Johnlee's grown log

[johnlee1933]

I'm down to tall skinny stalks now with blossoms and a few small leaves. Are these any good at all or much too strong? Do I just cut them down and start preparing for next year or can I do something with them?


Thanks,

John

 

[Chicken]

i'd top them real good, and let them leaves continue to grow,

my patch looks pathetic, but the leaves are still growing,

and after picking all thats still out there, i think, i will get a pretty good haul. out of whats left<

 

[johnlee1933]

i'd top them real good, and let them leaves continue to grow,

my patch looks pathetic, but the leaves are still growing,

and after picking all thats still out there, i think, i will get a pretty good haul. out of whats left<

Thanks but I can't get up there to top some of them. They're over 12' tall.

John

 

[SmokesAhoy]

12'? that's ridiculous!

 

[Chicken]

my bursa and ottoman was real tall also,

i just grab the plant violentlly, and bend it over, till i can get my cutters to the head, and top it,

 

[deluxestogie]

I'm down to tall skinny stalks now with blossoms and a few small leaves. Are these any good at all or much too strong? Do I just cut them down and start preparing for next year or can I do something with them?

Let them fully ripen, color-cure them, then kiln them. They will likely be quite strong, but they make superb cigar flavoring, when added as a small strip to a milder blend. These are ingredients that you just can't buy, and have unique, often chocolaty flavors. An occasional large one will make a tasty, sweet oscuro wrapper.

Bob

 

[johnlee1933]

12'? that's ridiculous!

Take a look at the pic above. The steel support tubes are 6' off the ground.

John

 

[johnlee1933]

Let them fully ripen, color-cure them, then kiln them. They will likely be quite strong, but they make superb cigar flavoring, when added as a small strip to a milder blend. These are ingredients that you just can't buy, and have unique, often chocolaty flavors. An occasional large one will make a tasty, sweet oscuro wrapper.

Bob

OK Thanks. That's what I'll do. Thanks also for the sample of Big Gem. I'm bringing it up to case now and will roll a puro tomorrow. Since it is maduro I think I'll try it as a wrapper for a VA bright/Maryland 609 also.

On another note -- I didn't bag the CT shade but I am going to save a little seed anyhow, grow a couple of plants next year and see what it's like.
I haven't had much success with my own starts. I am going to see my pro friend and next year and try to duplicate his setup. He does very will with thousands of plants.
John

 

[deluxestogie]

John,
I didn't really look at your photos of the CT Shade until now. That's spectacular!

Bob

 

[BarG]

John ,I have one bag left. I'm sending it to you friday. bag one of those puppys if you have a ladder that tall.

 

[Tom_in_TN]

I am taking deluxestogie's advice to let tip leaves ripen, then harvest, cure, kiln and use as flavor enhancers in small amounts.

John, those 12' plants are incredible. Great job on your grow this season.

 

[johnlee1933]

John ,I have one bag left. I'm sending it to you friday. bag one of those puppys if you have a ladder that tall.

Too late to bag. If they are going to cross pollinate they have already done it. I am going to save some seed anyway and grow a couple of plants next year just to see what happens. If you want a little of that seed I'm sure I'll have plenty.

John

 

[deluxestogie]

I have bagged one CT Shade plant grown from seed sent to me by John. In my setting, the plant only reached 6' to the crowsfoot, another foot taller for the bud head. Puny by John's standards. I believe that the prolonged dry conditions this summer significantly impacted its growth, since I did not water it. They also suffered some minimal root damage from two severe windstorms. I'll be sending seed to the FTT seed bank in the fall.

Bob

 

[johnlee1933]

I really have to get soil analysis pretty soon. Both plots did well but one was obviously better. The last soil tests said my Ph was too high. If I can fix that maybe I'll get better results next year. At least no hail this year.

 

[Chicken]

glad to hear,

that hail wasnt a issue for you this year,,,

i 'd hate to plant a crop, and baby it,,

and one day it all got ruined by hail.

 

[BarG]

Those CT. Shade may be some of the tallest plants I've seen pics of.

 

[johnlee1933]

Those CT. Shade may be some of the tallest plants I've seen pics of.

It's all relative. Think Redwood.

John

 

[SmokesAhoy]

Pfft, redwood doesn't grow in 2 months tho!

 

[Tom_in_TN]

"Think Redwood."

I'm thinking it will take a Chainsaw to cut the sucker down.

 

[BarG]

"Think Redwood."

I'm thinking it will take a Chainsaw to cut the sucker down.

I didn't think you could crossbreed species like that though.