NRustica
Well-Known Member
I use baling wire for hanging my leaves.
Proper sun curing
- Thread starter Jonesy
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That would make a big difference. I can't roll a string and my chair at ther same time so I had to come up with the bud bag method. They get curled up in the bag so each morning I straighten them out and rotate the stack. Having only three plants per variety from the grow out patch makes sun curing harder, it would be much easier with huge amounts of leaf. Some of my primings are so small I can only lay them down flat instead of on edge, these require more turning to keep the cure even, but seems to help in preventing flash cure in the sun as one side has the opportunity to rehydrate while the other side is in the sun. I'm definately having to handle them too much.
Sun-curing Xanthi Yaka
This is how I handle all of my strings of Oriental for sun-curing.
Each wire is labeled (Tyvek), and has a hook at either end.
Clothespins maintain tension.
Bob
This is how I handle all of my strings of Oriental for sun-curing.
Each wire is labeled (Tyvek), and has a hook at either end.
Clothespins maintain tension.
Bob
You know, I might could rig something up to move a wire since I'm seeing that only one end has to be supported.
I'm also seeing some green leaf in there. Are you fully wilting first, and how is that working out? I remember you were yellowing first.
Next question, if you had several small primings from different varieties such as I'm having, would you string them on the same wire with a burley leaf between the varieties? Curing tiny batches is a bugger.
I'm also seeing some green leaf in there. Are you fully wilting first, and how is that working out? I remember you were yellowing first.
Next question, if you had several small primings from different varieties such as I'm having, would you string them on the same wire with a burley leaf between the varieties? Curing tiny batches is a bugger.
I gave it 4 days to yellow in the shed, then the entire string was sentenced to hang in the sun until cured.
Small priming = shorter wire. I never mix them, since they often require different handling.
Bob
I think I'm going back to yellowing in the shop, rather than just wilting. Wilting only seems to be working out okay, but it's no faster, there's alot more moisture in the stack (actual water drops in some cases), and it's very hard on my nerves watching all the strange colors it goes through before it hits brown. Also, there will be that much less handling of the leaf for me.
I'm air drying a few leaves of each variety for comparison puposes. I'll get to compare the Samsun Maden grown at traditional Turkish tight spacing to a huge Samsun Maden grown by itself in a container. I have air and sun cured from each. I always wondered how the traditionally grown and cured leaf compared to American spacing and curing techniques.
workhorse_01
Well-Known Member
My bafra is hanging in the shed 3 days now. When it yellows and I take it out, should I hang it in the sun or out of direct sunlight?
Once it's mostly yellowed, you can hang it in direct sun.
Bob
Bob
workhorse_01
Well-Known Member
Thanks, If I didn't get a answer that was the rout I was headed. I have had a very good crop of bafra.
Southern Planter
Well-Known Member
Can I cut my burley and hang it in my old tobacco barn without leaving it out in the sun for a day or two? I'm thinking the leaf would not pick up so much dirt and stuff if I cut it, put it on a stick, and hung it in the barn. Will it wilt right?
workhorse_01
Well-Known Member
If you have the doors and vents closed, and the humidity & temp is high enough, yes. That's what the barn was made for.
DonH
Well-Known Member
I think the only reason for wilting it in the sun is for commercial growers who are handling and stacking hundreds of stalks. Wilting can make it so the leaves don't get damaged. For home growers it's not necessary. You can handle each stalk carefully.
workhorse_01
Well-Known Member
What I can tell you guys is Bafra will absolutely be in my next years grow. Modern spacing didn't work so well for me, so I added plants to 8", and they keep giving and giving. Bob thanks for the advice on direct sunlight. It smells like citrus and tobacco mixed. My wife thinks it smells the best of all.
DGBAMA
Well-Known Member
JUST GREAT......another labor intensive oriental getting good reviews. You guys are going to make next year rough on me yet. Lol.
workhorse_01
Well-Known Member
It does have an amazing smell. I hope it taste the way it smells.
DonH
Well-Known Member
You got that right about labor intensive. Stringing up those little leaves is a bear. Worth it, though, for the unique flavors. Who needs casing with some different Orientals?
skychaser
Well-Known Member
..."Stringing up those little leaves is a bear."....
I was thinking more in the canine family. But it sure can be worth the effort. I've picked and strung nearly every leaf off my Prileps. They have colored up beautifully and are ready to move to the sunny side of the greenhouse now for drying. Or outside if the weather improves. I'm just hoping they taste half as good as Bob's flue cured does.
..."I think the only reason for wilting it in the sun is for commercial growers who are handling and stacking hundreds of stalks"....
Letting them wilt down some does make a big difference in handling them. You don't have to be near as careful to not snap leaves.
I was thinking more in the canine family. But it sure can be worth the effort. I've picked and strung nearly every leaf off my Prileps. They have colored up beautifully and are ready to move to the sunny side of the greenhouse now for drying. Or outside if the weather improves. I'm just hoping they taste half as good as Bob's flue cured does.
..."I think the only reason for wilting it in the sun is for commercial growers who are handling and stacking hundreds of stalks"....
Letting them wilt down some does make a big difference in handling them. You don't have to be near as careful to not snap leaves.
workhorse_01
Well-Known Member
It stinks stringing all those small leaves!
Mine are curing pretty good in bud bags. No stringing necessary. Rotate the leaves around at night or morning.
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