Aligator texture of leaf is this what I am reading for ready to prime
They haven't yellowed at all so are these ripe for cigarettes or is this something else
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Usually at 3 weeks after budding I consider the leaf ready for harvest but I also look for yellowing and an alligator texture. All three do not have to be present. Sometimes it's just a judgement call. I've had tobacco that turned yellow within 2 weeks of budding but where not ready to harvest till 4 weeks based on the celery test.
Due to alberta unique weather and lack of humidity.this may be benificial to growers in our area
One shortcoming of the celery test is that it depends on leaf turgor. In early morning and late evening, leaf turgor is much greater than at mid-day. (Increased turgor is the direct cause of the "praying hands" leaf positioning seen in the morning and evening.) So an immature leaf may "snap" off in the morning, while a mature one may have a somewhat floppy stem during the middle of a hot, dry day. Of course, these conditions vary from one locale to the next.
The rigidity of the stem may also vary with tobacco variety.
What difference does timing of harvest make?
early harvesting
late harvesting
- thinner
- smoother texture
- less flavorful and aromatic
- lower nicotine
- finer veins
- slower to color-cure
- lower leaf weight
- less (or no) damage to leaf tips
Either way, it's usually not a disaster, but may not be ideal for what you want. For very strong cigar varieties, like Jalapa, late priming can make some really ferocious leaf. Cigar wrapper is usually nicer with earlier priming.
- thicker
- coarser texture
- more intensely flavored
- higher nicotine
- coarser veins
- color-cures more easily
- greater leaf weight
- leaf tip damage more likely
So, I wouldn't lose sleep over the issue. Either way, it's a learning experience to see what you get.
Bob
That's the thing about curing. It's almost always different for everybody. The things you can do to raise or lower humidity to combat the problems in your area are about the only constant.
Note to self: I really need to build Knucklehead's flue cure chamber.......or Bob's galvanized can Idea.
I use 4 criteria in determining when to harvest a leaf. (1) yellowing (2) alligator texture (3) time from budding and (4) the celery test. This test trumps the previous three. I grab a lower leaf and snap it off. If it snaps loud like celery being snapped in half, it is ready for harvest. Usually at 3 weeks after budding I consider the leaf ready for harvest but I also look for yellowing and an alligator texture. All three do not have to be present. Sometimes it's just a judgement call. I've had tobacco that turned yellow within 2 weeks of budding but where not ready to harvest till 4 weeks based on the celery test.
Ok, so having the criteria above ...my Vuelta Abajo is almost all of the above ,not just yellowing but the entire plant is mottled ,gator skin, time from budding is about right or even later, I've picked mudlugs before I left for vacation a week ago and they were definitely like celery snapping off...I'm thinking I should be picking it??