G’s grow log 2023

[Kiwisaffer]

Got my hands on some local burley and Virginia gold seed from a local trader (that’s the only reference/name given) and planted them a few months back but then left them in the care of our house sitter while we went on leave.
Too much care was given and they were watered too regularly (and I thought had died) so am trying to coax them back. I nearly actually canned the lot as I had managed to source some more “known” varieties in the meantime.
There were no problems with the germination at all initially. Had them in the conservatory/glass room during the day for warmth then brought them back into the main house during the evening as we’re low single digits Celsius in the conservatory in the evenings (no heating pad).


Didn’t get an exact start date but it was somewhere in May, so these little seedlings have had a torrid time.

Next post will have my other plantings and better details I think

 

[Kiwisaffer]

I bought some Corojo 99, Cuban Criollo 98, Long Red, Connecticut Shade (this one sounds hard to grow but I’m committed now) and sprinkled them on the tray On the 23/07/2023. Exactly 7 days later most of the seeds in every cell had germinated. Success! Early days I know.
As I don’t know what constitutes a good cigar this early in my journey, I was looking for filler, binder, wrapper combinations when choosing the seed. Please jump in if there is really something I should be trying.

Below pics were taken 1 August 2023 after germination.

 

[Kiwisaffer]

Here they are on Sunday 7 August after I thinned them out a little. Roots were already all wrapped around each other at this point so took a long time. Definitely felt like I over-seeded each cell - is there a better way? I dipped my index finger into the seeds and rubbed a “few” off into each cell.
Are they looking leggy? They get diffused sunlight everyday through an old window in a glass room/verandah (old glass, non thermal, or E).

 

[GreenDragon]

Hi and welcome to the forum! Everyone’s first grow is a learning experience. Just power on and enjoy the ride. We all over seed our first year LOL! If they are really close together I use a small set of scissors and mercilessly snip their heads off when thinning.

Don’t get hung up on trying to find the perfect blend and growing separate fillers / wrappers / binders. The truth is you can get all three from the same plant. The leaves naturally vary in thickness and stretch-ability as you go up the stalk. Find what grows best for you and what you like the flavor of. And above all have fun.

 

[Kiwisaffer]

Thanks @GreenDragon
Today 13th August. I think they’re getting leggy?
Quite tall but but not very strong. Not all but a lot of them. I’d say they are getting a lot of sun during the day but still getting leggy.
I have been watering from the bottom but I think the soil might be too wet as the roots aren’t very deep. I thinned out a few more that were too tall and crowding some others, and took a pic of the length of the stalk compared to the roots.

Today I remembered there were windows where these seedlings are ‍so I opened them up to get the breeze coming through. Hopefully that might strengthen the stalks?

Should I reset them into the soil a little deeper? And if so, when?

 

[deluxestogie]

I would suggest thinning them to 1 plant per cell.

Bob

 

[Kiwisaffer]

Thanks Bob, just thinned them out to 1/cell. Will also wait for the soil to dry out a little more before watering again

 

[Kiwisaffer]

One week on from thinning them to 1 plant/cell

 

[Kiwisaffer]

Checked on some of my seedlings one morning this week saw that something had been munching down on the leaves. I Was annoyed. After lifting up all seedling trays I found a stray slug that received my full wrath.
These were the “rescue” plants.
All is not well with these plants and how the are growing so will just see how they turn out, don’t have too high hopes for them.

 

[Kiwisaffer]

Will these stems straighten and strengthen or does this weakness/slant carry through to adulthood?

 

[deluxestogie]

All look good. Ignore the imperfections.

Bob

 

[Homegrowngoodnes]

I had a couple looking like Quasimodo!

 

[Charly]

Welcome to FTT and good luck with your tobacco.
Your plants look good to me.

 

[Kiwisaffer]

…another week on
Just yesterday I raised the level of potting mix in the cells a little to help support the very weak looking stems which were buckling under the weight of the growing foliage.



A little summary of what I’ve planted so far:

Planted 23/07/2023
Corojo 99
Cuban Criollo 98
Long Red
Connecticut Shade

Planted 30/07/2023
Burley (local nz strain-no other data)
Virginia Gold (local nz strain-no other data)

Planted 21/08/2023
Nostrano Del Brento
Vuelto Abajo
Little Dutch

Planted 27/08/2023
Costello Negro
Lancaster Seed Leaf
Izmir Ozbas
Pennsylvania Red

Now to find somewhere to plant them all when they’re ready.

 

[Kiwisaffer]

Looks like there could be another slug getting stuck into my Burley and Virginia Gold. But nothing caught in the beer trap.

Any ideas to help keep the slugs away from the little plants, sprays? Pellets?
I feel this will only get worse when they go outside.
There are all sorts of bugs decimating my wife’s veggies outside in the little green houses etc.. I’m a little concerned

 

[johnny108]

Looks like there could be another slug getting stuck into my Burley and Virginia Gold. But nothing caught in the beer trap.

Any ideas to help keep the slugs away from the little plants, sprays? Pellets?
I feel this will only get worse when they go outside.
There are all sorts of bugs decimating my wife’s veggies outside in the little green houses etc.. I’m a little concerned

Any slug/snail pellets with “metaldehyde” as the active ingredient works VERY well.
Slugs will go straight to it, then crawl less than 20cm before dying.
It’s not child/pet safe, but effective poisons tend not to be.
I use it all around my containers, since slugs wiped out 4 Lemonka Rustica plants in one night.

 

[johnny108]

 

[Hayden]

Looks like there could be another slug getting stuck into my Burley and Virginia Gold. But nothing caught in the beer trap.

Any ideas to help keep the slugs away from the little plants, sprays? Pellets?
I feel this will only get worse when they go outside.
There are all sorts of bugs decimating my wife’s veggies outside in the little green houses etc.. I’m a little concerned

Do you have the seedlings on a table ?
If yes put a bowl under each leg and fill int with salt water so the legs are sourrounded by it.

I did spray my little plants with soap water in the beginning which seemed to do the trick because my area is also a slug nightmare.
Other than that try to plant them as big as you can to increase survivability.

 

[deluxestogie]

Sluggo—only kills slugs, and not your neighbors:

https://www.amazon.com/Monterey-Wildlife-Friendly-Gardening-2-5-Pounds/dp/B000BWZ89K

Bob

 

[Bottenslam]

View attachment 48037

Welcome to The watchlist Haha

What season(s?) do you havet in new Zealand?
The seedlings look good!