“Staying alive”: @ChrisN

[ChrisN]

what if I just plucked the top leaves off of the plants I want to bud/flower? Would that help the bees?

 

[Alpine]

I’ve never found a dead bee or bumblebee (and they prefer rusticas!) near or around my tobacco garden and never plucked the upper leaves. I asked (years ago) to a friend who has his bee hives not far from my baccy if he noticed an increased mortality or something strange in the behavior of his bees. The answer was “no, not at all”.
If you search the forum, there’s a thread about this topic (maybe started by @chillardbee) and there’s even a link or two to scientific studies about the relationship between bees and baccy.
In the last two growing seasons, I gave all my backup seedlings to a neighbor who plants them right in front of the hives (she has only four). She didn’t notice a decrease in the mites population, but tells me that the bees seem to appreciate baccy flowers more or less like any other flower.

pier

 

[Alpine]

Ha! Found it:

Nicotine, Neonicotinoids and Bees

Moved from Chillardbee's Grow Log Since you mentioned growing tobacco near the bees, can you comment on the risks to the bees from the tobacco? I ask because I notice that Admire is a neonicotinoid, and I wonder if you use something like that, do you have to make sure the bees don't ever get...

fairtradetobacco.com

pier

 

[ChrisN]

Thank you very much, Pier! Thinking about trying it and see how things go with the bees and the tobacco plants. I'll for sure share my experience with it.

 

[ChrisN]

Was wondering if anyone has used the seed pods for growing their plants? Been struggling to water from the bottom. It seems it takes a good amount of water and time for the pod to soak up the water all the way/to the top center where the seedlings/sprouts are at. Do I fill the tray with a decent amount of water, let the pods soak the water for 30 mins, and then drain out the excess water?

 

[deluxestogie]

Do I fill the tray with a decent amount of water, let the pods soak the water for 30 mins, and then drain out the excess water?

Sounds like a plan.

 

[willgodwin]

I’ve never found a dead bee or bumblebee (and they prefer rusticas!) near or around my tobacco garden and never plucked the upper leaves. I asked (years ago) to a friend who has his bee hives not far from my baccy if he noticed an increased mortality or something strange in the behavior of his bees. The answer was “no, not at all”.
If you search the forum, there’s a thread about this topic (maybe started by @chillardbee) and there’s even a link or two to scientific studies about the relationship between bees and baccy.
In the last two growing seasons, I gave all my backup seedlings to a neighbor who plants them right in front of the hives (she has only four). She didn’t notice a decrease in the mites population, but tells me that the bees seem to appreciate baccy flowers more or less like any other flower.

pier

Yeah, no need to worry about the bees. Getting the Tobacco to be successful is enough work!! in 2013, 20 acres of Tobacco was planted by Corona Cigar in FL. The beekeeping neighbor next door was amazed at the taste and production of the honey from his bees visiting the tobacco 'next door'. Now Corona Cigar buys either all or quite a bit of their neighbors honey from him every year. Sounds like a win.

 

[Knucklehead]

Was wondering if anyone has used the seed pods for growing their plants? Been struggling to water from the bottom. It seems it takes a good amount of water and time for the pod to soak up the water all the way/to the top center where the seedlings/sprouts are at. Do I fill the tray with a decent amount of water, let the pods soak the water for 30 mins, and then drain out the excess water?

Enter peat pellets in the search box. I pulled up about three pages of posts and threads. (read the threads first, they will contain the search phrase in the thread title) I've never used them personally so I can't speak from experience.

 

[ChrisN]

Thank you very much, Wallace,willgodwin, and Bob! They seem to work well for me....other then figuring out watering them. I have 5 plants from last years grow that have survived and will be planted outside. Will share updated photos. They have grown a lot. Will also share pictures of my current seedlings/sprouts. Will need to take tweezers and remove the extras.
From one thread back in 2019. DKH2 seemed to have success with the pellets. However, I do have a question with his statement. The pellets would stop soaking up water at a certain point so was it enough water to reach the roots? Would the top part around the plant be dry? So, do I go with my original plan soak them like the float tray for 30 min and then drain the excess water?

DKH2: Yeah they do dry out quick that's why I tried letting them soak all the water they wanted
it was kind of like the Float Tray method I came too find out that the pellets stop soaking up
the water at a certain point and the sprouts just grew like crazy ..

I will for sure not worry about the bees, try it, and see how it goes. Will for sure share my experience.

 

[ChrisN]

My 5 plants from last year, my seedlings of this years grow (fingers crossed they make it) should I remove the lid/dome off them now?, and the pods I use.
This years grow from Northwood seeds:
Caribbean blend
Cuban criollo 98
Havana 142
Habano 2000
Florida Sumatra
Connecticut broadleaf

Full flavor cigarette blend
Catterton
Shirey
Green brior
Symbol 4
Prilep

 

[willgodwin]

Look like it's time to thin out each pod soon! I believe you can take the dome off now.

 

[ChrisN]

Domes are off and will be removing the extras.
I have answered my previous question:

The pellets would stop soaking up water at a certain point so was it enough water to reach the roots? Would the top part around the plant be dry? So, do I go with my original plan soak them like the float tray for 30 min and then drain the excess water?

This method works very well with the pods I use. I watered the plants at the bottom. Filling up their own section of the tray. Poured enough water so that it filled up close to half of the pod. Let it sit for a bit under the grow light. When I noticed the whole pod was moist and dark in color I sorted out the pods in a way I could remember which one was which and drained out the excess water.
From what I gathered from this is the whole pod gets moistened and the moisture reaches the little plant.

Hope this helps.

 

[deluxestogie]

I sorted out the pods in a way I could remember which one was which

You might get a few colors of marker pens, and develop a color-stripe code for each variety. (e.g. Black, red, black, blue = Cuban criollo 98; Black, red, black, yellow = Havana 142, etc.), list them on a card (this will be your key), then use striped toothpicks to identify each and every pod. "Got the varieties mixed up," is one of the most common laments of new growers every year.

Bob

 

[Oldfella]

You might get a few colors of marker pens, and develop a color-stripe code for each variety. (e.g. Black, red, black, blue = Cuban criollo 98; Black, red, black, yellow = Havana 142, etc.), list them on a card (this will be your key), then use striped toothpicks to identify each and every pod. "Got the varieties mixed up," is one of the most common laments of new growers every year.

Bob

And sometimes old grower's as well. It only takes a curious pussy cat, a gust wind or a helpful child, and unlabeled plants become unknown plants.
Oldfella

 

[ChrisN]

Thank you very much, Bob and Oldfella! Great idea, I will for sure mark them individually. I actually have them labeled just not individually.

I thinned out the extras in the pods and put them in their own labeled container. The dirt I used for them is a seed mix. Was wondering how I should water those? Do I poke holes in the bottom and put the container in a tray of water for a bit and let it soak up that way or I also have a baster?

Also, wanted to show my seed storage containers. Found these mini containers for the seeds. Just labeled each one, then put them in a freezer bag, bag of silica gel on the outside of the seed bag in the storage container, and put them in a storage container.

 

[deluxestogie]

Seed storage looks good.

Bob

 

[ChrisN]

Thanks, Bob!
I'll take a picture of the extra seedling containers with seed mix. There might be some that won't make it but I'm hopeful there might be a few that will make it. I first watered them by misting them and then last night I used the baster. Not sure which would be the best way to water them. Have to say, I really like the seed pods. Seem to be easier for me to use.

 

[ChrisN]

Sorry for my delay, as promised, here are the pictures of the extra seedlings. Looks like some will make it. Watering with the baster seems to work ok. They are in lunch meat storage containers.

 

[deluxestogie]

I'm not clear what you mean by seed pods. I think you are referring to your small, rectangular food storage containers.

"Seed pods":

Regardless of the vocabulary, your seedlings look good. (and blue)

Bob

 

[ChrisN]

Sorry, what I meant by seed pods was the seed starting pellets.