deluxestogie Grow Log 2016

[deluxestogie]

Cigarchris,
For me, home-grown cigars run less than 1/10 the cost of industrial cigars. (Mine average about 25 cents each, for big honkers.) Although I do like the comfort of a full humidor (it can hold over 500 cigars), my mind is still stuck back in the glory days, when a superb cigar cost 35 cents. Today's cost of industrial cigars is rapacious, so I seldom buy them. When I do buy, it's usually bundles of JR's better Consuegra seconds (#9, #25, #30, #72, #73), which run about $1.25 per stick.

Grow update: second hair cut yesterday. Most should be ready for transplant in about a week. I'm still waiting for the garden beds to till themselves. (Being impatient, I went ahead and tilled the bed for this year's peppers myself. Douce D'Espagne, Feher Ozon Paprika, Quadratto D'Asti Rosso.)

Bob

 

[Smokin Harley]

I'm going to have to try the Swarr-Hibshman next year and it seems like everyone is growing Corojo this year except me. I missed the train. To be honest, I didn't even know there was seed available for Corojo, I would've tried it already seeing as how it's a staple of Central American cigars. Not sure who all reads your grow log Bob, but if anyone reading smokes store-bought cigars, the new Eiroa "First 20 Years" are a perfect Corojo blend from the King of Corojo, Christian Eiroa (started Camacho Cigars). I'm still waiting for samples of the new Kristoff San Andres and Cameroon. I spend way too much money on tobacco, but to me, a full humidor is just as beautiful a sight as a full tobacco patch.

Chris...I happen to have Coroja plants .They are at current 4 weeks old . Not exactly sure how they will transport from IL to PA but if you have room in your patch and would like some I would try to get some out to you. You pay shipping. Let me know .

 

[DGBAMA]

I have sent plants successfully a number of times. A damp paper towel around each rootball does the trick. Tobacco is a pretty resilient plant.

 

[Chicken]

I have sent plants successfully a number of times. A damp paper towel around each rootball does the trick. Tobacco is a pretty resilient plant.

I had someone send me some pot plants a while back..and that's how he did it..put them in a plastic cup with a lid..and wet cotton balls.around the roots..they lived perfectly..the strain was sour pineapple diesel.

 

[cigarchris]

Thanks much Harley, but all my space is spoken for this year. I only have room for about fifty plants or so. I highly appreciate the offer.

Bob, I think you have spoiled yourself with your mastery of home tobacco/cigar production.
On another note, I've never given my seedlings a "haircut" and they've always seemed to do okay. What is the purpose of that? I assume it's the larger, newer leaves that get clipped?
-Chris

 

[POGreen]

Bob , is it possible to manipulate a plant during growth to produce more nicotine ?

 

[deluxestogie]

...I've never given my seedlings a "haircut" and they've always seemed to do okay. What is the purpose of that? I assume it's the larger, newer leaves that get clipped?
-Chris

Chris,
My 1020 seedling trays contain 48 cells each. As soon as any plants begin to shade their neighbors, I clip about 2/3 of each of the larger leaves. This triggers a root response similar to what you see when insects nibble the leaves--sturdier roots and stalk, as well as darker leaves, which probably contain more nicotine, which is manufactured in the roots. Clipping also allows you to hold the plants in their cells longer, while awaiting better weather conditions for transplant. Another benefit is the reduced water transpiration from clipped plants, so they are less likely to show wilting stress following transplant.

I've compared performance of clipped vs. non-clipped plants. The clipped ones catch up to the non-clipped ones in about 3 weeks.

With clipping, more of the plants in the tray achieve transplant size in a robust state, by the time for them to go into the dirt.

Bob , is it possible to manipulate a plant during growth to produce more nicotine ?

PO,
Topping in general increases nicotine. Topping to fewer total leaves increases nicotine, in addition to producing larger leaves.

Bob

 

[cigarchris]

Got it. Mine have never overlapped like that in the past because I used to start in 72 ct cells and move them to 3 inch round pots at 4 weeks. I could fit about 12 or 13 of those in a 1020 tray, staggered. This year I switched to the 1801 pattern trays to save a transplant step, thus making them about an inch closer together, and they're definitely shading each other. They also seem to have reached transplant size about two weeks sooner than previous years. I think I'll try the haircut today and this will be my first watering with Imidacloprid as well.

 

[Chicken]

Got it. Mine have never overlapped like that in the past because I used to start in 72 ct cells and move them to 3 inch round pots at 4 weeks. I could fit about 12 or 13 of those in a 1020 tray, staggered. This year I switched to the 1801 pattern trays to save a transplant step, thus making them about an inch closer together, and they're definitely shading each other. They also seem to have reached transplant size about two weeks sooner than previous years. I think I'll try the haircut today and this will be my first watering with Imidacloprid as well.

It's good you put them in big pots..I do the same.
That way your plant and root network is growing..and when u do plant.your plant is good and established.

 

[DGBAMA]

Got it. Mine have never overlapped like that in the past because I used to start in 72 ct cells and move them to 3 inch round pots at 4 weeks. I could fit about 12 or 13 of those in a 1020 tray, staggered. This year I switched to the 1801 pattern trays to save a transplant step, thus making them about an inch closer together, and they're definitely shading each other. They also seem to have reached transplant size about two weeks sooner than previous years. I think I'll try the haircut today and this will be my first watering with Imidacloprid as well.

First haircut is kinda scary. First time I did it, I could only bring myself to cut off about 1/4 of each leaf. They bounced back stronger....
Next time 1/2 leaf...even better. I now cut about 2/3 of each leaf. Plus it buys time.....at 1/4 leaf you will be trim mg weekly. At 2/3, I get at least 2 weeks between trimmings and the main stem is super sturdy by planting. Yes, it hurts my feelings to cut so much but stronger plants are the end result.

 

[POGreen]

Thanks a hole lot for your valuable info Bob

 

[Gavroche]

. Yes, it hurts my feelings to cut so much but stronger plants are the end result.

Yes...i make because you make but it's strong. Oh... poor babys...

Oui, je le fais car vous le faites mais c'est dur... oh, les pauvres bébés...

 

[deluxestogie]

oh, les pauvres bébés...

I like the French expression.

Bob

 

[Gavroche]

Thank you Sir...

 

[ArizonaDave]

Thanks a hole lot for your valuable info Bob

POGreen! Good to see you back buddy!

 

[Jitterbugdude]

POGreen! Good to see you back buddy!

DITTO!

 

[POGreen]

Thanks all around !
This was temperary , I dont grow any plants , I was just helping a friend.
I find it too much work to bike out to the patch and back again , one thing is for sure , there is nothing better than homegrown .

 

[BarG]

Looking forward to your pics this yr. Deluxestogie, and POGreen, since when was growing tobacco too much work for you heh heh,

 

[deluxestogie]

Havana 322

I grew Havana 322 for the first time in 2015. In the image above, the lug and the leaf were both kilned at the same time, with no differences in their processing. Havana 322 is classed as a binder type, but makes wonderful wrapper as well as filler.

I used a cap of the darker "leaf," made from the scrap of a previous cigar wrapper, since the lug has very little flavor. In this cigar, the filler is half Havana 322 and half Long Red, which deepens the aroma. There is no sweetness, earthiness or creaminess. The cigar is a medium-strength, offering leather and dark wood. I find Havana 322 to be unusually smooth. The leaf is quite sturdy and stretchable (its "binder" heritage), but about 1/3 to 1/2 of the leaves above the lugs are wrapper grade.

I'm not sure why this particular numbered Havana has performed better for me than the other numbered Havanas that I've grown, but Havana 322 is a definite keeper. I didn't realize this early enough to start them for 2016, so I'll have to wait until next year to grow more.

Here's a tid-bit that I found on Havana 322.

Havana 142, 211, 307 and 322. The production of cigar binder in Wisconsin is being improved through the introduction and use by growers of these new varieties. All are highly resistant to black root rot. Havana 142 is now grown on about three-fourths of Wisconsin acreage. Havana 211 is used to a limited extent in Wisconsin and quite extensively in the Connecticut Valley. Havana 322, developed from a cross between Havana 142 and Havana 38, is indistinguishable in the field from the Old Comstock Spanish, which, except for its susceptibility to root rot, has long been regarded as the best type of binder tobacco.

Bob

 

[Smokin Harley]

I love reading your grow logs. In this case since I have 7/9 of my Havana 142 growing under shade and it is doing very well. 1/3 bigger than its sungrown counterparts.