Deluxestogie Grow Log 2024

[deluxestogie]

Here is the current, modest plan for my 2024 garden. It's a "first draft":

These are all repeat varieties.

The side garden beside the house is undesignated. Maybe I'll plant something there. Maybe not. As the years pass, I allow more of my previously planted beds to return to grass.

The tobacco varieties:

• Glessnor [Pi 552642, Ti 109]
• Long Red [Pi 552693, Ti 117]
• L'Assomption 201 [Pi 430516, Ti 1624]
• Comstock Spanish [Pi 552437, Ti 89]

The National Weather Service long range forecast for my area, for May-June-July, is predicting warmer than average and wetter than average. Since that is a half-year away, I regard it as aspirational.

I expect to start tobacco germination in early March, and transplant to the garden in early to mid-May. I produced my seed for the 2024 grow in:

• Glessnor 2012
• Long Red 2014
• L'Assomption 201 2021
• Comstock Spanish 2011

I've already made the labels for the 4 germination cups, and marked the Popsicle sticks for the 1020 tray cells (1 stick per 4 cells), as well as the 4 "tongue blade" size sticks for the garden beds. I'll set up the number of transplants I intend for each variety, plus one extra 4-pack per variety, for spares. I do all these preps ahead of time as a motivation to actually start the germination on time. Tobacco growing is too much work to waste it by starting late, and ending up with a poor crop. I plan to bag one head and collect fresh seed for each variety except the L'Assomption 201.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

Once again, I'll provide an Excel spreadsheet template that I have used for over a decade (one spreadsheet for each year) to record my observations, measurements and dates for each tobacco variety I grow. The link below is a .zip file that includes both a Microsoft format (.xlsx) and open document format (.ods).

Tobacco Plant Variety Data Sheet Template

The template includes data for a single variety, to serve as an example of how it is used.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

Finally, lazy Bob has begun the process of removing seed from the seed pods of my 2023 grow. The bagged heads (4 varieties) have been hanging in my enclosed back porch since the summer. The relative humidity indoors today is 33%. My nails are trimmed.

As usual, I start with a 5 gallon bucket. Into that, I nest my 400 micron strainer:

400 Micron(0.015700") Medium EZ-Strainers™ for 5 Gallon Containers | U.S. Plastic Corp.

EZ-Strainers™ are great for keeping unwanted particles out, or straining contaminants out of your products.

www.usplastic.com

On top of that, I nest my 600 micron strainer:

600 Micron (0.023550") Coarse EZ-Strainers™ for 5 Gallon Containers | U.S. Plastic Corp.

EZ-Strainers™ are great for keeping unwanted particles out or straining contaminants out of your products.

www.usplastic.com

Then I crush each seed pod, one-by-one, over the nested strainers. The 600µ strainer keeps out the chaff and large debris, while allowing tobacco seed (~500µ) to fall through to the 400µ strainer below. The 400µ strainer allows dust and immature tobacco seeds to fall through into the bucket. The collected seed is then saved in one or more 2"x3" Ziploc bags that have been labeled ahead of time with the variety, the harvest year, and the word, "HOME", to indicate to me that it is my own seed.

Today, I managed to do one variety. Afterwards, I clean each of the strainers with the sprayer at the kitchen sink, and set them to dry. So, for me, no more than one variety per day.

Bob

EDIT: The fragile appearing strainers have lasted me over a decade. During most of the year, they are carefully wrapped in a plastic grocery bag, and placed inside their original shipping box for protection from sun and physical accident.

 

[FrostD]

Finally, lazy Bob has begun the process of removing seed from the seed pods of my 2023 grow. The bagged heads (4 varieties) have been hanging in my enclosed back porch since the summer. The relative humidity indoors today is 33%. My nails are trimmed.

As usual, I start with a 5 gallon bucket. Into that, I nest my 400 micron strainer:

400 Micron(0.015700") Medium EZ-Strainers™ for 5 Gallon Containers | U.S. Plastic Corp.

EZ-Strainers™ are great for keeping unwanted particles out, or straining contaminants out of your products.

www.usplastic.com

On top of that, I nest my 600 micron strainer:

600 Micron (0.023550") Coarse EZ-Strainers™ for 5 Gallon Containers | U.S. Plastic Corp.

EZ-Strainers™ are great for keeping unwanted particles out or straining contaminants out of your products.

www.usplastic.com

Then I crush each seed pod, one-by-one, over the nested strainers. The 600µ strainer keeps out the chaff and large debris, while allowing tobacco seed (~500µ) to fall through to the 400µ strainer below. The 400µ strainer allows dust and immature tobacco seeds to fall through into the bucket. The collected seed is then saved in one or more 2"x3" Ziploc bags that have been labeled ahead of time with the variety, the harvest year, and the word, "HOME", to indicate to me that it is my own seed.

Today, I managed to do one variety. Afterwards, I clean each of the strainers with the sprayer at the kitchen sink, and set them to dry. So, for me, no more than one variety per day.

Bob

EDIT: The fragile appearing strainers have lasted me over a decade. During most of the year, they are carefully wrapped in a plastic grocery bag, and placed inside their original shipping box for protection from sun and physical accident.

I just had my strainers arrive today! Much appreciation on the suggestion for these Bob! They look very nice and robust. I ordered the 600,400,200, & 100 micron sizes to be used potentially for other seeds as well. The 100 micron is currently back ordered. Great price from US Plastics for the items. Shipping was a little pricey, but for the amount of use they will get, solid investment for seed sorting. I’ve spent too many hours already trying to do it all by hand with seeds from Coleus & various flowers. Excited to crack open some seed pods!

 

[deluxestogie]

Keep in mind that the seeds of Nicotiana rustica are larger—maybe 700 to 900µ, so cleaning them may require purchasing a pair of the many available, steel mesh screens. Steel sieves are usually listed by mesh rather than microns (e.g. 1000µ = 19 mesh; mesh is defined as number of opening per square inch of screen), so you will need to convert their specs:

Screen mesh to micron conversion tool

Screen mesh to micron conversion tool Welcome to the Russell Engineering Conversion Tool where you can carry out conversions of engineering measurements quickly and accurately including mesh to micron conversion. Whether you are looking to convert metric to imperial, or wanting to interpret...

www.russellfinex.com

One advantage to cleaning tobacco seed as much as possible (i.e. removing chaff) is that, while tobacco specific viruses have not been found to be transmitted by tobacco seed, it can be transmitted in the chaff from the seed pod.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

It's not fair. The National Weather Service has run out of colors for the pizza toppings, yet I still get none.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

I'm smoking a rather fat, Oliva Seconds robusto this morning, out on my front porch. It could be an overcast day in early May—it's 60°F with a light breeze. At the beginning of this week, my outdoor low temperature was 5°F. Snow covered my lawn and driveway. The snow is gone. Honeybees are foraging about my porch for those expected 60°F blossoms. But it cannot be May, since I'm still looking through vegetable seed catalogs.

I'll be setting up my tobacco germination cups in about 6 weeks. The average dates of last frost and first frost are now officially defunct. I consider the published date of my average last frost to be a guide to my latest reasonable date for transplanting tobacco to the field. Unfortunately, the unpredictability of wild temperature swings (like my morning today) has increased.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

Thank you, Walmart delivery driver.

It was just 4 cans of chunk chicken. As I was about to walk to the end of the flooded driveway, selecting a known, least squishy path, the delivery driver insisted that he bring it to me. He sloshed his way across the boggy sod, and handed the package to me. This is the "delivered" photo he snapped, prior to departing.

My driveway went from dry, to well flooded overnight. By the time the driver arrived, shortly after noon, the water had subsided considerably—to what you see in the photo.

Bob

 

[GreenDragon]

We got 2.5 inches yesterday over about four hours, and 10” total this month. That’s 25% the annual total! Needless to say my yard is also flooded and/or very squishy everywhere.

 

[deluxestogie]

I awakened during the wee hours this morning. Upon switching on a light, I saw my shadow, and went back to bed for another 6 hours.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

This morning, in the dead of winter, I was shocked to notice that the outdoor temperature on my front porch was 60°F. I stepped out. The sky was overcast, with no wind. It felt lovely. Time for a cigar!

I filled a mug of cold water, and carried out to the porch. It seemed a bit more breezy. I decided to check the current weather forecast, before firing up a stogie. By the time I had walked down the hallway, and reached my study, sheets of torrential rain were slamming against the study window.

As a consolation, I went on-line, and purchased 1 codger ticket for the 1st showing of Dune (2024) Part 2, on the day before its official March 1 release date. I haven't endured the profound discomforts of a movie theater since I saw Part 1 in 2021. [This time, I'll remember to bring a heavy, wool scarf, and ear plugs.]

Bob

 

[johnny108]

It's only February, and....
A beginning is a very delicate time.

 

[deluxestogie]

I read the original Dune novel over 50 years ago, then followed that with Frank Herbert's Dune sequels. In 1984, I watched the original Dune movie (widely panned), which I loved. The following day, I deployed from the US to Saudi Arabia. It all kind of sticks to the brain cells, even without spice. I've read the plethora of later, Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson "Dune" novels.

Bob

 

[ProZachJ]

I try to reread it every other year or so, one of the best ever written so much depth and truth.

 

[Plinsc]

I read it in the late 70’s or early 80’s maybe? Decent story

 

[johnny108]

Last time I read it was on deployment in the Iraq desert. Time for a re-read.
I’ve read the series about 7 times. I used to use Bene-Gesserit aphorism to help with my sales job at the home brew store- my co-worker was convinced I was a son of a secret Bene-Gesserit….
Anyone else think the son’s novels aren’t as good?

 

[deluxestogie]

"Good" is not very specific. The sequels by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson are beautifully written, and make for satisfying reading within the context of Frank Herbert's world. I would consider Frank Herbert's original novel a profound example of world building.

Both science-fiction and fantasy writing require world-building. All the weird and disparate aspects of a fictional ecosystem have to make sense, and remain coherent. The same is true for a fictional culture and fictional technology. [Have you ever wondered when the light sabers of Star Wars had their batteries recharged?]

The Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson novels allow your imagination to continue to wander within the world that Frank Herbert built, without having to resort to the desperation of reading fan fiction.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

 

[johnny108]

Smoke without rhythm, or you’ll attract a (horn)worm.

 

[deluxestogie]

My Supper Bowl LVIII is over. It was good: wiener with ketchup, potato salad, cottage cheese with pineapple chunks, 1 Little Debbie Nutty Buddy bar and a large mug of milk. And since I don't own a TV, I get to relax, reading a book this evening.

Bob