Minimizing Frost Damage to Tobacco Crop

[Knucklehead]

Good info from the University of Kentucky on Minimizing Frost Damage:

https://www.uky.edu/Ag/TobaccoProd/FactSheets/PDF/Minimizing Frost Damage in Tobacco.pdf

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Tobacco/Pages/Frost.html

 

[Jitterbugdude]

Very interesting article. I think I'll go harvest some of my frosted tobacco and see what happens.

 

[Boboro]

I got all mine in the shed but we gonna hit 32deg. F. Sat. morinin. Ill go out early an build a fire in the shed. I don't think it would hurt it but better safe than sorry.

 

[workhorse_01]

Good read. I'm glad were only supposed to hit 42*F on sat. My Metacomet are just starting to flower.

 

[Knucklehead]

Very interesting article. I think I'll go harvest some of my frosted tobacco and see what happens.

Give it three days of sun. When did you get frost?

 

[Jitterbugdude]

I spoke too soon. I thought I would wake up to a winter wonderland of frost this morning but it was 38 degrees. Tonight for sure with temps dipping to 30-32 degrees. I have some nice looking Florida Sumatra that I am going to let go to waste. It was from my shade grown batch that I harvested in August. Some real nice suckers grew up and now that look to be almost "regular" fully matured plants.

 

[janetta007]

I spoke too soon. I thought I would wake up to a winter wonderland of frost this morning but it was 38 degrees. Tonight for sure with temps dipping to 30-32 degrees. I have some nice looking Florida Sumatra that I am going to let go to waste. It was from my shade grown batch that I harvested in August. Some real nice suckers grew up and now that look to be almost "regular" fully matured plants.

That is sad you have to let them go. My brother lives in Sykesville, they got a little dusting of snow.

 

[Knucklehead]

I spoke too soon. I thought I would wake up to a winter wonderland of frost this morning but it was 38 degrees. Tonight for sure with temps dipping to 30-32 degrees. I have some nice looking Florida Sumatra that I am going to let go to waste. It was from my shade grown batch that I harvested in August. Some real nice suckers grew up and now that look to be almost "regular" fully matured plants.

I'm harvesting my larger flue cure varieties today and tomorrow and hauling them to DGBAMA's for flue curing. I'm leaving the tips and small leaves out for the frost. I'll give them at least three days of sun and then harvest them to sun cure before the next frost. I'll let you guys know how it goes. Give the info a test.

 

[deluxestogie]

At the end of the 2012 growing season, I allowed suckers from a number of varieties to be frosted. Before any sun was allowed to shine on them, I harvested them and hung them in the shed. Most of these developed a dark, oily brown (almost translucent) character. Very little showed any sign of green. They were kept in the shed through the winter.

Early in the following summer, the frosted leaf was kilned for 1 month. The final result was a deep brown, still somewhat oily looking leaf that made an acceptable component in a pipe blend. It wasn't bad, but it was not good enough for the labor required.

Presently, I have medium size suckers of Vuelta Abajo, PA Red and Olor still standing. I'm expecting a hard frost over the next day or so. I'll give the 3 days of sunshine a try.

Bob