FrostD’s 2023 Grow Blog

[FrostD]

Time to get my second year growing off to a start! Last year I planted everything super late, aphids galore, and very stunted & runted plants. All which was to be somewhat expected. This year, hopefully will keep learning what not to do and still keep having fun!

Started today, filled up 4 solo cups up about 3/4 of the way with some soil. Added 1/3 cup filtered water to each and mixed it up into the soil. I let that acclimate to room temp, before making sure the top soil was moist, but not soaking. After about 15 min or so, spritzed a little water on the top soil and gently tossed it around a little with a fork. Sprinkled about 10-15 seeds onto the top soil of each solo cup. Covered with cling wrap & rubber banded the cling wrap down. Poked a few holes into the top of the cling wrap with a fork to allow some slight air exchange. Sitting now on a heat mat in front of the aero garden.


Since I picked up some extra varieties from @skychaser last year. Have these ones on deck. Tried to pick ones that may be good for the climate here in Wisconsin.



Lastly, checked on the leaf that’s been hanging over the winter in the basement. I have a work trip this upcoming week and come this next weekend, will probably chuck all the overly green leaf. Haven’t built a kiln yet, so am thinking of tossing the dark leaf (all Bezuki from last year) into my “casing cooler” and once they are pliable enough, flatten them out and zip lock them up & put dates on the bag as to when I chopped & hung them up and when they were bagged. Then, let them age naturally until a kiln is completed.

 

[FrostD]

1 Week since setting up the solo cups, soil mixture w/ some water and seeds on top. Didn’t add any water to the mixture, just did a light spritz over the top of the soil when I got back from my work trip Friday. They’ve been sitting on a heat mat and having some indirect light from the aerogarden. We have some lift off!

Criollo


Connecticut Shade


Habano 2000


Connecticut Broadleaf


Soil used was some left over from last year. Not the most ideal, but it’s what was on hand. In the next couple weeks will be putting together a better soil mixture for when they are ready to be transplanted.

 

[FrostD]

Was finally able to combine leaf orders and organize them a bit. Took a few hours and had a labyrinth of leaf stacked all over basement… but thank goodness it’s done! Opposed to having random leaf together, wrappers and binders in various boxes… just condensed and labeled for ease of finding. This is roughly 2/3 of total leaf, but all are pretty much sealed bags. Other 1/3ish of leaf are in totes in rolling bench (aka work bench) area. An interesting exercise overall. Noticed how stocked up the Dominican Cibao Valley leaf is. Overall, was able to toss out 1x little box. Lol.

 

[Knucklehead]

The ultimate prepper storage. No shelf life and can always barter for food and ammo.

 

[FrostD]

The ultimate prepper storage. No shelf life and can always barter for food and ammo.

My thoughts exactly! Need to make sure I keep some cigars rolled up and at the ready just in case as well. Can definitely cook up some fantastic meals. Those with ammo, I’ll be seeking those of you out first! I’ll get my bartering skills honed up.

 

[deluxestogie]

A gun is only a gun, but a good Cigar is a Smoke.
[with apologies to Rudyard Kipling]

Bob

 

[FrostD]

2 weeks since starting some seeds in the handy dandy solo cups. Haven’t watered at all this past week. Just letting them do their thing. I know there was a decent amount of water mixed into the soil 2 weeks ago. In addition, there’s condensation built up on the plastic wrap. Will be on a work trip Monday-Wednesday this week. Will plan on transplanting them into some cell packs with domes late next week or next weekend. Had about 8” of snow dumped on us yesterday, so timing should work out…I hope. Odd spring we are having in Wisconsin. Outside temps are hovering low to mid 30’s with some days hitting the 40’s-50’s.

Connecticut Shade:


Habano 2000


Criollo


Connecticut Broadleaf

 

[FrostD]

3 weeks from first starting. Realizing that these solo cups will remain their home until at least April 15th or 16th as I will be on vacation in Jamaica from April 9th - April 14th. May try to transplant individual plants into their own pots when I get home. Small window of time before a work trip to Michigan April 17th - 21st. Haven’t watered at all this week. I’m kinda using the condensation build up on the plastic wrap as a guide. Water is still condensing on the cover a decent amount while they are on a heat mat. So, will probably hold off on adding some water until before vacation. Only light source is indirect light from the Aero Garden that the heat mat sits in front of. Been having to compete with my lady’s succulents for heat mat space. . I’m not sure if the house sitters will know how to handle the plants properly. The pups on the other hand will get lots of love!

Habano 2000


Criollo


Connecticut Shade


Connecticut Broadleaf

 

[FrostD]

Aero Garden has various herbs growing. 2 1/3 rows on the left are bonsai trees we are attempting to grow out. The bonsai varieties are pine & fern (that are actually growing). Still waiting on the Picea Ables to start…if they end up popping at all. Right side are some cactus, aloe, and green onions that we regrow after we chop em up after meals.

 

[RoperLegacyWoods]

What kind of soil do you use? Is there a "worse" or "better" soil for tobacco seeds? This is obviously my first year.....

 

[FrostD]

What kind of soil do you use? Is there a "worse" or "better" soil for tobacco seeds? This is obviously my first year.....

As far as the succulents, we use a cactus mix from a big box retailer. As far as for the tobacco seeds…I’ll be honest. I use left over “organic” labeled bag soil left over from garden beds from last year. I didn’t sift out any sort of twigs or wood matter that is in the soil, which I would highly suggest doing. Last year I used the same soil and some plants were stunted due to roots hitting the pieces of wood matter. Personally I think @deluxestogie has a good mixture for using with tobacco seeds. I’ll let him chime in, but off the top of my head, I believe it is a moss, perilite & vermiculite mix.

 

[deluxestogie]

2/3 Miracle-Gro Shagnum Peat Moss: 1/6 Miracle-Gro Pearlite: 1/6 vermiculite.

Bob

 

[FrostD]

1 day shy of 4 weeks. Taking pics today, since tomorrow morning will need to catch a flight for vacation. Leaving plastic wrap off the top for a bit and adding a milliliter or two of filtered water. Planning on transplanting into individual cells next weekend. They are definitely ready for their own homes in my opinion. Wiped the condensed water off the plastic wrap & poked some more holes to allow some more air movement.

Criollo




Habano 2000



Connecticut Broadleaf



Connecticut Shade

 

[Knucklehead]

1 day shy of 4 weeks. Taking pics today, since tomorrow morning will need to catch a flight for vacation. Leaving plastic wrap off the top for a bit and adding a milliliter or two of filtered water. Planning on transplanting into individual cells next weekend. They are definitely ready for their own homes in my opinion. Wiped the condensed water off the plastic wrap & poked some more holes to allow some more air movement.

Criollo

View attachment 45498


Habano 2000
View attachment 45499


Connecticut Broadleaf
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Connecticut Shade
View attachment 45501

I agree with the call to move them to individual homes. They are easier to separate before they put out alot of secondary roots and become entangled. If you need to, you can put them in water and that will help to tease them apart. They look good.

 

[FrostD]

Beginning of week 5 since starting seeds. Due to my short time home from flying home from Jamaica very late on Friday and needing to prep to fly back out early tomorrow for work…. Will need to wait until next weekend to transplant. Depending on how big they get, I’m planning on either transplanting to smaller individual cell trays. The Connecticut Broadleaf I may need some larger cells or small pots to transplant into. I’m also taking the plastic wrap off the Connecticut Broadleaf cup only, since the leaves have started to touch the plastic wrap. Year 2 is off to a decent start I’m thinking. Last week the temps were in the 70’s & 80’s (Fahrenheit) but today it’s currently 35F and snowing with a blizzard warning… tired of this snow…


Connecticut Broadleaf



Connecticut Shade



Habano 2000



Criollo

 

[FrostD]

Bring me back to Jamaica! Amazing sunsets in Negril. Just had to post a pic of some of the amazing vacation week. Also, if you’re debating on where to vacation… Jamaica is great! Amazing food, beaches, sunsets, and people!





Went to Ricks Cafe one day. Out of this world view! Had to grab this shirt and hat. The shirt… well it instantly grabbed my attention. Lol!

 

[Plinsc]

Looks like a great time was had!

 

[FrostD]

1 Day short of 6th week. Definitely time to transplant. Have a couple previously used 36 cell trays that I’ll be transplanting into (will post pics afterwards). Have some larger backup cell trays that my lady and I purchased last year, but never used. Planning the raised beds for veggies and herbs and hoping to start seeds tomorrow. This year we are trying to plant certain herbs next to the veggies as insect deterrents. Last year we were ravaged by cabbage worms on the Cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussel sprouts.

Criollo



Habano 2000



Connecticut Shade



Connecticut Broadleaf

 

[FrostD]

Start of week 7 from seed. Transplanted last Sunday into individual cells. Outside temps are still in the mid to low 30’s F. Once that gets up to the 40’s ish I’m going to help these guys out with a bigger light in the sunroom just to get more structure. Eventually will need to acclimate to outside sun and temps and determine their final homes (hopefully can start that in the next couple weeks). Not a ton of sun and warm temps here in Wisconsin still the last few months. Today it’s cloudy and rainy. Only watered them once and that was when the soil looked like it was starting to dry out and the tray the cells are in was dry. Even then once I saw the soil drying up, waited a day or two to let ‘em dry up a bit. Also, may need to do a little “hair cutting” in a week or so, some plants are definitely growing faster than others as one can see.

Connecticut Shade (11 plants sprouted)



Connecticut Broadleaf (15 plants sprouted)



Criollo (6 plants sprouted. Far right are some radishes we started for the garden/raised beds)



Habano 2000 (14 plants sprouted)

 

[FrostD]

Start of week 8 from seed. Some are definitely growing faster than others! Watered last Sunday (7 days ago) and watered yesterday. Just filled the bottom tray up so water was a little higher than the bottom portion of the cell tray. This seems to help me out to prevent over watering them and letting the soil not become overly saturated. May trim them up a bit still or let ‘em just run as is. Not trying to over complicate it this year. Still have a couple more weeks still I’m thinking in the trays before looking at acclimating them to the outdoors. Then transplanting into final pots or 5 gallon containers. Will also most likely gift some out to buddies, as I don’t have the space for all of them. If I end up not giving any out, just might take the strong growers and prep accordingly for them and keep some more of the little ones for back up or for a second batch later this summer.

Connecticut Shade:



Connecticut Broadleaf:



Criollo: