Harrison 2025 grow blog

[Damanadaplaya]

Off to a “sort of good” start. My purchased Cuban Criollo 98 and my Havana 608 seeds came up, but my own seeds from 2 years ago did not.

 

[Oregontobaccoplants]

Awesome

 

[Damanadaplaya]

Coming along. The Cuban varieties are up and at ‘em, seeds from previous year did not work so I had to germinate a different batch. They sprouted!

 

[Damanadaplaya]

Hello sunshine

 

[Damanadaplaya]

I’m a little concerned about spacing, but it should be OK; future Cubans.

 

[Damanadaplaya]

I had to use seven dust as I lost several plants to cut worms, and leaf munching worms. I also decided to mulch with oak leaves (free & abundant) to keep moisture in and weeds out. Each bed has 2 bags of Black Kow this year, and fertilizer. I have marigolds sprouting outside of the fence, and the front of each bed (facing south) has basil plants germinated. The bottle tree is to ward off bad spirits.

 

[Damanadaplaya]

I tested my soil, PH, phosphorus, pot ash all good, nitrogen was almost not there. I applied a good amount of blood meal at the drip line of each plant and watered it in hoping that will solve the issue. I told my wife the blood meal has really stunk the yard up. A day later, I found a dead possum the dogs have killed under my grill cover. It wasn’t the blood on my tobacco, it was a dead possum. There’s a country song in there somewhere….

 

[Damanadaplaya]

Having some issues. I tested soil at Easter and it was zero nitrogen. I added blood meal at the drip line, and I have used a little bit of shake and feed. Is this mosaic? Is it damage from lack of nitrogen? I don’t want it to spread.

 

[deluxestogie]

That looks viral to me. I would guess Tobacco Etch Virus (TEV). If you wish to keep the plants, just plan on handling them last on each trip to the tobacco garden, then wash your hands well afterwards. You end up with crummy tobacco from the affected leaves, but it is not harmful to humans.

Bob

EDIT:

Tobacco Etch Virus (TEV)

There are a number of viruses that affect tobacco, and most also can infect or be transmitted from other members of the solanaciae family (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers). Details of the pathophysiology of these virus infections are not particularly useful for the home grower. In this...

fairtradetobacco.com

 

[Damanadaplaya]

Thank you Bob.

 

[Damanadaplaya]

Storm looks like it demolished my plants, I even have plants with wilted leaves. I tried straightening them but stems feel like they would crack. My question is, are leaves “not ripe enough” if the plant is harvested early? If it was a tomato I would know the answer. The leaves are sticky and healthy. What are thoughts on air curing plants that met an early demise? I’ll eventually ferment for cigars.
View attachment 55710View attachment 55710

 

[deluxestogie]

I suggest allowing them to continue to grow. Stake them, if needed. Ugly is way better than harvested too early.

Bob

 

[ProZachJ]

Sorry to hear it. I commiserate with weather struggles.