Tobaccofieldsforever 2021 Grow Log

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

For commercial grows, synchronizing harvest time saves money. For home grows, that doesn't matter. Recommendations by extension services is to top the plants when 50% of the plants are showing at least one blossom, and videos of those commercial grows reflect that. For home growing, the ideal is to top each plant after the bud stalk elongates, which is usually just before its first blossom opens.

If you have a few plants that are way behind in growth, compared to the others of its variety, you can help them "catch up" in maturity by topping them at a lower leaf count.

For any videos of growing tobacco commercially, you should examine every choice and practice (and tradition) in a context of why it might be advantageous for a commercial grower to choose that method. It usually comes down to reduced cost and labor.

Bob

Thank you. So I guess I kind of messed up this season then. I have already topped most of my plants but dont yet have a single open blossom. I have blossoms that are long and "ready" to open but they have been that way for a couple days now and they just stay long and unopened while more blossoms grow long and ready to open on the same plant (this plant is bagged). I didn't top anything until the stalk holding the bud pack had grown longer above the plant though. I topped one quite early just to see what would happen. I had to open the top leaves and reach into them to top the terminal bud and any immature buds coming out of the stalk. Oh well, live and learn. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

This image is from my discussion on crossing, so disregard the comment on trimming.

If you bag the head too early, the weight of the (possibly wet) bag will cause the top of the plant to droop toward the ground. I would wait until you see distinct elongation of the stalk below the blossoms.

Bob

I was slightly confused by the word "stalk" in this post. To be clear, you are suggesting I bag my buds when the flowers start to grow long out of the bud (like in the picture) correct? At first I thought you meant the main stalk of the plant that holds the bud pack.

 

[deluxestogie]

The central stalk of the plant. It elongates as the crow foot develops. After the stalk elongates, it is physically sturdy enough to support a bag against the wind.

Bob

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

The central stalk of the plant. It elongates as the crow foot develops. After the stalk elongates, it is physically sturdy enough to support a bag against the wind.

Bob

gotcha. In that case I have followed your advice pretty closely.

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

I didn't know Japanese beetles were interested in tobacco plants. A few times now I have found them feasting on my plants. It is almost always my burley and only one or two at a time at the most. They have definitely done some damage but I've seen them wipe out an entire trees worth of leaves within a day when they swarm it so I don't know. They have "tasted" some of my other varieties but seem to like the burley the most. I thought maybe they just eat it and die but when a lot of beetles have to learn the hard way it leaves me with some damaged leaves.

 

[deluxestogie]

I have grape vines as well as a blackberry bramble growing 6 feet from tobacco beds. My American Hazels are between two of my tobacco beds. The Japanese Beetles know pretty well that its the grape leaves, hazel leaves and blackberry blossoms (in that order) that they should eat. The occasional Japanese Beetle that I find staggering over a tobacco leaf is what you might consider an involuntary celibate.

Bob

 

[Clatsopnehalem]

Good work glad you didn’t chop em down

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Are you talking about those little red bugs? They attacked my lilies pretty hard and I just kept spraying, and they never found the tobacco.

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

Are you talking about those little red bugs? They attacked my lilies pretty hard and I just kept spraying, and they never found the tobacco.

Japanese Beetles? No they are a decent sized dark colored flying beetle. Incredibly annoying and when a pack of them find something they can wipe it out quickly.

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

The occasional Japanese Beetle that I find staggering over a tobacco leaf is what you might consider an involuntary celibate.

ha! They've done more damage then I thought they would and it's only to my burley

That is the work of one, maybe two beetles. The nicotine didn't seem to bother it but the bottom of my shoe did!

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

My plants yesterday

 

[Knucklehead]

My plants yesterday
View attachment 37874

They have recovered nicely from the flooding. Was it cloudy for awhile after the rain? I think when BigBonner lost a partial field one year he had the double whammy of a lot of rain followed by the sun popping right back out and that intense sun was the last straw. Glad to see them looking so good.

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

Brightleaf bagged


Virginia Gold bagged

Nearly everything else is topped except my burley which must have a longer maturation time.

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

They have recovered nicely from the flooding. Was it cloudy for awhile after the rain? I think when BigBonner lost a partial field one year he had the double whammy of a lot of rain followed by the sun popping right back out and that intense sun was the last straw. Glad to see them looking so good.

yes, I'm VERY happy with how they have recovered. It wasn't particularly cloudy and we even had some intense sun afterwards. I think maybe the trenching and tilling may have helped. I doubt bigbonner was able to get into his field and trench and till between every single plant. I imagine it's a lot easier to save 15 to 20 plants than it is many acres. I think luck had something to do with it too.

 

[Oldfella]

Very nice looking plants. They've recovered nicely. Well done
Oldfella

 

[Clatsopnehalem]

there all gorgeous and perky like there loving life right now!!!

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

Can flooding prematurely ripen tobacco leaves? Or at least make them appear to be mature/ripe? The following pictures are from the same plant. It is virginia gold. It has not been topped yet. It is the only one of that variety that hasn't been topped or bagged but I wanted to let the stalk at least elongate below the bud head before topping it. Some of the mid stalk position leaves have a mottled yellow color pattern, wavy edges near the stalk and the beginning of what looks to be alligator like lamina. The leaves below these leaves however still look immature so I am confused. Not to mention it hasn't even been topped yet. I'm having this issue with some other plants too so I'm thinking it is a result of flood damage. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Knucklehead]

Can flooding prematurely ripen tobacco leaves? Or at least make them appear to be mature/ripe? The following pictures are from the same plant. It is virginia gold. It has not been topped yet. It is the only one of that variety that hasn't been topped or bagged but I wanted to let the stalk at least elongate below the bud head before topping it. Some of the mid stalk position leaves have a mottled yellow color pattern, wavy edges near the stalk and the beginning of what looks to be alligator like lamina. The leaves below these leaves however still look immature so I am confused. Not to mention it hasn't even been topped yet. I'm having this issue with some other plants too so I'm thinking it is a result of flood damage. Any ideas or suggestions?
View attachment 37879
View attachment 37880

I don’t think it’s a maturity issue. Possibly stress from flooding plus the possible leaching of minerals, lime, etc. due to the flooding, so a combination of the perfect storm (sorry, couldn’t help it). I don’t think you should fertilize this close to harvest. Topping early, unless you are bagging for seed, may actually help as stated in this article in regards to calcium deficiency. “Topping early can stimulate root growth as much as 40%.”

“Corrective Measures


Once calcium deficiency is confirmed, additional foliar or soil applications containing calcium fertilizers have not shown to be of great benefit. In fact, research has shown that foliar applications of calcium may result in leaf phytotoxicy (burn). In addition, the use of calcium chloride foliar sprays should be avoid due to the potential of the chloride imparting off flavors to the tobacco.

Most often, it is the practice of early topping that prevents or reduces the effects of calcium deficiency. Early topping has been shown to stimulate root growth by as much as 40%, thus allowing for greater root exposure to various nutrients found within the soil profile. This practice will also divert the flow of nutrients and photosynthates to leaf growth instead of flower and seed development.”

Tobacco Diagnostic Key | p1 | NC State

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

I don’t think it’s a maturity issue. Possibly stress from flooding plus the possible leaching of minerals, lime, etc. due to the flooding, so a combination of the perfect storm (sorry, couldn’t help it). I don’t think you should fertilize this close to harvest. Topping early, unless you are bagging for seed, may actually help as stated in this article in regards to calcium deficiency. “Topping early can stimulate root growth as much as 40%.”

“Corrective Measures


Once calcium deficiency is confirmed, additional foliar or soil applications containing calcium fertilizers have not shown to be of great benefit. In fact, research has shown that foliar applications of calcium may result in leaf phytotoxicy (burn). In addition, the use of calcium chloride foliar sprays should be avoid due to the potential of the chloride imparting off flavors to the tobacco.

Most often, it is the practice of early topping that prevents or reduces the effects of calcium deficiency. Early topping has been shown to stimulate root growth by as much as 40%, thus allowing for greater root exposure to various nutrients found within the soil profile. This practice will also divert the flow of nutrients and photosynthates to leaf growth instead of flower and seed development.”

Tobacco Diagnostic Key | p1 | NC State

huh...thank you. very interesting

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

I have seen these little white dots on commercial tobacco blends and on tobacco for a while now. I remember first seeing them years ago and thinking something was wrong so I attempted to research what these dots are. There was little information out there about the dots. Most of the time I would find some article about plume or plume vs. mold etc. I think I found a couple people saying they were signs of maturity that happen around when tobacco flowers. If anyone is anymore clear on exactly what these dots indicate I would appreciate the information. If it is a sign of maturity, it would be a convenient one to use.

This is a picture of a mature low center/bottom leaf from my dad's tobacco plant. Quite large probably around 3 foot long by 18 inches wide.