Taking my first shot at growing tobacco.

[shilala]

Richard (tzaddi) hooked me up with some seeds earlier this year. I started them and transplanted them so far.
They're doing great.
I held off doing this for lots of years because I read an old book that said growing tobacco was very difficult. It went so far as to say the seed was almost impossible to start and required a heat mat, and that the seeds had to be started on a brick sitting in a pan of water, then transplanted carefully with tweezers.
The book was from 1938 or somewhere thereabouts.
Turns out it was all crap.
Starting the seeds and growing the plants has been nothing more than super easy.
Here they are so far...
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/plant1.jpg
A whole tray, there's 3 trays...
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/plant2.jpg
My plant stand where I grow all my plants for the garden...
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/plant3.jpg

[G G]

That's very cool Scott, can't wait to see how it turns out for you.:tu

[Blueface]

Looks great.

I too am working on growing tobacco.
Why do my leaves look so different than yours?:rolleyes:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/HempLeafB.jpg

[dunng]

Very cool Scott! :tu

[Footbag]

You are not starting them too early are you? I made that mistake last year.

[yellowgoat]

Very nice! have you tried Richards tobacco? it is very good!

[jpan]

You should also consider trying to grow girl scout cookies :r

[Cyanide]

I think you are showing us only "half the picture" (oh, you have changed the pictures).

For purposes of cigar leaf, I understand that this is very labour intensive and difficult to get right. However, the plant itself is really easy to get to grow. But, when you want specific qualities to present themselves, then you have to deprive the plant in very specific ways in order to get your preferred results. Otherwise, it is like any other plant you may want to grow and smoke, with equally disgusting results (note, I am not talking about Spiderman's girl friend here....she is always easy to grow and always gives you the result you are looking for).

That's why Cuba is "it", and many other climes are close to "it". Its the right combination of hospitable air and moisture, with the right combination of inhospitable soil and sun. So, you may want to try to up the light, and make the soil more sandy. But, I am not a horticultural/botanic type, so I can't be certain.

Cheers

Cy

[DPD6030]

Nice looking leafs you got there Scott. :tu

[Skywalker]

Very nice!!!

I don't have a sweet garage garden because I don't want my neighbors calling the cops... so I will plant my seeds when the sun starts shining again!!!:tu

[Cigary]

Nice pics as a friend of mine from another forum sent me a ton of seeds of every type of tobacco. From what I read he sent enough seeds to grow acres of tobacco. I wish I had the energy and the resources to grow this,,,and then roll them,,,surely a dream thing to do.



Looks great.

I too am working on growing tobacco.
Why do my leaves look so different than yours?:rolleyes:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/HempLeafB.jpg
Lol,,,where da buds at?

[doctorcue]

Looks great.

I too am working on growing tobacco.
Why do my leaves look so different than yours?:rolleyes:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/HempLeafB.jpg

Is that a Maple Leaf? Must be the tropical version. ;)

[shilala]

I think you are showing us only "half the picture" (oh, you have changed the pictures).

For purposes of cigar leaf, I understand that this is very labour intensive and difficult to get right. However, the plant itself is really easy to get to grow. But, when you want specific qualities to present themselves, then you have to deprive the plant in very specific ways in order to get your preferred results. Otherwise, it is like any other plant you may want to grow and smoke, with equally disgusting results (note, I am not talking about Spiderman's girl friend here....she is always easy to grow and always gives you the result you are looking for).

That's why Cuba is "it", and many other climes are close to "it". Its the right combination of hospitable air and moisture, with the right combination of inhospitable soil and sun. So, you may want to try to up the light, and make the soil more sandy. But, I am not a horticultural/botanic type, so I can't be certain.

Cheers

Cy

Dood, chill. :)
I just want to see the pretty flowers. :tu

I still haven't made any plans about what I'll do with the plants once they've grown. It's completely secondary.
I have at least six months before I even have to run that thought through my head. Right now I just hope I can grow them and watch the flowers bloom through my kitchen window and watch the hummingbirds drill them.

[MithShrike]

Looks great.

I too am working on growing tobacco.
Why do my leaves look so different than yours?:rolleyes:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/HempLeafB.jpg

:r

[Cyanide]

So, what you are saying then is that you are going to need me to start photoshoping you a special "Shilala Edition Limitada" cigar bands? Oh good, I didn't know how I was going to accomplish the proper embossing to ensure people could tell between the real thing and counterfeits.

You had me worried there

Cy

[TripleF]

Looks great.

I too am working on growing tobacco.
Why do my leaves look so different than yours?:rolleyes:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/HempLeafB.jpg



Dude that's funny ship..... :r :r

[shilala]

So, what you are saying then is that you are going to need me to start photoshoping you a special "Shilala Edition Limitada" cigar bands? Oh good, I didn't know how I was going to accomplish the proper embossing to ensure people could tell between the real thing and counterfeits.

You had me worried there

Cy
No. Dood. FLOWERS.
We're just gonna look at the pretty flowers. :r
I might take pictures of the bees, too. I think the flowers are pretty gooey and nectarlicious, so there should be lots of critters.
There's a great big black ant filled pine tree nearby that should supply sufficient pollination, so there should be lots of hardcore critter action.
If the plants live, I might even pick some of the tobaccy.
I'd like to find out how they make chewing tobacco so I can chaw on it. That'd be the coolest. That's why I was gonna grow it years ago. To make snuff. :)

[Cyanide]

OK the, I guess I am back to building the Special Anniversary Vitola Select Bands for Juan IceHog's new line of Nic/Hond Corojo/Maduro/Oscuro, Ligero/Volando cigars.

[Blueface]

Dood, chill. :)
I just want to see the pretty flowers. :tu


Scott,
That is what I say about the ones I am growing.
I strictly want the "flowers".:r

[Scottw]

Keep us posted on this Scott, can't wait to see how it turns out.

[RGD.]

You are not starting them too early are you? I made that mistake last year.

Not really. Most farmers have them bedded already - just need to wait until there is zero chance of frost. I have helped raise thousands and thousands of them.

. . .
We're just gonna look at the pretty flowers. :r
I might take pictures of the bees, too. I think the flowers are pretty gooey and nectarlicious, so there should be lots of critters.
. . .

Since we grew for production - they never get to flower - but I don't seem to recall a whole lot of activity around the ones that did. You will need to keep an eye out for worms though . . .

If you plan on smoking any of the plants - you may want to top one or two. This way you can see the difference in growth. Flowered plants will grow taller with slightly narrow leaves - topped plants will have fuller richer leaves.

Looking forward to your pics -


Ron

[tzaddi]

Scott, great to see this thread. You are off to some healthy plants. Like you said, no need to worry about constructing the tobacco barn and hiring field hands. :) You are doing it and as a master of improvisation your journey will unfold and reveal the next step.

This is what I am talking about :)

http://gallery.me.com/tzaddi/100343/Flordeshilala/web.jpg

Congratulations:tu

[HK3-]

That's great Shilala! It will be cool to see how they turn out! If you need a guinea pig.... I'll smoke anything! :wo

[elderboy02]

I can't wait to see how the plants turn out!

[HK3-]

Miracle grow makes bud booster which will make your flowers bigger. :D

[ucla695]

That's a sweet project you have going there. :tu

[Root]

Its work getting them going and keeping them right but its something holding a full size tobacco leaf in your hands.

From the wilds of Wisconsin another flowering set.
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n56/Rootling/Virginia.jpg


Good luck

[CBI_2]

Awesome Scott! I have thought about trying it but wasn't sure I could successfully pull it off.

Look forward to following your progress.

[shilala]

Here's a couple update pics from today.
The girls are getting big. Fast. :)
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/tobacco1.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/tobacco2.jpg

[G G]

Cool Scott.

[WildBlueSooner]

Nice...looks like they are very healthy.

[shilala]

This is a good comparison...
The tray on the right in the top pic is the same as the tray on the right of the bottom pic. (Same goes for the tray on the left.)
The top one is one week ago, the bottom one is now.

http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/plant2.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/tobacco1.jpg

[G G]

There used to be a considerable amount of farmers growing tobacco in the county in which I live, there is none to hardly none now.

[CBI_2]

Looks like they're of to a roaring start. :tu

[theonlybear4CORT]

looks great.

I too am working on growing tobacco.
Why do my leaves look so different than yours?:rolleyes:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/hempleafb.jpg

gb????

:d

[shilala]

Looks like they're of to a roaring start. :tu
I'm amazed at how fast they're growing.
I'm gonna let them get a little bigger and then I'm gonna have to start holding them back. Otherwise I'm gonna have to pich them back and I don't know how they'll respond, being as I never grew tobacco before.

[CBI_2]

I'm amazed at how fast they're growing.
I'm gonna let them get a little bigger and then I'm gonna have to start holding them back. Otherwise I'm gonna have to pich them back and I don't know how they'll respond, being as I never grew tobacco before.
Hmmmm. Have you asked Richard about that?

[tzaddi]

I'm amazed at how fast they're growing.
I'm gonna let them get a little bigger and then I'm gonna have to start holding them back. Otherwise I'm gonna have to pich them back and I don't know how they'll respond, being as I never grew tobacco before.

Those plants are on a path to be over 8 foot plus. Pinching will cause multiple heads, which may result in smaller but more leaf. It's all good. Your doing a great job my friend. Making me feel a proud :)

[shilala]

Those plants are on a path to be over 8 foot plus. Pinching will cause multiple heads, which may result in smaller but more leaf. It's all good. Your doing a great job my friend. Making me feel a proud :)
Thanks Richard. :)
I figured it'd push more leaves and they'd be smaller as a result.
I didn't imagine it'd create multiple heads. I thought they already put on lots of heads, kind of randomly.
I'm already thinking of an alternate place to plant these monkies because they're going to be a lot bigger plants than I imagined. I had imagined them to be somewhere around 2-2 1/2 feet wide, but it looks like they're going to be more like 4 feet wide.
Height isn't a problem as they were going to be planted next to the house, but the flower bed they were going to be in isn't deep enough to host them.
I think I'll companion plant them in the garden with my watermelons and pumpkins. The melons will like the shade and it'll slow up my pumpkins so they aren't ready so early.
I live in a river valley and the soil is crazy fertile, and there's some clinkers and potash mixed in that really helps the soil drain very well. Add to that the water table is only about 12-18 inches down and I have an awesome ecosystem for them.
There's going to be lots more sun in the garden than beside the house, too.
I have a perfect place to shade-grow a few plants by the front porch, although I'm going to have to amend the soil.
Which is the best variety for wrapper, Richard? I was thinking about using the 2000.

[tzaddi]

Yep, every time you pinch a head 2 more grow back. I would recommend the Havana for wrapper. It is much more elastic than the Mexican Maya Mopan or Louisiana Perique. The Havana seed I have shared also offers a lighter shade of brown on the first fermentation.

Your betcha those plants are going to be huge. Here are a few visuals form last years leaf and it was not even a huge year, due to the long month of smokey fires preventing full sunlight.

http://gallery.me.com/tzaddi/100276/DSC03369/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/tzaddi/100276/DSC03370/web.jpg
Doing the math your plants could easily have a circumference of 5 feet :)

They are going to be beauties. The tobacco road is a wondrous one with many rewards.

—Richard
Thanks Richard. :)
I figured it'd push more leaves and they'd be smaller as a result.
I didn't imagine it'd create multiple heads. I thought they already put on lots of heads, kind of randomly.
I'm already thinking of an alternate place to plant these monkies because they're going to be a lot bigger plants than I imagined. I had imagined them to be somewhere around 2-2 1/2 feet wide, but it looks like they're going to be more like 4 feet wide.
Height isn't a problem as they were going to be planted next to the house, but the flower bed they were going to be in isn't deep enough to host them.
I think I'll companion plant them in the garden with my watermelons and pumpkins. The melons will like the shade and it'll slow up my pumpkins so they aren't ready so early.
I live in a river valley and the soil is crazy fertile, and there's some clinkers and potash mixed in that really helps the soil drain very well. Add to that the water table is only about 12-18 inches down and I have an awesome ecosystem for them.
There's going to be lots more sun in the garden than beside the house, too.
I have a perfect place to shade-grow a few plants by the front porch, although I'm going to have to amend the soil.
Which is the best variety for wrapper, Richard? I was thinking about using the 2000.

[leasingthisspace]

I love watching this thread. They look awesome.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Scottw]

I love watching this thread. They look awesome.
Posted via Mobile Device


:tpd::tpd:Me love it too!

[gvarsity]

Ahhh. I love threads like this that have lots of pretty pictures, sound advice, positive vibe, camaraderie and are tobacco focused. Really, what more could you ask for? (assuming some tobacco consumption pictures in the end of course) :ss

[MarkinAZ]

Nice looking starts you have going there Scott. Grow lights work wonders don't they for the colder areas of the country?

Now, I'm thinking the final product should be a 5x52 huh?:tu:ss

[shilala]

Now, I'm thinking the final product should be a 5x52 huh?:tu:ss

That sounds just about perfect. :)

[shilala]

Here's an update.
I figured I'd put all the pics in order so it's easy to compare the progression of the weeds. The plants are getting absolutely huge. They're eating a lot of water and miracle grow.
Today I bought 4 bags of Moo Power composted cow manure for the flower bed wherte these are getting planted. The bag said that the Moo Power people were #1 in the #2 business. I thought that was awesome. :)
Scott (sofaman) helped me spread the poop and get the bed ready for next month when I plant these.
In the last picture you can see the rest of my seeds I just planted, all my tomatoes and peppers.
On the bottom right are the Psteospermum that will be planted in companion with the tobacco. They're kind of like African Daisies, gorgeous plants.
Anyways, here's the pics...
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/plant1.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/plant2.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/tobacco1.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/tobacco2.jpg

[shilala]

http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/plants1.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/plants2.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/plants3.jpg

[Da Klugs]

Very cool. Any way to add extra lithium to the soil? :)

Hope you extend the experiment to curing and fermentation. :tu

[leasingthisspace]

Wow they are huge. Thanks for the progessive update.

[MarkinAZ]

Very cool. Any way to add extra lithium to the soil? :)

If there's a will, there's certainly a way... Lithium supplementation with the Miracle Grow?:D

Your plants are looking great Scott:tu

[WildBlueSooner]

Looking good Scott, keep it up!

[DPD6030]

Nice backy plants Scott. :tu Is that a walleye on your wall?

[tzaddi]

Those plants are begging to be put in the ground. :) Amazing that you have gotten them so large in those small pots. Thanks for keeping us posted.

[TripleF]

Very cool bro!! :tu

[Good_Stogies_Mon]

Wow those plants are looking great. Very cool thread and Cool project :tu

[lightning9191]

Those are getting huge already! Maybe you should start a hydroponic tobacco business......you could line your walls with aluminum foil and then get some more lights and then....:r

[MarkinAZ]

Those are getting huge already! Maybe you should start a hydroponic tobacco business......you could line your walls with aluminum foil and then get some more lights and then....:r

What have you been growing Kevin:D

[GKitty]

Thanks for the pics, Scott. My grandparents used to have a tobacco farm and this brings back some memories.

[shilala]

Those plants are begging to be put in the ground. :) Amazing that you have gotten them so large in those small pots. Thanks for keeping us posted.
I can start setting them outside in the next few days to harden them off.
It was about 35 degrees yesterday, 40 today. Tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday are supposed to be 80 degrees. That's the way it works in PA. :)
Once the plants go outside they'll thicken up and stop getting so leggy.
It's tough to keep enough water on them once they go outside, but they'll be ready to plant in two weeks.
If I wanted to, I could get them 3 foot tall in those pots, Richard.
It's all in the lights. :tu

[shilala]

Nice backy plants Scott. :tu Is that a walleye on your wall?
Sure is, brother. 31 inches, 13 pounds 2 ounces.
Caught it below the dam at Kizua Resevoir up in Warren, PA.
I caught it about 23 years ago. It was in my freezer for a couple years before I could affrord to have it mounted. I was only 18 or 19 when I caught it. I used to fish nearly every day, year round.
I grew up on a lake and traveled all over to go fishing on the weekend.
I planned to go to guide school and take knuckleheads fishing in the Atchafalaya Basin, but it didn't work out.
I'm going to retire and go to Florida and run a guide boat in a few years. I can't think of anything I'd rather do. :)

[rrplasencia]

do you think i could grow some in a chia pet?

[marge796]

Good luck when you transplant them outside. They look great!


:tu

[DPD6030]

I'm going to retire and go to Florida and run a guide boat in a few years. I can't think of anything I'd rather do. :)

Let me know and I'll come be a customer! :tu

[WildBlueSooner]

Let me know and I'll come be a customer! :tu

:tpd: You have 2 customers already!

[shilala]

I planted the old girls in the garden, and they're hanging in nicely.
They got too big indoors, took a long while to harden off, and now they'll take time to recover.
In a couple weeks I'll get new pics and show y'all how they're doing. :)

[HK3-]

I planted the old girls in the garden, and they're hanging in nicely.
They got too big indoors, took a long while to harden off, and now they'll take time to recover.
In a couple weeks I'll get new pics and show y'all how they're doing. :)

Cant wait to see how the girls look in the garden Scott! When are you going to take some rolling classes? Maybe you still have that old magic touch from the 70's? ;):r

[shilala]

Cant wait to see how the girls look in the garden Scott! When are you going to take some rolling classes? Maybe you still have that old magic touch from the 70's? ;):r
All i'm gonna need is some papers. :tu

[HK3-]

All i'm gonna need is some papers. :tu

:banger

Maybe next year I will attempt to grow some backy myself. They sure do look pretty.

[shilala]

I started a special post for the first flower, but I better update here.
My plants are real short cause I had to hold them back cause I planted the seed way too early.
As a result, they're maturing way too early. It's what plants do when they are stressed. They go to seed real quick.

http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/tobflower.jpg

[Guitarman-S.T-]

Ah no! So i take it this was a bust?
-Just caught the thread, Great work none the less!!!

[Skywalker]

I planted the old girls in the garden, and they're hanging in nicely.
They got too big indoors, took a long while to harden off, and now they'll take time to recover.
In a couple weeks I'll get new pics and show y'all how they're doing. :)

Scott, Did you harvest any leaves???:confused:

[shilala]

Ah no! So i take it this was a bust?
-Just caught the thread, Great work none the less!!!
The whole deal went really well.
I gathered up some leaves, soaked them and experienced how to make them pliable. Some of my plants were huge.
I gathered a quart bag full of open pollinated seed so that I can select for my own varietal, and make my own strain that does well here and resists bugs.
I had an absolute blast with the whole affair, and plan to work with the tobacco even more next year when I have more time to devote to it.
I have seed left from last year's plants so that I can cross back in if necessary some years down the line.
The whole process is something I plan to spend years on, and I absolutely love the plants, so it's going to be a joy. :)
Thanks for asking, guys!!! :tu

[hotreds]

Shilala Seegars!

[El Fumador]

could i grow tobacco in maui.

[357]

The whole deal went really well.
I gathered up some leaves, soaked them and experienced how to make them pliable. Some of my plants were huge.
I gathered a quart bag full of open pollinated seed so that I can select for my own varietal, and make my own strain that does well here and resists bugs.
I had an absolute blast with the whole affair, and plan to work with the tobacco even more next year when I have more time to devote to it.
I have seed left from last year's plants so that I can cross back in if necessary some years down the line.
The whole process is something I plan to spend years on, and I absolutely love the plants, so it's going to be a joy. :)
Thanks for asking, guys!!! :tu

Are you hanging your crop? If so what's next and can we get pics? I think we're all intrigued.

[shilala]

Are you hanging your crop? If so what's next and can we get pics? I think we're all intrigued.

No, I've actually just harvested seed and let most of the plants stand for the winter. I left them and a border of corn stalks.
I battled with some sort of aphids all summer that I couldn't kill for the life of me. Next summer I'm going to mix up a batch of insecticidal soap that should take care of the problem.
I had a number of other problems along the way, too.
I started the plants way too early, then had to hold them back for so long that it stunted them and most plants didn't come close to reaching their full size potential.
I also missed my window for taking primings because I was sick all during the period I should have done it. I never made a curing area or went and studied Richard's (tzaddi's) curing method.
I also lost track of which varietal was which when I planted them.
From the very start I had planned to just "experience" the plants and learn their habit and how they act this year.
Next year I'll go to all the trouble to close pollinate Richards original seed, and continue work on my own open pollinated varietal.
I'm going to select for an insect repellant plant with huge leaves so I can grow huge wrapper leaves.
If I can find some pics of the plants when they were all in full glory, I'll post them up. :tu

[G G]

Too cool Scott.:tu

[eber]

very cool project scott :tu

[DPD6030]

Sounds like a wonderful experiance Scott. SS Tobacco Enterprise :ss

[mosesbotbol]

Is that a Maple Leaf? Must be the tropical version. ;)

Tropical Maple Leaf; that is a classic!

[mosesbotbol]

http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/tobflower.jpg

How big was the flower? Did it have a fragrance?

[tzaddi]

How big was the flower? Did it have a fragrance?

How big?

http://gallery.me.com/tzaddi/100167/DSC03925/web.jpg

No fragrance to speak of with the Nicotiana tobaccum… Older Nicotiana alata (white ones) have a lovely fragrance but not as powerful as the Nicotiana sylvestris.

[shilala]

How big?

No fragrance to speak of with the Nicotiana tobaccum… Older Nicotiana alata (white ones) have a lovely fragrance but not as powerful as the Nicotiana sylvestris.
No reason why I can't select for blossom size and fragrance, too. :tu
There were remarkable differences in blossom size and fragrance between the three cultivars you sent me.
One varietal had far larger leaves, fewer blossoms, and larger blossoms.
The smaller blossoms were much more fragrant, even if they were very muted.
All the good stuff is there, I just gotta select it out.
I just pray for the health and strength to get it done, because I sure enjoy it. :)