KoceFF first grow blog 2021

[Charly]

It operates above surface.

Are you sure ?

The main damage done by mole crickets is as a result of their burrowing activities. As they tunnel through the top few centimetres of soil, they push the ground up in little ridges, increasing evaporation of surface moisture, disturbing germinating seeds, and damaging the delicate young roots of seedlings.[2] They are also injurious to turf and pasture grasses as they feed on their roots, leaving the plants prone to drying out and damage by use.

link : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_cricket

 

[koceff]

@Charly I am told so, I hope so, it would be easier to deal with them. The name suggests that they operate underground but maybe they go easy with beginners While on subject of underground creatures, how about an actual mole? Do they pose a treat to tobacco?

 

[deluxestogie]

The teamwork of moles and voles:
Moles are not herbivores, and do not directly damage tobacco or its roots. They eat worms and insect larvae, etc. But their tunnels may lay bare the roots, allowing the smaller tobacco plants to dry out. Unlike the issue with vegetables, where voles--which are herbivores--follow the mole tunnels to eat the plant roots, voles apparently do not eat tobacco roots.

Bob

EDIT: I have recently adopted the habit of transforming mole holes into butt holes. When I see a mole hole near a garden bed, I stuff an expended cigar butt into the hole, then fill it with dirt. Once an unknown threshold of cigar butts has been reached, the garden bed seems to be less attractive to moles.

 

[koceff]

I was thinking of planting some Dill and came across this

"Dill attracts honeybees and beneficial insects to the garden. Dill can be used as a trap crop for tomato hornworms.
The aroma of dill is said to repel aphids and spider mites. Dill attracts the caterpillars that turn into black swallowtail butterflies. ".

Anybody tried planting Dill for this purpose?

 

[koceff]

I am planing to put my tobacco in the ground this weekend. I hoped it will be ready 2 weeks ago but i guess it was kinda lazy.
This are the plants, i think they are ready, 10 weeks old. They are outside all the time with at least 2 hours of direct sunlight, some of them about 7 hours. The temperatures ahead, in the sun, will be above 100f easily.

Any suggestions preplanting? I'll put 20:20:20 tomorow.

 

[Knucklehead]

Do you have aphids in your area, and if so, do you have access to Imidacloprid? I use it in the transplant water and no aphids until about bud time. I don’t recommend spraying it on the leaves as it can kill pollinators such as bees. No problem in the transplant water.

Imidacloprid: Bayer Fruit Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control for APHIDS

Imidacloprid: Bayer Fruit Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide that can be added to water at transplant, to provide control of aphids (and some other insects) for most of the growing season. A common problem is that the most readily available...

fairtradetobacco.com

Your plants look great!

 

[Alpine]

Great looking plants, my compliments! Before transplant in full ground, I like to cut off 2/3 to 1/2 from the bigger leaves, in order to diminish transpiration and transplant shock.

pier

 

[koceff]

@Knucklehead I have planted tomatoes, okra, cucumbers and some other stuff and no aphids on those.
@Alpine Do you reccomend clipping the bigger leaves just before putting them in the ground like one day, one week or...?

 

[Alpine]

One day before transplant is enough, I sometimes break the leaves in half just before putting the plants in full ground.

pier

 

[wruk53]

Those are great looking seedlings. I've used those small cups before and I had a little trouble getting the entire root ball out intact due to the ridges on the cup. So I tried cutting two small slits about half an inch apart on the rim and then just peel the strip down to the bottom and I was able to get the entire root ball out without too much trouble and without damaging the roots.

 

[koceff]

Full sun for a full day,112f.

 

[Hayden]

View attachment 36906
Full sun for a full day,112f.

As i called my parents once in the evening and asked how the plants looked they were quit afraid because they looked like this in the midday sun. In the evening and after some more water they were all alive again luckily

 

[koceff]

Having second thoughts about planting this weekend.
Should i wait for the next week?

 

[koceff]

So, I've put about 180 Con.Broadleaf in the ground and 90 PA Red 4 days ago, They were watered imediatly after planting and 2 days later. So far about 100 Broadleaf and 40 PA red are burned to the ground, evaporated, gone, But I bought a new Zara cologne today so that's nice.
The peppers and tomatoes are doing great though. Don't know how I can smoke them but if there's a will there's a way i guess....

 

[deluxestogie]

What caused the transplanted tobacco to die? Had it been "hardened" to sun exposure, prior to transplant?

Bob

 

[koceff]

After germination It was outside all the time. Minimum of 4 hours of sun a day and week prior to transplanting them to the ground i was chasing sun all the long. I guess the heatwave that came after transplant was to strong for them,

 

[koceff]

This is what i was talking about. For next year PLANT THEM IN MAY ! Luckily we'll have a few colder days ahead so hopefully the others will be ok.

 

[wruk53]

View attachment 37082

This is what i was talking about. For next year PLANT THEM IN MAY ! Luckily we'll have a few colder days ahead so hopefully the others will be ok.

That looks extremely dry and compacted!

 

[Cray Squirrel]

Yeah The soil looks like it could use some work. Mix in a lot of organics, rotted hay, manures for next season. Might using a light temporary covering mulch of straw or grass hay to protect them until the plants adjust. Watch em close first few days after transplanting to the field. Good Luck

 

[Cray Squirrel]

That looks extremely dry and compacted!