Ripeness Of And Harvesting Perique.

[chillardbee]

So I was wandering just when a plant can be harvested. I understand that the plants are stalk harvested But the question is when? There is a lot of info out there on when to harvest your virginias, burleys, and even dark air cureds but very little on perique.

 

[deluxestogie]

During the several years that I grew the Perique variety (originally from New Hope Seed), I primed the leaf as soon as it was mature, rather than waiting for it to become ripe. This produced excellent, flavorful and somewhat mild cigar filler.

Bob

 

[FmGrowit]

So I was wandering just when a plant can be harvested. I understand that the plants are stalk harvested But the question is when? There is a lot of info out there on when to harvest your virginias, burleys, and even dark air cureds but very little on perique.

Are you talking about the variety known as Perique or tobacco that will be perique processed.

If you're talking about the variety, then I'd trust Bob's method. If you're talking about the process, then I'd let the plant ripen to about 50% yellow, cut the stalk, let it wilt for a few hours and hang it. Then process as you like.

 

[chillardbee]

Yes, I'm talking about the plant itself. For example, at what ripeness would the martins harvest there plants? and I think that is a good answer FMGrowit, That was the answer I was looking for. I don't know if the martins prime (I don't think they do) and I'd like to stay away from priming it too just because real estate for hanging is getting short. I remember seeing a few pics of the stalk cured that the martins were striping leaves from, So, in the same spirit of process, I'd like to do the same.

 

[Aaron]

My favorite indicator for when to harvest is how easy the leaf snaps off. If it snaps easily, kind of like snapping a celery stalk, it was ready. If it bends instead of breaking it's not quite ready. Last year was my first year growing but that's the method I used while priming to know how far up to go.

 

[deluxestogie]

Your question is still unclear to me. Regardless of variety, if you are planning to pressure-cure some leaf, follow Don's suggestion--stalk-harvest, then color-cure in the shed until the lamina are brown (even if the leaf stems are still yellow). At that point, using the Martin's method, you can strip the leaf, stem it, and begin pressure-curing (Perique method). You might also pray to the "spirit of process" that it look favorably upon all your labor.

Bob

 

[FmGrowit]

This thread might be helpful in understanding what Bob and I are talking about. Basically, the information you're getting here exists nowhere else in the world (as far as I know). The meaning of Perique has always referred to the tobacco...not the process.

http://wholeleaftobaccollc.com/foru...que-The-Native-Crop&highlight=Perique+Process

 

[chillardbee]

Ok. I am talking about the plant itself. As it's growing it will at some point get ripe. I am talking about the whole plant being ripe because it will be stalk harvested, so, as with other plants, one would leave the lower leaf to get over ripe, the mid leaf will be ripe, and the upper leaf will be under ripe. But, I've got no experience with the way this plant grows or matures. I think we can all agree that the growth physiology of burley's, virginias, and dark air cures are different from one another, So, I would assume that the perique plant too would be different. And this is where in the question lies, and I can not make it any simpler then this...When would a person stalk harvest a perique plant?

I am thing that the answer to that question would be similar to dark air cured varities. That the stalk harvesting would take place about 5-7 weeks after topping...Am I right?

 

[chillardbee]

Ok, So I know not much useful info can come from wiki, But here is what I got. I copied and pasted it-

The tobacco plants are manually kept suckerless and pruned to exactly 12 leaves through their early growth. In late June, when the leaves are a dark, rich green and the plants are 24-30 inches (600 to 750 mm) tall, the whole plant is harvested in the late evening and hung to dry in a sideless curing barn.

And So I shall hence forth do.

 

[BarG]

I would think that waiting 5-7 weeks after topping you will have most all your lugs brown and getting damaged by weather.
I have been priming the lugs before topping when ripe and some mids when ripe after topping. I then try to keep suckered and let the rest of mids and tops grow as big as possible before stalk harvest. My weather conditions are totally different from canadas, alot 100 degree heat and combination of wet and dry spells. the dry spells the leaves ripen faster.

 

[chillardbee]

Psssst, BarG, Don't tell Bob and Don this, But I just secretly went out and primed my perique for that very reason. (embarresing) but I will stalk harvest the rest. I guess when the martins are dealing with acres, the loss of a few bottom leaves aren't to big a deal.

Some of the leaf was fairly cured on the stalk already. I think in 3 weeks i'll be able to hack em' down.

 

[deluxestogie]

Chillardbee,
You're allowed a special dispensation, since:

• you're 1000 miles north of St. James Parish
• you're not near the mouth of the Mississippi River
• you're not Cajun
• it probably won't matter

Bob

 

[BarG]

I'd say it is more work to prime but brown or partial brown leaves will stand a good chance of getting ruined in rain or shattered by wind.

 

[chillardbee]

LOL, Thanks Bob, that made me chuckle.

BarG, Do you do one priming then later stalk harvest, or do you do a few primings before stalk harvesting?

I don't think rain will be a factor here this year...We've been 6 weeks with out it and if we get another indian summer, which it feels like it could be, we'll be lucky to see 5 days of rain before the middle of October. but I do here what you're saying there and it makes sense.

 

[DGBAMA]

Right now I wish for 5 consecutive days without rain.

 

[BarG]

I gave a third priming yesterday. Its been 3-4 weeks since topping but out of about 70 plants some are behind the others. I may prime once more for mature leaves on plants that need it.

 

[Knucklehead]

Right now I wish for 5 consecutive days without rain.

LOL. This has been a hell of a rookie season for both of us. We'll be hardened professionals next year.

 

[leverhead]

LOL. This has been a hell of a rookie season for both of us. We'll be hardened professionals next year.

Yea! Ready for your next grade level of hard learned lessons.

 

[Jack in NB]

We're all enrolled in the world's largest technical college.

It's called "the school of hard knocks", and we may graduate in another ten years or so.....!