Black Sea Region strains

[deluxestogie]

The last post in this thread was six years ago. In trying to decide on a single, new variety to grow for 2019, I scanned through the impressive list of available seed varieties from Northwood Seeds, and decided on the Turkish variety, Trabzon. It is the strongest member of the Samsun family of petiolate leaf tobacco from the Black Sea Coast of Turkey, and grows the largest leaf of the group.

I went on to search Google for images of Trabzon tobacco, and ended up directed to this wonderful thread by istanbulin. What I gather is that Trabzon is planted 6-8" apart, and is not topped. I'll plan to do a half-bed (5' x 6') of Trabzon in 2019, obtaining the seed from Northwood Seeds.

I sure do miss the contributors who posted above.

Bob

 

[Charly]

With so many available strains, it's aways hard to choose !

 

[deluxestogie]

My choice of Trabzon was merely the flickering recollection of having read--years ago--about the eastern successor state to the Byzantine Empire (the seat of Eastern Christendom that was overthrown by the greedy, Frankish crusaders of the 4th Crusade, when they sacked Constantinople in 1204, on their way to "defending the Cross in the Holy Lands"), called the Empire of Trebizond, which lasted for a few hundred years. It's imperial capital is now called Trabzon.

Of course, the tobacco has nothing to do with any of that history, other than its grow region. But romanticism has no bounds.

Bob

 

[Alpine]

I sure do miss Istanbulin and Knucklehead. Do you by chance have news from them Bob?

Pier

 

[deluxestogie]

Knucklehead is taking a break. And things are a bit chaotic in "Stockton".

Bob

 

[Alpine]

Edit: anyway, good to know they’re both safe and well.

Pier

 

[CT Tobaccoman]

The last post in this thread was six years ago. In trying to decide on a single, new variety to grow for 2019, I scanned through the impressive list of available seed varieties from Northwood Seeds, and decided on the Turkish variety, Trabzon. It is the strongest member of the Samsun family of petiolate leaf tobacco from the Black Sea Coast of Turkey, and grows the largest leaf of the group.

I went on to search Google for images of Trabzon tobacco, and ended up directed to this wonderful thread by istanbulin. What I gather is that Trabzon is planted 6-8" apart, and is not topped. I'll plan to do a half-bed (5' x 6') of Trabzon in 2019, obtaining the seed from Northwood Seeds.

I sure do miss the contributors who posted above.

Bob

I too am looking for some oriental types to grow 2019. I grew Bursa in 2017, and found it to be very aromatic and very mild, great for blending. The Bursa leaves are quite large. I stalk cut the plants and air cured them. I also grew Prilep, which I primed, and which I find to be a bit harsh in the throat, though very good tasting. When using Prilep in my blend I need to also include a milder oriental, to keep the strength of my blend the way I like it. In 2019 I plan to grow Bursa and also a smaller leaf type like Samsun or Izmur or maybe something else that is aromatic and mild. I bought some Izmur and Samsun, and found both to be mild enough for my blend, Any suggestions?

 

[fimbrew]

I'm glad you brought this thread back Bob. There are So Many orientals I want to try but can only grow a few a year in my small patch. Looking forward to hearing how it goes.

 

[deluxestogie]

I received my Trabzon seed from Northwood Seeds today. Thank you @skychaser. In a 5' x 6' bed, I plan to put in 25 Trabzon plants in 2019, 5 rows of 5 plants each. This seems terribly crowded, but that is 10" between plants in each row (istanbulin suggested 6-8" apart) and about 12" between rows [plus a 5" margin all around the bed]. During my 2018 grow, my Düzce was even more crowded, yet produced surprisingly large leaves for an Oriental.

Bob

 

[DistillingJim]

I plan to grow Bursa and also a smaller leaf type like Samsun or Izmur or maybe something else that is aromatic and mild. I bought some Izmur and Samsun, and found both to be mild enough for my blend, Any suggestions?

Yenidje is quite similar to Izmir but has a little something extra to it. Might be a good one to try if you've not already?

 

[deluxestogie]

Yenidje is Xanthi tobacco.

Bob

 

[CT Tobaccoman]

Yenidje is quite similar to Izmir but has a little something extra to it. Might be a good one to try if you've not already?

What might that "little extra" be? I have Prilep, which is popular, and I grew a lot of it, and the little extra Prilep has is a bit of harshness. I really liked the Bursa I grew in 2017 but it is gone now. Very strong smell, yet very mild smoke.