My first grow

[Knucklehead]

ok thanks for the tips, I am not sure what a grow out patch is, I thought that meant to let them seed as to collect them for future plantings, also the little shoots of leaves coming out at the junction of main stalk to leaf stalk should I be taking those off as well?

Your right. I'm growing two patches with of total of 60 different varieties for seed. Those are my grow out patches. I'll be harvesting leaf also which is going to save my season, but I planted them mainly for seed to donate since none of them are currently in the seed bank.

The little shoots coming off the junction of stem and leaf are suckers. You pull them off so the plant puts that energy into your main leaves. It's like topping from the sides, while pulling the mud lugs and lugs when they are yellow is like topping from the bottom (or bottoming lol). Sends more energy to the main leaves.

 

[BigCasino]

thanks Knuck! when you say mud lugs do you mean the first leaves to sprout? they are kind of oval rounded and at the very bottom? growing up we always called those suckers and picked those off after the first set of the actual leaves started, but I only ever grew veggies b4, so I am finding the tobacco while similar there is a little more to it

 

[Knucklehead]

thanks Knuck! when you say mud lugs do you mean the first leaves to sprout? they are kind of oval rounded and at the very bottom? growing up we always called those suckers and picked those off after the first set of the actual leaves started, but I only ever grew veggies b4, so I am finding the tobacco while similar there is a little more to it

Yeah, the mud lugs are the lowest leaves that end up laying in the mud. The lugs are the next leaves up before you get to the real leaf. Mud lugs and lugs are really mild and are good to smoke. You can find some that have dried on the plant and smoke them in your pipe right in the patch. I try to pull them off the plant as soon as they get full yellow cause I read in an old book that they also take energy from the plant the same way that suckers and flower heads do.

 

[BigCasino]

Thanks I dind't know that about the lugs I picked most of them off a long time ago now I wish I had waited and tried to smoke some!

 

[BigCasino]

Hi folks here is an update I havent had much time for the patch but things are looking good getting ready to start harvesting some leaves

 

[DGBAMA]

You did good big guy.

Hope they cure well for you.

 

[BigCasino]

Thanks, I was meaning to top most of the plants, we arent keeping any seeds cause I bought these seeds from ebay and am not sure of exact strains, but there has been soo much rain, and we have gotten so much from our veggie garden that we have been canning the patch has kind of gotten neglected but I think we should get back on cue now

 

[BarG]

That patch ought to get you thru the year no problem.

 

[bonehead]

looks like you did a good job. those plants are covered with a lot of leafs. good luck on the harvesting and curing.

 

[Rickey60]

Nice plants. You did a great job with them. How much do you think you will end up with?
Rick

 

[Brown Thumb]

Wow, Nice Plants, big Leaf. Mine did not get half that size.
Good Work.

 

[Knucklehead]

Great patch Harry. Good luck with your curing.

 

[istanbulin]

Harry, I showed the last photo you've posted here to my friend which is a tobacco expert (who's very experienced especially in Oriental varieties) and he said Hullo ! I agree with him, that's the goods ! Very nice looking plants.

 

[BigCasino]

Nice plants. You did a great job with them. How much do you think you will end up with?
Rick

I have no idea Rick I have never done this before


Thanks everyone it really has been fun and interesting new experience and thanks to all of you for your help and advice

 

[grgfinney]

Nice grow Harry, now the hard part,curing hope it goes well for you

 

[BigCasino]

Thanks Grg!

Ok we had a couple of plants blow down ina a storm so we picked the leaves as a rescue operation
we hung them like this and I don't know if they were still to green or not


we also are confused some things we read says to pick leaves after they yellow and some say to pick when the leaves look crinkley and some thing we read say to pull a whole plant of burley and hang it what is the right thing to do with burley and when do you pick leaves here is a picture of our Burley


and then this is either our VA or Maryland


Also the wife thought if a leaf has a spot on it like this it was no good? but I think that is just for use as a cigar wrapper? the rest of the leaf can be smoked correct?



and last but not least does anyone know what kind of bug this is? and is it a good bug or a bad one?


Thanks to any and all who answer

 

[grgfinney]

No they are not too green I have picked mine when they are blotchy green and yellow or when they are crinkly and not one has dried green, don't know what kind of bug that is, if you're not using for wrapper it will be just fine

 

[deluxestogie]

Thanks Grg!

Ok we had a couple of plants blow down ina a storm so we picked the leaves as a rescue operation
we hung them like this and I don't know if they were still to green or not

we also are confused some things we read says to pick leaves after they yellow and some say to pick when the leaves look crinkley and some thing we read say to pull a whole plant of burley and hang it what is the right thing to do with burley and when do you pick leaves here is a picture of our Burley

and then this is either our VA or Maryland

Also the wife thought if a leaf has a spot on it like this it was no good? but I think that is just for use as a cigar wrapper? the rest of the leaf can be smoked correct?

and last but not least does anyone know what kind of bug this is? and is it a good bug or a bad one?
View attachment 7815

If you pick leaves that are not fully ripe, they may yellow just fine, especially if it's a white-stem burley.

Just about any variety can be stalk-harvested or leaf-primed. Burley is usually allowed to become fairly yellow before stalk harvesting, but if your curing conditions are good, you can cut them earlier. All of the leaves in the photos could be primed today.

The spot is not a problem for smoking.

The bug looks like the larval form of the Harlequin Ladybird beetle. They eat aphids.
http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/insects/harmonia.htm

Bob

 

[BigCasino]

Bob you don't know how happy you just made my wife she has been wanting a lady bug army all summer, there were tons of these bugs on our plants must be why there is little bad bug damage

Thanks for your advice!

 

[DGBAMA]

Bob you don't know how happy you just made my wife she has been wanting a lady bug army all summer, there were tons of these bugs on our plants must be why there is little bad bug damage

Thanks for your advice!

I concur on the ladybug larva....had them too, got to see some hatching, was pretty neat. But I freaked when I first saw them everywhere because I did not know if they were harmful or not.