Anders A Grow Log 2024

[Anders A]

Finally. Planted out 36 Tofta today, continuing with 36 Virginia Brightleaf and 36 PY KY171 DAC tomorrow, and the last 36 (various varieties) on Sunday. Have read a lot about epsom salt, that it should make the plants (including tobacco) take up different nutrients and minerals more easily, so I'll try it this year. A couple of handfuls of potting soil and a tablespoon of epsom salt in each "hole". I used knee pads and cut my nails before I started digging in the ground, so today I avoided broken knees and nails As in recent years, I have not replanted the plants, but simply let them grow in plug trays. I have this year not cut the leaves (haircut), as last year's trial/comparison did not show any difference to not doing it.

 

[Anders A]

With the help of my new tobacco worker, "Bruno" I have now got all the plants out in the tobacco field.
(Bruno is a Labrador retriever and is 9 weeks old)


144 plants:

48 Tofta (very good for snus)
38 Virginia Brightleaf
38 PY KY171 DAC
6 Prilep
6 Björkö Burley (unknown variety
2 KY171
2 Havana 142
2 Monte Calme Jaune
2 Alida

I think the combination of Tofta, Virginia Brightleaf and a little KY171 gives a very good snus. I have quite a lot left from last year's harvest of KY171, so this year I'm testing PY KY171 DAC, which apparently should turn yellow at maturity

 

[wruk53]

How would you rate the nicotine content of Tofta? I have some seeds, but I'm sort of hesitant to grow varieties that were developed in Northern climates. I've tried several of these and they don't seem to like it here, they all bolted after a few weeks. I may just try 10 or so to see if they do alright.

 

[Anders A]

How would you rate the nicotine content of Tofta? I have some seeds, but I'm sort of hesitant to grow varieties that were developed in Northern climates. I've tried several of these and they don't seem to like it here, they all bolted after a few weeks. I may just try 10 or so to see if they do alright.

Difficult to say/know what the nicotine content is. But guess it's medium. I've done snus only on Tofta, and it felt good. Didn't get dizzy or feel the slightest urge for more nicotine

 

[Anders A]

Just over three weeks after planting, the plants have now taken root and started to speed up. All 144 have managed well, but all have taken a beating from two different hailstorms. Out of 48 pieces of Tofta, I put a small handful of epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) in the planting hole for 36, and not for 12, and I already think there is a difference between them. Bigger, stronger and more lush plants on those that received epsom salt. Will follow the difference closely going forward. I found out last year that my plants lacked "something", i.e. some type of deficiency, and read that epsom salt can make it easier for the plants to absorb the substances they need from the soil. But have no evidence for this

 

[Knucklehead]

I found out last year that my plants lacked "something", i.e. some type of deficiency, and read that epsom salt can make it easier for the plants to absorb the substances they need from the soil. But have no evidence for this

Current Understandings on Magnesium Deficiency and Future Outlooks for Sustainable Agriculture - PMC

The productivity of agricultural produce is fairly dependent on the availability of nutrients and efficient use. Magnesium (Mg2+) is an essential macronutrient of living cells and is the second most prevalent free divalent cation in plants. Mg2+ ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

edited: add link
Magnesium and cold stress

Magnesium application improves the morphology, nutrients uptake, photosynthetic traits, and quality of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) under cold stress - PubMed

Cold stress is one of the major constraints limiting the productivity of many important crops, including tobacco (<i>Nicotiana tabacum</i> L.) production and quality worldwide. However, the role of magnesium (Mg) nutrition in plants has been frequently overlooked, especially under cold stress...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Knucklehead]

@Anders A . I just updated my post. Since you live in a cold area I didn't want you to miss the last link.

 

[Anders A]

@Anders A . I just updated my post. Since you live in a cold area I didn't want you to miss the last link.

Is there two different links? They look the same?

 

[Knucklehead]

Is there two different links? They look the same?

You are right. I fixed it. There are two different links now. The second one is about cold stress and magesium.

 

[Anders A]

You are right. I fixed it. There are two different links now. The second one is about cold stress and magesium.

Thanks, very interesting

 

[manfisher]

Looking amazing my friend. A real master at your craft. Your pup is giving you "can you bake me a prilla too?" eyes

 

[Anders A]

July 4th

The first flower came out today, this on a Tofta plant, 41 days after planting. All 144 plants have done well this year, and so far this seems to be my best tobacco year (of four), despite two hard showers of hail that broke leaves on all the plants. Right now it's fun being a tobacco farmer

 

[deluxestogie]

I've added this grow log to the Key Forum Threads.

Bob

 

[Anders A]

July 11 - 48 days since planting

The entire first row (on the left) is Tofta, 48 plants of which 4 now are blooming and the rest are about to bloom. When half of the plants bloom, I have planned to top them all and then I will harvest them all (stalk cut) about 10-15 days later. I don't fertilize the Tofta plants any more now.

Tofta on the left




Tofta

 

[cavedane]

Looking good Anders ..Oh when I see your spot there in the open ..I envy you .

 

[deluxestogie]

My Tofta in Virginia, during 2023, required 54 days from transplant to blossom. That is very close to your maturation time, despite the significant difference in latitude.

Bob

 

[Anders A]

My Tofta in Virginia, during 2023, required 54 days from transplant to blossom. That is very close to your maturation time, despite the significant difference in latitude.

Bob

54 days for me means July 17, it may very well be that then half of the plants bloom, and then it will be the same for me as for you, despite such different environments.

 

[Anders A]

Two PY Kentucky 171 DAC on the left and two Kentucky 171 on the right. Planted on the same day, May 25. Interesting comparison from now on.
Kentucky 171 I had last year and it was very good with a high yield. The PY Kentucky 171 DAC is new to me. Apparently it should also have a good yield, and turn yellow at maturity, which the usual Kentucky 171 does not.

 

[Anders A]

53 days since planting, so far only Tofta that blooms, about 12 that bloom now, out of 48, I expect that half will bloom within a few days, then I top them all and harvest them all about 10-14 days later.

Have 36 Virginia Brightleaf and they are about to flower soon as well as Björkö Burley. Last are (according to the plan), KY171 and PY KY171, but if it turns out like last year, they will shoot towards the sky and grow both in line with and past the others in the last 2-3 weeks.

Of course, I don't dare to summarize this season before everything is ready, but right now it looks really good. No early blooms, nice strong foliage, good shade on the leaves, strong leaf mass, no plants blown over despite three strong storms and a huge growth now. Of course, a nerd like me is speculating why everything looks so much better this year compared to last, but that speculation will have to continue until the harvest is done

 

[Anders A]

Hi Bob,

@deluxestogie

Now there will be a lot of questions

On your data sheet about "Tofta", it says the same height on the plant both "topped" and "untopped", how is that?


When you measure the height, is it from the ground all the way up to the highest height of the flowers?
This plant are today 123 cm (untopped)



Now 24 of my 48 "Tofta" plants are blooming, and I plan to top them. When you wrote that half bloomed when you topped them, does it have to be at least 4 flowers on each plant for you to count them as blooming?

You write that the number of leaves is 14-16 when you have topped them. I basically have 4 leaves at the bottom that will be discarded, should I still count these when I note how many leaves are left after the topping?


Given that there are 4 leaves at the bottom of each plant that will be discarded, how do you think I should calculate where the appropriate topping should take place? Maybe easier to count from the top of the flower? Where do you think would be a good place to cut the flowers and stem?




Regarding the length and width of the leaves, you write 38.26 cm and 25.4 cm, on leaves 10 from the bottom. Is it the largest leaves you measure? If I'm going to do the same measurement at mine, which leaf is suitable to take, given that four leaves at the bottom are discarded? The leaves on my picture are 65 cm in lenght and 38 cm in width.





If I top them tomorrow, do you think I can top them all, even the ones that haven't flowered yet, and then harvest them all in about 14 days, (stalk-cut) all on the same day? I'm planning of hanging whole stems.

/Anders