Tobaccofieldsforever 2021 Grow Log

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

Storming and HEAVY downpour right now. Got another 4/10 yesterday. Unfortunately my grow log has turned into the weather channel for depression. Primed a few leaves off my burley that is doing the worst. They we yellowing and droopy. Decent sized leaves, one was around 23 inches or so. They are all lower stalk position leaves so far. I don't know what to expect as far as quality of finished product but I don't really have a choice either. It's either prime it or let it rot in the field. Hope others are having better luck this season.

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

Got a quick 7/10" and there is now a small river where my driveway used to be. I'll just have to imagine how my tobacco is doing because I don't feel like putting on my hip waders.

 

[deluxestogie]

The jet stream has been right over your head. It will be shifting south of you within 36 hours. Then put on your hip boots, and post some pics. Although tobacco is not indestructible, it's often surprisingly resilient. Tons of water is not a problem for tobacco, so long as it can drain away.

Bob

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

The jet stream has been right over your head. It will be shifting south of you within 36 hours. Then put on your hip boots, and post some pics. Although tobacco is not indestructible, it's often surprisingly resilient. Tons of water is not a problem for tobacco, so long as it can drain away.

Bob

Got another 9/10" overnight and is still raining. I may have been exaggerating before. I only needed Muck boots (about knee high) to wade through the flooding when I went and looked at my plants a little bit ago (5:45am). They are doing surprisingly well. I expected to see everything dead and I actually saw improvement in some of the plants that were doing the worst. I didn't have my phone on me though. For a 37 year old, I'm without my phone quite often. I will post pics later today. Two dusky slugs got to one of my raised bed plant leaves during the night. I found them this morning. I dispatched them with prejudice.

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

There was a small break in the rain a little bit ago. I went out to take some pictures and of course it started pouring again. I was able to take one quickly without getting my phone soaking wet. This is after around 11.5 to12 inches of rain in 2 weeks and counting. I have been trenching and breaking apart the soil (gently) to try and incorporate air.

They are doing better now than they have in a while. From left to right (excluding the little plants) Burley (3), Brightleaf(6), gold(6). The burley has really been struggling and I don't know if that middle plant will live. Same with the brightleaf plant on the end of the row. The gold is doing very well but it also has the most sloped soil.

 

[Oldfella]

Bob's right, provided the water drains away no problem. My entire crop got flooded with sea water one year, it drained as the tide dropped and all was good.

My front gate.
Oldfella

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

Some of the leaves on my plants (mostly the virginia gold it seems) have this coloring too them. They are top stalk/newer leaves on the plant and I'm assuming it's from overwatering but I figured I'd post a pic and make sure.

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

I don't know if the brightleaf plant on the left in this picture will make it. Believe it or not, it actually looked worse than that at one point. I brought my buddy along to see what he thought. He wasn't much help.

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

Here are two of my 3 burley plants. They have really been struggling but seem to be getting a little better regardless of the 2.2" of rain we had since yesterday evening. I don't know what variety they are but they seem to be staying kind of short. They could also be stunted. It is hard to tell in this kind of weather.

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

Thankfully my property drains very well. Whatever does not drain into the creek drains into the neighboring commercial field corn crop (or soy bean) that has very large drainage pipes running through it (I saw them after they had plowed and nicked the top of one of them) to keep the crops from flooding. I guess time will tell what happens...

 

[MadFarmer]

Some of the leaves on my plants (mostly the virginia gold it seems) have this coloring too them. They are top stalk/newer leaves on the plant and I'm assuming it's from overwatering but I figured I'd post a pic and make sure.
View attachment 37533

All of my plants had similar coloring in May, once they dry out some it should return to green.

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

I need bud bags (hopefully). The plan is to try and save seed from the best plant of every variety and top the rest. I was thinking of using these flower sack towels I have to make them. I have heard of that material used in lieu of cheesecloth before. Does anyone know if this will be ok or not? I've never bagged buds before. I've read about wedding veil being used and some other material I can't remember but was trying to find stuff I have around the house before going out and buying anything. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[deluxestogie]

The flour sack material is fairly tightly woven, and while keeping out bugs, it will also keep in the heat, be slow to dry, and likely reduce the yield of the seed. If that's all you can use, then go with it. (Shucks. You may drop from ¼ million seeds per plant to 50,000.) You can also go by a home improvement store, and purchase some paint strainer bags for 5 gallon buckets.

Bob

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

The flour sack material is fairly tightly woven, and while keeping out bugs, it will also keep in the heat, be slow to dry, and likely reduce the yield of the seed. If that's all you can use, then go with it. (Shucks. You may drop from ¼ million seeds per plant to 50,000.) You can also go by a home improvement store, and purchase some paint strainer bags for 5 gallon buckets.

Bob

Thank you! It's not all I can use, I was just trying to be resourceful. That was my initial thought about it too...too tightly woven. I was also considering these laundry bags with zippers on them that people use to wash delicates. My initial thought on those...too loosely woven (or holes are too large, don't think it's woven). Paint strainer bags? I'll have to check those out, thank you.

 

[deluxestogie]

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Trimaco-2-Pack-Plastic-Bucket-Paint-Strainer/1008387

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

Forgive me if this is a stupid question but I have struggled with this for a little while. I have kind of asked this question before too and got answers but I'm still somewhat unclear. I read a lot of differing thoughts on this subject and get confused. How do you know when a leaf is done curing? I've read that everything that is air cured has a final color of brown. Previously I thought that a leaf was cured when it changes from green to yellow or red, etc. and then everything after that is drying the leaf. To put it another way, lets say you are given a mystery strain of tobacco and told to cure it. You choose to air cure it. When can you look at that curing leaf and say "that leaf is fully cured now"?

 

[deluxestogie]

When can you look at that curing leaf and say "that leaf is fully cured now"?

Air-cured leaf is fully color-cured when it is brown. May be light brown or darker brown. It needs to age after that (or be kilned) anyway. I consider "drying" to be an unfortunate term when discussing color-curing.

Bob

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

I consider "drying" to be an unfortunate term when discussing color-curing.

Thank you! That actually clears up my confusion. I would always think to myself "Isn't it still curing..."

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Trimaco-2-Pack-Plastic-Bucket-Paint-Strainer/1008387

Excellent, thank you very much!! How would you recommend securing the bottom?

 

[deluxestogie]

While you're at the store, look for thin, nylon zip ties that can be released. With my Agribon AG-15 bags, I just tie the bottom with a piece of nylon twine--in a bow, like a shoe lace.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Gardner-Bender-25-Pack-Cable-Ties/4598554

Bob