I finally figured out why commercially they don't top their CT shade plants. They don't WANT the leaves to thicken. They want all the leaves to be as thin and delicate as they can be.
John
John
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Johnlee's grown log
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The leaf of my fully sun-grown CT Shade (from your seed) is quite thick and corrugated. They are my tallest plants (approaching 7'). I think they will be too rumply to work as wrappers, but should add a nice flavor as a binder. Compared to other varieties, they have been relatively bug-free, like the FL Sumatra ad Dixie Shade. I'm allowing one to make seed, and have topped the others. It will be interesting to compare them.
Bob
Bob
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This is true!
some commercial growers, do top thier plants,
thier is a garden attachment, that gets the plant, in it, and tops it, as it passes thru,
you'll see the whole field flowered out,
then the next day, all the tops are gone,
heres a modern machine that does it,
the baccy goes thru the hopper at the top of the machine,
and it gets topped,
>http://images.search.yahoo.com/imag...b=140ge901q&sigi=12eacrhpe&.crumb=OPfjAK9/L0j
thier is a garden attachment, that gets the plant, in it, and tops it, as it passes thru,
you'll see the whole field flowered out,
then the next day, all the tops are gone,
heres a modern machine that does it,
the baccy goes thru the hopper at the top of the machine,
and it gets topped,
>http://images.search.yahoo.com/imag...b=140ge901q&sigi=12eacrhpe&.crumb=OPfjAK9/L0j
Rayshields
Well-Known Member
What say you, BigBonner?
You are right Chicken. I was talking about CT shade and left those words out (now corrected). The CT broadleaf is topped.
John
My topping machines are attached one each arm .Also known and a hand . I hand top and sucker all of my tobacco. Nothing mechanical for me .I take two rows at a time and a very slow walk . The more you top the better you get . I like topping in late evnings til dark and spray in the early mornings .
A machine can't get suckers . It also can't tell leaf size .
Blowers blow the top leaves down and a cutter cut the top ( Bloon or bud ) Off. Short plants may not get topped and taller plants may be over topped .Hydraulic sylenders raises and lowers the blowers and cutter .
Rayshields
Well-Known Member
Thanks, Larry
BarG
Founding Member
I have a hard time working and keeping up with my crop this year. Its a lot of hand work. An everyday project up to several hours a day to 1 hour a day for a beginner like me.
With comercial Burley tobacco you top and remove any suckers over 1 inch and spray , wait 21 days or up to 4 weeks before harvesting .Suckers will not grow if sprayed right .
With Ct Broad leaf it is topped and juged with sucker control. Jugging is just allowing the sucker control to run down the stalk and is not applied to the leaves .Harvest 2 weeks after topping .
Fatty alcohol can be used but has to be applied twice .
BarG
Founding Member
You should harvest Your ct broadleaf that soon. Mines been topped about 2 and 3 weeks now.
I'm goin' to have to give up this tobacco growing ah---er---poop! Another line of T storms just went thru and I'm getting tired of holding my breath waiting for hail or not. I did the first prime on the Maryland 609.
The martini glass is empty (damn) and just for scale.
John
The martini glass is empty (damn) and just for scale.
John
Thanks.
No. Look carefully at the leaf furthest back. It has a tear. Some of the other leaves have holes or other physical damage but most are OK.
John
BarG
Founding Member
John
You play your cards right you could probably retire from tobacco growing and have members send you samples enough to last thru years end.
You keep the site hoppin often enough.
You play your cards right you could probably retire from tobacco growing and have members send you samples enough to last thru years end.
You keep the site hoppin often enough.
DonH
Well-Known Member
John it looks like you are in the line of fire again for more severe storms. Good luck!
Thanks. It looks like the next three days will be iffy. I have light rain now but I am going to be harvesting some good CT shade leaves anyway. I want to assure I'm going to get at least a little quality wrapper. I already have some CT broad leaf hanging and plan to get a bit more. That way if I get hit I'll have binder and wrapper to roll up all the hail generated filler.
John
Well, I got two more priming's in, Red leaf and CT shade. The red leaf is about 27" X 12".
PA Red ..................CT Shade
Here's what the sun porch look like now and my first prime is not finished. Looks like I'll have to get creative if I'm going to get it all in. The color curing is faster than last year so I may be able to get some of it in hands and in the kiln.
John
PA Red ..................CT Shade
Here's what the sun porch look like now and my first prime is not finished. Looks like I'll have to get creative if I'm going to get it all in. The color curing is faster than last year so I may be able to get some of it in hands and in the kiln.John
Johnlee
If the sun porch lets the sunshine through you may want to cover the leaves and not let the sun shine through and burn the leaves . It will cause them to turn green .
Thanks BB, the glass area is below the level I hang at. If I get a few greenish leaves I'll use them as wrapper. The Garcia y Vegas I smoke now have a green wrapper.
John
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