Flue curing encouragement

[ChinaVoodoo]

Building a flue-cure chamber is far less work than growing even a tiny crop of tobacco.

Bob

Yes, wholeheartedly agree, Bob.

I've seen a bit of this sentiment lately--that flue curing is for the "advanced" grower--and it tends to come from people who to my knowledge have not flue cured.

We all have specialized skills that others have said they couldn't do, but we know they can and that all that's holding them back is self-doubt.

Flue curing requires a moderate amount of money, or ingenuity, a modest understanding of insulation, and fire safety, and a decent ability to follow instructions.

In my climate, wholeheartedly, growing is the hardest part, and varies significantly year to year. Flue curing, mind you is the one thing I know was worth it to learn, and is fairly consistent.

(don't look here for instructions. Check the Key forum threads)

 

[deluxestogie]

In my climate (Virginia), growing is also the hardest part. The cost of building a flue-curing chamber is, in the US, the cost of two or three cartons of retail cigarettes. Elsewhere, the ratio may be even more favorable.

Bob

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

No pressure though.

 

[deluxestogie]

Think of building a flue-cure chamber as a means of injury prevention. The longer you wait to build one, the more times you will kick yourself in the butt for having not built it sooner. Do your butt a favor.

Bob

 

[MRM]

I will be doing my first grow this year.
I will grow Virginia and maybe a couple of prilep.

I have read most everything on here concerning building a flue cure chamber and using it.
Here is my take:

There is a ton of info on here !
The blueprint has been laid out (apparently very successfully) by some pioneers and all one needs to do is follow directions.

I have my seeds on hand, just waiting on mid February. I have started prepping the ground and will have a soil analysis very soon (county extension office).

I haven't started a chamber yet. Im trying to decide whether to build one or use an old deep freezer. I'm leaning towards building just need to determine the proper size.

I am planning for 75 - 100 plants.
I've grown lots of peas and beans before so I am accustomed to the labor and commitment. I have some learning to do on growing tobacco and I think I am in the perfect place for that.

I am very good at following directions and have never felt the need to reinvent what is working well. I am very accustomed to working off of blueprints.

It is a small investment, but one I feel will have a healthy return and lots of learning, enjoyment, work and sense of accomplishment.

This is sure to be loads of fun and I am so happy I found this forum and the guys that occupy it.

With that said - let me add a hardy Thank You to all you guys paving the way, sharing info and making this possible for the average Joe tobacco lover.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Flue curing actually increases your yield. During air curing, and the necessary fermentation, tobacco loses a significant amount of mass via carbohydrates turning into carbon dioxide. This only happens to a small degree with flue cured tobacco.

 

[deluxestogie]

And...leaf that is flue-cured requires ZERO shed space for air-curing.

Bob

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Today, I was destemming some of my 2017 Delhi 34, a Canadian flue cured tobacco, and I looked at how gorgeous it was and had a cool, I can't believe I grew this moment.

 

[deluxestogie]

That is fine looking flue-cured leaf.

Bob

 

[Homegrowngoodnes]

So lets say my flue cure chamber is about 4' x 4' x 2'. Will a 4 qt crockpot be sufficient to provide heat and humidity? Which temp controller?

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

There's a whole lot of examples in the key forum threads that you should check out. I would say a tentative yes, but that all depends on if it's sealed well, and insulated well. I can tell you that a 4qt crockpot will not be sufficient in a mylar bubblewrap box that size because I tried it. The box was 20"x20"x6'.

Edit. It must certainly would be enough in my invertebrate kiln.

 

[Homegrowngoodnes]

Im preplanning. Im probably going to need to do an exoskeletal kiln but i will likely use 2" polystyrene similar to deluxestogie and seal the seams with alluminum tape. The construction wont be the problem. I have designed, tuned and built competition winning speaker boxes though i wasnt worried about toxic emissions. Haha!

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

I don't know what it's called, but the insulation I use has a thin plastic film on it. I don't think you need to worry about toxic emissions, but if you are concerned, you might consider that style of rigid foam instead.

 

[Homegrowngoodnes]

I don't know what it's called, but the insulation I use has a thin plastic film on it. I don't think you need to worry about toxic emissions, but if you are concerned, you might consider that style of rigid foam instead.

Not worried with the foam. The lumber i have on hand is treated so i cant build an endoskeletal kiln/flue cure chamber. I also cant use mdf and seal with rtv nor liquid nail like i would have with a speaker box. The alluminum tape will have to suffice. The foam im talking about is heat rated to either 180 or 185 if im not mistaken and doesnt release toxic chemicals though if i were to use the treated lumber inside the kiln it would be a different story.