A few minutes ago.
Bob
Bob
Deluxestogie Grow Log 2024
- Thread starter deluxestogie
- Start date
I stalk-cut 7 of my 9 Comstock Spanish, and hung them in the shed. [Lugging 7 of them to the shed is more fun than lugging my more typical, 16 stalks.]
The photo flash hides the yellowing signs of maturity.
No signs of maturation yet on the porch-corner L'Assomption 201.
Bob
The photo flash hides the yellowing signs of maturity.
No signs of maturation yet on the porch-corner L'Assomption 201.
Bob
Yesterday, and through the night last night, I received 5+ inches of rain, with strong winds, as the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby passed. This morning, I could see how well that process removed the piles of dead gnats from my tobacco.
After the rains.
Some of the tobacco plants were tipped a bit, and the tomato cage was gently leaning against the Glessnor, but all was easily remedied.
This area has been in "moderate drought", so there is not even a puddle left in my driveway. All the water was promptly sucked into the ground.
Bob
After the rains.
Some of the tobacco plants were tipped a bit, and the tomato cage was gently leaning against the Glessnor, but all was easily remedied.
This area has been in "moderate drought", so there is not even a puddle left in my driveway. All the water was promptly sucked into the ground.
Bob
The images below show the relative drought conditions in Virginia. The first is from one week ago, just prior to my 5+ inches of rain from the remnants of Debby. My county is outlined in heavy black.
This next map is from today.
droughtmonitor.unl.edu
Although portions of the state to the south and to the east of me improved their nominal drought status, my drought status remains unchanged, at "moderate drought". All things in moderation. Impact...no puddles in my driveway.
Bob
This next map is from today.
Current Map | U.S. Drought Monitor
droughtmonitor.unl.edu
Although portions of the state to the south and to the east of me improved their nominal drought status, my drought status remains unchanged, at "moderate drought". All things in moderation. Impact...no puddles in my driveway.
Bob
I'm in the yellow - abnormally dry.
www.drought.gov
Home | Drought.gov
Advancing Drought Science and Preparedness Across the Nation The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) is a multi-agency partnership that coordinates drought monitoring, forecasting, planning, and information at national, tribal, state, and local levels.
What I don't quite understand is what the Drought Monitor uses to compute "normal".
Bob
Bob
wruk53
Well-Known Member
No drought here. We had 3.3 inches yesterday and last night. According to South Florida Water Management District the YTD rainfall for this area is 43.3 inches. (122% plus 7.91 inches.) Percent of average and difference from average.
Bob
The local tree guys promised to come out and take care of the dead branches on some of my maple trees. They'll be here, for sure, about 18 months ago.
While sitting out on my front porch this evening, with no breeze or rain or earthquake, I heard a loud, deep crack, and watched a huge, dead branch fall to the ground and shatter. You can see from the first photo that I have been parking my car way beyond the gravel patch where it is supposed to be parked. Each time I would get out of the car, I would check the angle that the branch might fall.
The hive of honeybees farther up in the main tree trunk were not happy, but they settled down after a while.
Bob
While sitting out on my front porch this evening, with no breeze or rain or earthquake, I heard a loud, deep crack, and watched a huge, dead branch fall to the ground and shatter. You can see from the first photo that I have been parking my car way beyond the gravel patch where it is supposed to be parked. Each time I would get out of the car, I would check the angle that the branch might fall.
The hive of honeybees farther up in the main tree trunk were not happy, but they settled down after a while.
Bob
PressuredLeaf
Well-Known Member
Anecdotally, this year has been abnormally normal for AZ.
With over 100 deep knee bends, and a dozen trips to my brush pile behind the pump house, hefting armfuls of dead wood, I managed to clear away all of the 18-foot branch, except for the big chunk at the base. This afternoon, my oldest brother (age 79) drove up with a chain saw in the back of his pickup. His greatest effort was exerted in pull-starting the 50 year old chain saw engine for the first time this year. Within 15 minutes after it finally started, the thick section of the branch was cut into pieces, and lugged to the brush pile.
Decaying branches in old trees provide unparalleled opportunities for wildlife housing and feeding (and for codgers to observe them). In established forests, we see fallen branches without giving them a second thought. By contrast, old trees near homes are usually clipped and pruned into sterility, so as to be safer for us and our belongings. I have four of these 150+ year old Silver Maples. I pick up some fallen branches of various sizes nearly every week. It's the price (labor) I pay for natural trees—the beautiful trees that caused me to fall in love with this old farm house the first time I came to look at it.
Bob
Decaying branches in old trees provide unparalleled opportunities for wildlife housing and feeding (and for codgers to observe them). In established forests, we see fallen branches without giving them a second thought. By contrast, old trees near homes are usually clipped and pruned into sterility, so as to be safer for us and our belongings. I have four of these 150+ year old Silver Maples. I pick up some fallen branches of various sizes nearly every week. It's the price (labor) I pay for natural trees—the beautiful trees that caused me to fall in love with this old farm house the first time I came to look at it.
Bob
I’ve got two silver maples in the back yard; I’m assuming they’re the same age as the house (34 years), but they’re decent sized. I didn’t know until a couple years ago you could tap them and make maple syrup, but I’ve done so and will again.
I’ve been surprised at the amount of abuse and destruction from storms that they will simply shrug off and keep on going.
I’ve been surprised at the amount of abuse and destruction from storms that they will simply shrug off and keep on going.
Tree Age Equation - TreesCharlotte
Did you know that you can determine the approximate age of any tree just by using some measuring tape and simple math? Follow these steps and […]
treescharlotte.org
Bob
The crowfoot of my untopped L'Assomption 201 in the garden (full sun) comes to my belly button. It opened its blossoms in about 50 days post transplant.
By contrast, the crowfoot of my untopped L'Assomption 201 in the bed below the porch corner measures 64 inches from the ground, and it is at 81 days post transplant now. The first blossom will likely open tomorrow. So 82 days to maturity. The hummingbirds, which visit daily, are becoming impatient.
The porch corner plant's leaf width and leaf length are only slightly larger than that of the full-sun plants, but its leaves are notably thinner, and have not significantly matured at this point. It gets full sun about 2/3 of each day.
Bob
By contrast, the crowfoot of my untopped L'Assomption 201 in the bed below the porch corner measures 64 inches from the ground, and it is at 81 days post transplant now. The first blossom will likely open tomorrow. So 82 days to maturity. The hummingbirds, which visit daily, are becoming impatient.
The porch corner plant's leaf width and leaf length are only slightly larger than that of the full-sun plants, but its leaves are notably thinner, and have not significantly matured at this point. It gets full sun about 2/3 of each day.
Bob
This evening, at 7:41 pm Eastern Daylight Time, the porch corner L'Assomption's first blossom opened. Now my confident documentation needs to be revised by one day.
Bob
Bob
Huffen'Snuff
Well-Known Member
I'm always trimming something building brush piles, to give the rabbits a chance to escape the neighborhoods cats. It's amazing how the rabbit populations follow around arborists, that don't chip there brush.
An interesting note:
Over the past 24 hours, the crowfoot height of my porch corner L'Assomption 201 has elongated by another 2½". It is now at 66½" above ground. This illustrates just how fuzzy the stated tobacco measurements can be (including those published by ARS-GRIN). They are always a snapshot in time, of a specific plant instance from a specific growing location in a specific growing season, at a random time of day during a vague category of maturity. ARS-GRIN's newer "chest-high", "head-high", etc. designations are more meaningful, and less misleadingly quantitative. The same is true of the expected timing of leaf maturation following topping.
Bob
Over the past 24 hours, the crowfoot height of my porch corner L'Assomption 201 has elongated by another 2½". It is now at 66½" above ground. This illustrates just how fuzzy the stated tobacco measurements can be (including those published by ARS-GRIN). They are always a snapshot in time, of a specific plant instance from a specific growing location in a specific growing season, at a random time of day during a vague category of maturity. ARS-GRIN's newer "chest-high", "head-high", etc. designations are more meaningful, and less misleadingly quantitative. The same is true of the expected timing of leaf maturation following topping.
Bob
I failed to point out that this sudden elongation of the stalk is not caused by growth of new cells. Auxins produced in the bud head signal the existing cells of the stalk to take in more water, and expand their vertical length. Since the distribution of auxins is affected by gravity, it is the same mechanism that causes cells in the lowest side of a blown-over stalk to rapidly elongate. This results in the leaning stalk quickly turning back upward, toward vertical.
Bob
Bob
Once the dew had dried today, I cut the bagged bud heads of L'Assomption 201 and Comstock Spanish, and brought them indoors, to complete drying while hanging inside my enclosed back porch.
I stalk-cut that remaining Comstock Spanish, as well as all 4 of the L'Assomption 201 in the garden. These were hung in the shed.
Notice the rusty nail, above. I can usually re-use these 2½" roofing nails for 3 or 4 years. I don't want nails in the composting tobacco stalks, so I extract each nail as I prepare to strip the cured leaf from the stalk, and toss the used nails into a container in the shed.
If I stalk-cut too early in the day, the leaf is still proud and crunchy, and likely to break when the stalk is laid down. So I wait until the sun has relaxed the leaves a bit, before stalk-cutting.
All that remains (aside from my porch corner L'Assomption 201) are 6 Long Red, 2 Glessnor, and the 1 stunted, late Comstock Spanish. These may be ready a week from now.
Bob
WillQuantrill
Well-Known Member
I have noticed the same issue on a couple of my Burleys, it drives me crazy actually. How do you extract these from the leaf and at what point of the finishing process? I have brushed each leaf with a soft brush on both sides after I prime which works OK but not 100%, or there is a "flat" setting on my garden sprayer that is just strong enough to rinse the little bastards off but not tear the leaf but concerns me that Im just washing off the Nicotine. I have even tried compressed air but it just tears the leaf. I am currently holding out hope that I can brush them off easily after kilning.Yesterday, and through the night last night, I received 5+ inches of rain, with strong winds, as the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby passed. This morning, I could see how well that process removed the piles of dead gnats from my tobacco.
After the rains.
Some of the tobacco plants were tipped a bit, and the tomato cage was gently leaning against the Glessnor, but all was easily remedied.
This area has been in "moderate drought", so there is not even a puddle left in my driveway. All the water was promptly sucked into the ground.
Bob
