Old Gasman
Well-Known Member
We dont get cicadas here, the only time I hear them is when I'm on holiday in sunnier climes so if I ever hear a cicada in a film or TV programme I'm immediately transported to my summer holidays.
Deluxestogie Grow Log 2024
- Thread starter deluxestogie
- Start date
RoperLegacyWoods
Well-Known Member
Thank you sir!
chillardbee
Well-Known Member
Hello Bob, just popped in to wish you a good and fruitful season. Smoke a stogie for me.
For this season, I had planned for a total of only 40 plants. Due to poor germination of L'Assomption 201 (seed from 2021) and an unusually high mortality in the 1020 trays, my grow is a mere 24 plants. I will have only 2 Glessnor plants (if they can grow large enough to transplant), and 4 L'Assomption 201 (out of 20 L'Assomption 201 starts, and a planned 16). The healthiest variety is Comstock Spanish, germinated from 2011 seed.
This spring, I spread 2 bags of Black Kow composted manure into each bed, fertilized with low-chlorine 10-10-10, and added iron phosphate slug bait ahead of time. Imidacloprid was added to the transplant water.
Bob
This spring, I spread 2 bags of Black Kow composted manure into each bed, fertilized with low-chlorine 10-10-10, and added iron phosphate slug bait ahead of time. Imidacloprid was added to the transplant water.
Bob
A couple of days ago, while I was sitting on the front porch, this little fellow slithered up to my front door. Since I always keep a broom on the porch, I used it to sweep him out to the driveway. He eventually vanished into the lawn grass.
It is a non-poisonous, Eastern Rat Snake. I believe that it is the first reptile that I've seen on the property in over a quarter century.
Yesterday, I transplanted a single L'Assomption 201 to the bed of my porch corner. It will be allowed to blossom openly, and attract hummingbirds. I enjoy being able to watch it from my porch chair.
I still have two very slow Glessnor seedlings that will go out to the main garden bed this weekend.
Bob
It is a non-poisonous, Eastern Rat Snake. I believe that it is the first reptile that I've seen on the property in over a quarter century.
Yesterday, I transplanted a single L'Assomption 201 to the bed of my porch corner. It will be allowed to blossom openly, and attract hummingbirds. I enjoy being able to watch it from my porch chair.
I still have two very slow Glessnor seedlings that will go out to the main garden bed this weekend.
Bob
Since my final numbers transplanted were to a large extent comprised of "spares", I have no replacements for the transplant mortality (shown as red Xs). I've lost 2 Long Red, and 2 Comstock Spanish.
The two Glessnor transplants are doing well, but are still too small to easily see them in the photo.
I do short bouts of weeding, limited by the heat.
Notice in the lower left of the final photo the large "tongue blade" stick label. I mark them on both sides with a Sharpie. They are inserted so that they lean slightly toward the North. If the sun-exposed side becomes too sun-bleached to read, the north-facing label is always still legible.
Bob
The two Glessnor transplants are doing well, but are still too small to easily see them in the photo.
I do short bouts of weeding, limited by the heat.
Notice in the lower left of the final photo the large "tongue blade" stick label. I mark them on both sides with a Sharpie. They are inserted so that they lean slightly toward the North. If the sun-exposed side becomes too sun-bleached to read, the north-facing label is always still legible.
Bob
Porch corner bed.
Bob
Quantum Physics: I ordered some vitamins from Target. Today, I checked the tracking.
I sense some uncertainty here.
Bob
I sense some uncertainty here.
Bob
Hornworm eggs appeared for the first time today. There were only about 6 or 7 of them, so I simply removed them, and squished them between thumb and forefinger. If I see more during this week, then I will begin weekly spraying with BT.
Bob
Bob
About 15 minutes ago, a black bear loped down the road, then turned into my driveway.
It seems to have moved on, since I can no longer see it.
Bob
It seems to have moved on, since I can no longer see it.
Bob
GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
So Cool! I'm sure he was just checking to make sure you practice correct fire safety procedures. 
Alpine
Moderator
That’s not the kind of neighbor you want to argue with I bet…
pier
pier
Black bears are said to be fairly common around here. I've lived in southwest Virginia for over 30 years. I've hiked and backpacked hundreds of miles in remote areas, often alone (always hanging my food bag from a high branch ~50 feet away from my tent at night). I've lived in this farmhouse for over 25 years. I've seen bear scat on a few occasions, both on the Appalachian Trail and here—beneath my pear trees. This is the first time I've actually seen a bear in Virginia.
Bob
Bob
Huffen'Snuff
Well-Known Member
That was a very very good movie, can't wait for the next one, those tents were neat that reclaimed the water vapor.
I think I had issues with stunting by using seedling flats, and the cells in that flat were way way to small stunting mine this year, the cells were likely a cubic inch each. My plants exploded when I put them in 12oz. disposable cups, with pro-mix. Next year I will not use the seed flats for baccy. You live you learn."For my 4 planned tobacco varieties of 2024, I will use 8 ounce, plastic cups (with lids) for germination. I cleaned them, rinsed them well, then allowed them to soak with diluted Clorox solution.
Following another thorough rinse, I've set them out on the kitchen counter to dry.
Each cup and each lid will be labeled with the tobacco variety name, as the seed is sprinkled.
Tomorrow, I will mix up my usual grow mix, and start germination.
Bob
I recall reading this elsewhere, thanks for the link for the roll material, I doubt I would have found it otherwise.
I had a spare moment, so I made the 3 bud bags that I will need for this growing season. I purchased Agribon AG-15 from from JohnnySeeds.com. (50 feet of the 118"-wide fabric will make 50 bud bags. Agribon AG-15 is also excellent for a temporary row cover over delicate seedlings.) Depending on how I cut the fabric for a bag, it usually requires only 2 straight lines of stitching. I stitch the Tyvek name tag into the side seam, extending to the interior. Once the bag is turned right-side-out (so the seam margin is hidden on the inside), the name tag pokes outward. The tags are labeled on both sides, so that if one side fades in the sun, the other is still legible. Cutting the fabric, making the labels, and stitching the 3 bags required about 15 minutes total.
Don't know how to use a sewing machine? Ask someone to show you how to thread it, then sew two straight lines.
Bob
Would you consider doing some low count trades, of 100seed each variety, all of my seeds are directly from NWTSeed.com or his retailers, Victory, and Seedman and they were all purchased this year.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:
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.
- Glessnor 2012
- Long Red 2014
- L'Assomption 201 2021
- Comstock Spanish 2011
Bob
HilariousSo Cool! I'm sure he was just checking to make sure you practice correct fire safety procedures.
Got mine ordered now, I will have to hand stitch them but it's a small price to pay to keep your seeds true. Im going to have to research how to use pollen bags like this for doing crosses. Maybe you can just knock em' up with pollen in a paper bag, then put one of these over it after removing the paper bag?
I had a spare moment, so I made the 3 bud bags that I will need for this growing season. I purchased Agribon AG-15 from from JohnnySeeds.com. (50 feet of the 118"-wide fabric will make 50 bud bags. Agribon AG-15 is also excellent for a temporary row cover over delicate seedlings.) Depending on how I cut the fabric for a bag, it usually requires only 2 straight lines of stitching. I stitch the Tyvek name tag into the side seam, extending to the interior. Once the bag is turned right-side-out (so the seam margin is hidden on the inside), the name tag pokes outward. The tags are labeled on both sides, so that if one side fades in the sun, the other is still legible. Cutting the fabric, making the labels, and stitching the 3 bags required about 15 minutes total.
Don't know how to use a sewing machine? Ask someone to show you how to thread it, then sew two straight lines.
Bob
How to Intentionally Cross Tobacco Varieties
Creating an intentional cross is technically easy, though it is tedious. Here, I explain the basic procedure. Unbagged tobacco blossoms will randomly cross with whatever varieties of N. tabacum happen to be growing within a half-mile. What you end up with, even from a single mature seed...
Bob
Huffen'Snuff
Well-Known Member
I got my AG-15 from Johhnie's seeds, so what size would you suggest for the 30-36 inch Rusticas that I have this season?
Alpine
Moderator
If you have different strains of rusticas use the 15” x 12” size (same as orientals).
If you have only one strain of rustica mixed with N. tabacum strains no bag is needed since spontaneous cross pollination between rustica and tabacum is nearly impossible, unless made on purpose (and even in that case, seldom successful).
pier
If you have only one strain of rustica mixed with N. tabacum strains no bag is needed since spontaneous cross pollination between rustica and tabacum is nearly impossible, unless made on purpose (and even in that case, seldom successful).
pier
Huffen'Snuff
Well-Known Member
15 high by 12 wide, cool thanks, this year have two varieties of Rustica, so I will bag the one with the lowest quantity. I have less Lemon than Aztec unfortunately.
