Buy Tobacco Leaf Online | Whole Leaf Tobacco

Toppin Oriental

Status
Not open for further replies.

BarG

Founding Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2011
Messages
4,997
Points
113
Location
Texas, Brazos Vally
I have only grown Bursa and Ottoman. I topped mine the first year and got good sized leaves almost to where topped. If you are not going for leaf size then be prepared for a lot of small leaves at top of plant.
 

deluxestogie

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
May 25, 2011
Messages
23,929
Points
113
Location
near Blacksburg, VA
The decision to top Oriental tobaccos, or not top them depends on which Oriental, and why you are growing it.

untopped:
  • milder
  • lower nicotine
  • more aromatic
  • smaller leaf size
  • more aphids
  • more budworms
  • more work

topped:
  • stronger
  • more nicotine
  • less aromatic
  • larger leaf size
  • fewer aphids
  • fewer budworms
  • more work

Ottoman and some of the larger-leaf Orientals, like Samsun, Bursa, Bafra, Mutki, will be more productive if topped. All of the Basma types will be more typical of Turkish tobacco if left untopped.

If you planted them with very close spacing, then I would be inclined to leave them untopped.

Bob

EDIT: so, I vote "maybe"
 

BarG

Founding Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2011
Messages
4,997
Points
113
Location
Texas, Brazos Vally
Ditto what Bob said. I knew someone else with more experience and knowledge could put it into words. I grew some what I was told black sea samsun last year and I let some flower and others were topped. I noticed little difference since they were all mixed after curing.:D
I think around 20+ plants filled a 2.5 gallon bag after air driying. In my opinion for the aromatic orientals you may want to set up an area to sun cure without the full direct sun. An agribon cover perhaps.
 

Knucklehead

Moderator
Founding Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2012
Messages
12,171
Points
113
Location
NE Alabama
Mine are not topped. I sun cured in bud bags last year so the small leaf size was no problem. Just stack the leaf in the bags and lay them out in the sun. They cure from the outside of the leaf to the inside. I rotate the stack inside out every couple of days. No stringing tiny leaf. Oh, yeah, I let them yellow in the shop before I put them outside. I tried putting green leaf straight to the sun but some of them had some green in them after drying. That may be normal I'm not sure.

If istanbulin doesn't show up pretty soon, send him a PM with your variety. Personally, I really like the mild aromatic flavor of a traditionally grown and cured Oriental in my cigarettes. If you want more nicotine, add Dark Air.
 

Knucklehead

Moderator
Founding Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2012
Messages
12,171
Points
113
Location
NE Alabama
It didn't bother my orientals or the flue cure that I sun cured. I brought them in when it rained.
 

leverhead

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Messages
3,204
Points
83
Location
Grimes County Texas
Top your Shiraz, except for seed plants. The rest I didn't top last year, I liked the leaf better from the untopped plants.
 

istanbulin

Moderator
Founding Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Messages
1,290
Points
66
Location
Stockton, CA
Boboro, first photo looks like an İzmir variety (photo is quite dark). If I were you I'd leave them untopped. But, I couldn't identify the variety in the second photo. What's that ? If it's Shirazi, it's better to top them.
 

Boboro

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2011
Messages
4,530
Points
83
Location
Wren Mississippi
The plant in the 1st image was labeled Turkish Iymire. It came from Mad O. And was mosty misspelled. The 2nd is Shamosi Dark and came from seed man. Grown from last years seed.
 

istanbulin

Moderator
Founding Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Messages
1,290
Points
66
Location
Stockton, CA
I got it, Turkish İzmir. So the second one is not a classic Oriental. I've never grown that but If I did I'd top it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top