Saintanthonysfire grow log 2022

[Saintanthonysfire]

Last year it was tobacco planted for snus, this year I decided to grow more cigar oriented tobacco. Being in PA I chose mostly north eastern variants. Plus my two favs from last year. I planted PA red and Harrow Velvet which were my favs from last year. Added to them was Connecticut broad leaf and Little Dutch. 18 of each for a total of 72.

Last year I had a hell of a time with rabbits eating them off when young so I put up a chicken wire fence and staked it down every 6 inches. So far I’ve only lost 1 plant in the 2.5 weeks since I transplanted outside. Had some issues with slugs early on, but after they got established they seemed to lay off. My dad said since I watered them Monday they have shot up another 6+ inches so I’m excited to get back out and see them.

Attached is a pic I took Monday.

(Question) little Dutch? Is it notorious for suckers? It’s only been 2.5 weeks and I can already see small suckers growing at the base of the larger leaves. Wondering if this is normal or indicative of an issue? Haven’t experienced suckers that quick on any of the 8 variants I’ve tried over past two years.

(Question 2) last years crop has been hanging since September, I’m wondering for making Swedish snus, does it have to cure completely before pasteurizing it into snus? Or does the pasteurizing process act kinda like the fermentation process of a kiln and speed up the curing? Can it be ground up and pasteurized into snus as soon as it’s bone dry? Or will it be more flavorful if left to naturally cure before doing so?

 

[deluxestogie]

Very early suckers usually have little to do with the variety. I would just pluck them off, and maintain a single stalk. I can't help with snus.

Bob

 

[wruk53]

In response to question #2, you can definitely cook it up as soon as the tobacco is dry, but it will not be as flavorful as properly aged tobacco would be. It likely will also have a grassy taste for the first week after cooking, this will dissipate after a few weeks in the fridge. It will probably be acceptable, but somewhat bland. Those were my findings when I cooked a batch that had only aged 2 months. With the addition of some flavorings, it will be okay. Good luck!

 

[Saintanthonysfire]

In response to question #2, you can definitely cook it up as soon as the tobacco is dry, but it will not be as flavorful as properly aged tobacco would be. It likely will also have a grassy taste for the first week after cooking, this will dissipate after a few weeks in the fridge. It will probably be acceptable, but somewhat bland. Those were my findings when I cooked a batch that had only aged 2 months. With the addition of some flavorings, it will be okay. Good luck!

Awesome! Thanks for the info. I’ll prolly just leave it hanging, I’ve noticed the aroma is really getting nice the last couple months. Prolly let it hang till this years crop needs to be hung. It ain’t going anywhere lol.

 

[Saintanthonysfire]

Made it out to the garden to weed and water and check on the plants. Everything really shot up since I watered Monday. Took a shot from the bed of mini truck. Interesting how the little Dutch(far right) was the fastest to germinate and fastest grower early on before transplanting, but also the shortest variant. Seems like the others are really catching up and surpassing it tho since then.

My father said I could have the grass clippings to line rows if I mowed the field this week…Wow what an offer. I can have your dead grass if I just cut it for you? Lol.

 

[deluxestogie]

The tobacco looks great.

Bob

 

[Saintanthonysfire]

The tobacco looks great.

Bob

Thanks. Learned a lot from last year, and also from the forum. Excited to actually know what each plant is this year. Staking down the fence really keep the rabbits out this year.

 

[Knucklehead]

Thanks. Learned a lot from last year, and also from the forum. Excited to actually know what each plant is this year. Staking down the fence really keep the rabbits out this year.

Best of luck wirh your season!

 

[Saintanthonysfire]

Two weeks since I last weeded, couldn’t make it out to garden last weekend. Everything has really grown a ton. This little Dutch is a pain. So many suckers and such tightly grouped leaves it’s hard to pick them. The little Dutch is also the first to bud.

The harrow velvet which is in the third row has been slightly yellowed at the base. This has been the case since I transplanted and none of the other variants have yellowed at all. Is this a harrow velvet thing? They seem super healthy and look great.

Here’s some pics.

 

[Knucklehead]

The harrow velvet which is in the third row has been slightly yellowed at the base. This has been the case since I transplanted and none of the other variants have yellowed at all. Is this a harrow velvet thing? They seem super healthy and look great.

Some of @skychaser's Harrow Velvet images:

Harrow Velvet

 

[Saintanthonysfire]

Some of @skychaser's Harrow Velvet images:

Harrow Velvet

Right on, that’s where I got the seeds last year. It seems like from the image it’s normal for the variety. I just didn’t expect them to start yellowing so early on.

 

[Saintanthonysfire]

Question about tobacco vs tomato worms? From the research I’ve done, it seems the only difference between the two is a single stripe on there back, with the tobacco worm having one more.

Last year I picked hundreds off my plants. If you look in the background you can see my father has planted more than a hundred tomato plants. In the 20+ years he’s been gardening here he can’t remember ever finding a horn worm on his plants.

I’m just curious why the tobacco worm is so much more plentiful? While my fathers never even seem a tomato worm. Hell there are other people growing tomatoes all over the area and I can’t think of ever seeing another person growing tobacco. Do the tobacco worm populations eb and flow like other insects or do they tend to be a constant from year to year? Wondering if I’ll be picking hundreds from my plants this year as well!

 

[deluxestogie]

Nothing is constant. For your relatively small patch, I would suggest purchasing some BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray. It's rated as an "organic" pest control. Just a casual spraying once a week, from a hand-held spray bottle, will eliminate the hornworms and their leaf damage. Most gardening stores should carry it. Buy a little bottle of concentrate, then mix your weekly batch in the spray bottle.

Bob

EDIT: BT is specific for caterpillars. It affects no other insects.

 

[Saintanthonysfire]

Nothing is constant. For your relatively small patch, I would suggest purchasing some BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray. It's rated as an "organic" pest control. Just a casual spraying once a week, from a hand-held spray bottle, will eliminate the hornworms and their leaf damage. Most gardening stores should carry it. Buy a little bottle of concentrate, then mix your weekly batch in the spray bottle.

Bob

EDIT: BT is specific for caterpillars. It affects no other insects.

Thanks for the advice. I’ve been hesitant to use any sprays, but if it’s rated at organic and you recommend it, I’ll order some tonight.

So far the only three things I’ve been comfortable spraying around the garden are .22lr, .30-30win and .222rem. All three have worked great keeping the rodents at bay.

 

[Alpine]

If you need a 30-30 those pests are quite impressive… unless your classification of “rodents” includes deer, of course.
Beautiful tobacco garden, by the way.

pier

 

[Saintanthonysfire]

If you need a 30-30 those pests are quite impressive… unless your classification of “rodents” includes deer, of course.

Beautiful tobacco garden, by the way.

pier

Thanks. Last year it was the only gun out at the garden other than the .22. So when the groundhogs came around it was the only option. I lent my dad the .222 because it was a bit overkill lol.

 

[Saintanthonysfire]

Went out this weekend to pick suckers and top plants, plus watered and sprayed plants with BT as suggested above. These little Dutch suckers are unreal, they grow 6+ inches in a week. The Connecticut broadleafs are also being dicks. Some of them have decided they’re too good for there spots and are growing out instead of up. I wish the little Dutch and broadleaf would be more like the pa red and harrow velvet. These two seem to be idiot proof. They grow uniform and straight and with hardly a single sucker. That being said, broadleaf is really living up to its name, these leaves are the biggest I’ve grown yet.

Here are a few update photos along with individual shots of each variant.

Little Dutch

Pa Red

Connecticut broadleaf

Harrow velvet

 

[deluxestogie]

The plants all look excellent. What is your spacing between rows?

Bob

 

[Saintanthonysfire]

The plants all look excellent. What is your spacing between rows?

Bob

I did three feet between each row and 2 feet between each plant.

 

[santisimo]

Went out this weekend to pick suckers and top plants, plus watered and sprayed plants with BT as suggested above. These little Dutch suckers are unreal, they grow 6+ inches in a week. The Connecticut broadleafs are also being dicks. Some of them have decided they’re too good for there spots and are growing out instead of up. I wish the little Dutch and broadleaf would be more like the pa red and harrow velvet. These two seem to be idiot proof. They grow uniform and straight and with hardly a single sucker. That being said, broadleaf is really living up to its name, these leaves are the biggest I’ve grown yet.

Here are a few update photos along with individual shots of each variant.
View attachment 42463 View attachment 42464
Little Dutch
View attachment 42465
Pa Red
View attachment 42466
Connecticut broadleaf
View attachment 42467
Harrow velvet

Congratulations! you have a magnificent plantation. PA red is fabulous for cigar filler/binder and it cures easy in my case.