Harvesting Wrappers

[GreenDragon]

This year I’m only growing a few plants and only wrapper varieties. My question is should you prime these leaves the same or differently as you would for filler? In other words, because you generally want a wrapper to be thinner and more elastic, should they be primed when under ripe, ripe, or over ripe?

 

[deluxestogie]

You want a wrapper to be an intact leaf of quality cigar tobacco. Unless you are shade growing, forget the "thin". Ideally, leaf is removed before it gets tattered. If the variety requires priming (sequential ripeness), then prime leaves that show a yellow tip. I get damn good wrappers from my Corojo 99, which I stalk-harvest. The most remarkable wrappers are high on the plant, dark, oily and somewhat thick. So long as it kilns to a stretchy leaf, it's good.

Florida Sumatra always seemed to require priming. My experience has been that just about any cigar variety will make some good wrappers each season, regardless of the harvesting method. But I never harvest early.

Bob

 

[GreenDragon]

Thanks Bob, that makes sense.