gasped in horror as my lovingly nurtured leaves were spinning propellors. Picture of the monster bellow. Some of my leaves are cupping too so gave them a liquid tomato feed last night, might help. Are we allowed to import seeds?

 

[Kiwisaffer]

Yeah, Gabrielle was a big one and I sympathise with you. As you might have seen in the news we had a tornado whip through here last month blowing shop windows in and lifting roofs. Managed to get my buckets into shelter with just a minute to spare from the near marble size hail stones. I gasped in horror as my lovingly nurtured leaves were spinning propellors. Picture of the monster bellow. Some of my leaves are cupping too so gave them a liquid tomato feed last night, might help. Are we allowed to import seeds?

Have tried to send you a DM. Let me know if it comes through (or not)