viktor's grow blog 2026

[vktr]

This is getting boring and repetitive even for me, now it's the second crop but the pictures are about the same as the first one.
Next year I'll get as many rusticas I can get hold of and some Turkish tobacco seeds. Any recommendations on the Turkish to mix with rustica, even in theory?

 

[vktr]

I couldn't stay out of it for long, could I Sorry for the burst in the last post, there's always something new. My first Aztec harvest, from bags (frontmost) and four raised beds (img 1). Brun is flowering while stock curing (img 2). This time I tried to jam more plants into a bed, seven on the left side and ten on the right (img 3). Turns out they don't mind being crowded. I used to plant 12 into a bed but next year it will be 20! Other than that the plants are doing fine, another month until the second harvest. And then the challenge of autumn curing comes...

 

[johnny108]

I’m curious what your smoking blend is, and how much do you get out of 65 plants (grams, oz….)?

 

[vktr]

I'm mixing Aztec with Virginia or Monte Calme Brun (home grown as well), from 4:1 to 3:2. I grew just Virginia two years ago and couldn't smoke it alone, it was too weak for me. Last year's harvest of Aztec (+ the filler as mentioned) lasted me 9 months and I ran out of it mid June this year. I never weighed the leaves, so I don't know how many grams they were. Smoking crappy native cigarettes at the moment, for another month. But I added two more raised beds and the number of plants will increase as well. Will try other rustica varieties as well as Turkish. The future is bright.

 

[johnny108]

Since you are going for cigarettes, a good oriental to try would be Izmir.

 

[vktr]

Ordered from Urban Farmer (before the tariffs kicked in). They don't have Izmir but looks like Black Sea Samsun is a good substitute. There'll be much more fun next year.

 

[vktr]

Do you think these leaves a ready to harvest (img 1)? They are unlikely to grow much more and I could use a couple of weeks of good weather to yellow and air cure them. Aztec in small pots got light green so I cut them and hang in the garage, hopefully they will have enough time to cure (img 2).

 

[vktr]

Primed 12 plants, the leaves snap off the stock easily. Probably that's the way to go.

 

[vktr]

All harvesting is done for this year. It's still hot outside so I hope I have enough time to take care of these green leaves. Trying the compost pile approach as well as towels which worked for me before. Lots of leaf shuffling in coming days.

 

[bohdan.zaremba]

Lots of leaf shuffling in coming days.

Wow, seems like an understatement

 

[vktr]

well if this pile thing doesn't work there are always towels. but i hope it does.

 

[Wombat_smokes]

Color curing in piles did well for me, however, I also covered the piles with a paper grocery bag. I turned the pile every day to inspect for mold and completed yellowing. I promptly hung fully yellowed leaves to finish air curing on wire stringers.

 

[vktr]

The pile approach didn't work for me, some leaves started developing wet brown circle patches which didn't look good. It wasn't mold more like rot. A few leaves lost is a small price for the experience, now I know So the towels came to the rescue. Best under the sun while you have it, yellowing time is up to a week. Of course you have to air and shuffle them daily.