'Long Red' - photoblog (1st timer)

[JMorgan]

As title says, my first attempt: with the only seeds I could get my hands on. I will document my successes and failure here, and hope to learn a lot from this community and it's members.

Day 5 at 12:00pm




Day 6 at 4:00pm

 

[Oldfella]

Welcome from me in NZ. It looks like you're off to a great start. May I suggest that you start a thread in introduce yourself section. Tell us a little about yourself and your area. This is helpful for problem solving.
Oldfella

 

[JMorgan]

Welcome from me in NZ. It looks like you're off to a great start. May I suggest that you start a thread in introduce yourself section. Tell us a little about yourself and your area. This is helpful for problem solving.
Oldfella

Thanks @Oldfella good idea, I have found that section and will do that in the next few days.

 

[JMorgan]

OK, so I got some Rustica seeds just after taking those pics. I will include those as well in this thread.

For identification and size reference I will include coins in pics.
Long Red - single coin
Rustica - two coin stack



Day 16 at 6:15pm

Long Red







So with the Long Red a couple are really taking off well, but many still tiny.

 

[JMorgan]

Rustica day 10 at 6:15pm





So - Even though the Rustica were planted 8 days after the Long Red, the seedlings have pretty much caught up to them in size already, other than the few Long Reds that have grown MUCH faster than the majority.

Both are in identical conditions.

 

[JMorgan]

I also, just before lights out on the same day as above, thinned out some of the seedlings, taking ones that were going to be to close to the best growing ones. I replanted them in my last seedling container. Interestingly, the Rustica had MUCH better, longer stronger roots.

I did this tray 50 / 50, will most pics.

 

[JMorgan]

So after two nights and one day, the replanted seedlings look ok - not dying haha, so I thought I would try a little liquid fertiliser on them as a test for the others.

It is a liquid seaweed concentrate (it states 'safe for seedling') that I watered down to 50% of it's suggested strength (so a weaker mix), then replaced the water under the seedlings (just under a half an inch) with this liquid.

If this goes ok I will do on both of the others.

Also I have removed one of the vent covers completely on all lids, for a bit more air. Previously both had only been opened a little, maybe half and inch.

 

[deluxestogie]

Nicotiana rustica always germinates and grows more rapidly than Nicotiana tabacum.

Bob

 

[JMorgan]

Red section is long red, Blue is Rustica.

I have also left one free of soil so that I can see the water level.

For these replanted seedlings (the 'experimental lot' haha) I have used a single coin, but silver, and Cuban.








It will be interesting to see if the fertiliser helps. I am worried that most of the Long Red in particular have not really changed - have 'stalled' in their development, and maybe even look a little yellow. So am trying this to see if it might help.


All are growing under fluorescent lights for about 16 hours a day, at about 80 degrees.

 

[JMorgan]

Nicotiana rustica always germinates and grows more rapidly than Nicotiana tabacum.

Bob

Thank you! I think for me they will be more suitable to my life (their size, curability etc as well). But I will treat them both with the same love this first time haha.

 

[JMorgan]

The coins for size reference.

 

[JMorgan]

Day 22 for Long Red, Day 13 for Rustica.

Long Red (one coin): most seem to have stagnated and not grown for a week, and starting to look a little yellow. Even the few that are larger are starting to look a little yellow. I thought I was being paranoid but looking over my shoulder my wife said the very same thing without me having mentioning it.... Devastated!

Rustica (two coins): still growing well, no real complaints.

50/50 transplants (silver coin): none died, but the addition of weak liquid fertiliser has not improved them - they are the same as the original groups. And it did not stop or help the yellowing.

SO, on another thread on here I saw that TOO MUCH water can cause this. Hmmmm I am am watering from the bottom, but maybe they need more air? I did not think that the water was too deep, but took action anyway. Took tops off, took them out of water trays and put them on towels for a few hours to draw water out from below as well. Had to change the towel five times. Luckily my wife is not unhappy about the use of the bath towels Also, I emptied one cell of each of the original trays, so that I can monitor the levels when I do add water again - but I am not doing that yet. The seedlings from the emptied cells have been put into small pots, and I will run these uncovered, watered from the top, and leave a little drier just to see what happens. I have no reason not to try it! oh and I bought a cheap moisture sensor to see what it thinks.

Non scientific:
I have used a 'love eyes emoji pot' from my wife, for one trial seedling for 'good luck'.
I have been playing music for them.



By the time I spent a few hours doing all of that ^ the Rustica look happier for Sure, the Long Red do too, but still have yellow bits (yes, I am impatient ha)

and....

I noticed the water level on the side of the cells (pic below) - it is a lot higher than I thought. So I am glad I emptied some cells to monitor that better, and will try and reduce it by half at least.

oh, and I will use that bolt with green tape on it as a 'green' reference from now on so that I do not go insane imagining colour variances haha. It was sitting on the next shelf, so that's how it got chosen

Now I will pray to the Tobacco Gods and carry on with hope. And of course accept all advice or comments.

 

[JMorgan]

Also, I have been slack on the 'Introduce yourself thread' - I will get to it but here are some pics from out the back of the workshop from yesterday. Water Dragons are always there, but this was a big boy, nearly a yard from nose to tail tip. Photo's do not do justice. I wanted to go closer to take better pics that showed his impressive red chest and size, but then a damn bush turkey came out of nowhere and wanted to fight me and so then chaos ensued and it disturbed the Dragon's peaceful morning, and he left. Oh well, that's life in the bush aye. So in the end I had to just zoom in on screen from one of the first far away pics to show him to you.

 

[Oldfella]

View attachment 39889





Day 22 for Long Red, Day 13 for Rustica.

Long Red (one coin): most seem to have stagnated and not grown for a week, and starting to look a little yellow. Even the few that are larger are starting to look a little yellow. I thought I was being paranoid but looking over my shoulder my wife said the very same thing without me having mentioning it.... Devastated!

Rustica (two coins): still growing well, no real complaints.

50/50 transplants (silver coin): none died, but the addition of weak liquid fertiliser has not improved them - they are the same as the original groups. And it did not stop or help the yellowing.

SO, on another thread on here I saw that TOO MUCH water can cause this. Hmmmm I am am watering from the bottom, but maybe they need more air? I did not think that the water was too deep, but took action anyway. Took tops off, took them out of water trays and put them on towels for a few hours to draw water out from below as well. Had to change the towel five times. Luckily my wife is not unhappy about the use of the bath towels Also, I emptied one cell of each of the original trays, so that I can monitor the levels when I do add water again - but I am not doing that yet. The seedlings from the emptied cells have been put into small pots, and I will run these uncovered, watered from the top, and leave a little drier just to see what happens. I have no reason not to try it! oh and I bought a cheap moisture sensor to see what it thinks.

Non scientific:
I have used a 'love eyes emoji pot' from my wife, for one trial seedling for 'good luck'.
I have been playing music for them.

View attachment 39890

By the time I spent a few hours doing all of that ^ the Rustica look happier for Sure, the Long Red do too, but still have yellow bits (yes, I am impatient ha)

and....

I noticed the water level on the side of the cells (pic below) - it is a lot higher than I thought. So I am glad I emptied some cells to monitor that better, and will try and reduce it by half at least.

oh, and I will use that bolt with green tape on it as a 'green' reference from now on so that I do not go insane imagining colour variances haha. It was sitting on the next shelf, so that's how it got chosen

Now I will pray to the Tobacco Gods and carry on with hope. And of course accept all advice or comments.

View attachment 39891

View attachment 39892

I think that you may be fussing over them a little like a mother hen. Try not to worry, different varieties of tobacco seedlings seem to grow up at different rates. You say that your seedlings are 22 days old, here’s a picture of mine at around 33 days.

From left to right we have: Amarello Rio Grande, Lizard Tail Orinoco, Prilep, Red Russian, and in the top right hand corner, Virginia Gold.
I plant them in peat pots and water from the bottom only when the tops of the pot's are showing signs of dryness. All where sowen at same time. I thin from lots to 3 to 2 and finally to the healthiest. They are planted outside in my plot pot and all, I do keep a few incase of disaster but so far have not needed them. Good luck with your grow. It will be interesting to watch as our growing season seems to be the same.
Cheers Oldfella

 

[JMorgan]

I think that you may be fussing over them a little like a mother hen. Try not to worry, different varieties of tobacco seedlings seem to grow up at different rates. You say that your seedlings are 22 days old, here’s a picture of mine at around 33 days.
View attachment 39894
From left to right we have: Amarello Rio Grande, Lizard Tail Orinoco, Prilep, Red Russian, and in the top right hand corner, Virginia Gold.
I plant them in peat pots and water from the bottom only when the tops of the pot's are showing signs of dryness. All where sowen at same time. I thin from lots to 3 to 2 and finally to the healthiest. They are planted outside in my plot pot and all, I do keep a few incase of disaster but so far have not needed them. Good luck with your grow. It will be interesting to watch as our growing season seems to be the same.
Cheers Oldfella

Thank you for the sage advice. That certainly seems like a good system. The peat pots I like especially. I actually just bought plastic ones yesterday And I am loathe to return things or exchange - a particular psychological flaw for sure... But maybe I should do it in this case

You are blessed to have such a variety of seeds available to you, and seem like a seasoned grower. These are not only my first tobacco seeds, but the first things I have ever germinated and grown. I have not even grown a tomato, so it is certainly new and exciting to me.

Today I fussed like a mother hen indeed. My best friend was in a risky surgery and I took the day off, and... rather than let my mind implode with worry I distracted myself with my hen like behaviour. But, I think it will help them and he made it through the surgery. So actually I was praying to the Tobacco Gods for more than just luck for my seedlings I guess.

Yes, A similar growing season indeed! It will be interesting to be sure. Man I hope I don't fail! I look forward to it and wish you all the best too! (a manure emoji for good luck for each of us!!)

JM

 

[Oldfella]

You'll be fine Don't worry Tobacco is after all a weed, it's hard to kill. Don't fuss about the pots other members use them and have no hassles with them.
I hope that your best friend is going to be OK.
Oldfella

 

[JMorgan]

You'll be fine Don't worry Tobacco is after all a weed, it's hard to kill. Don't fuss about the pots other members use them and have no hassles with them.
I hope that your best friend is going to be OK.
Oldfella

So yes, I finally can say he will be ok.

I was a wreck with worry but as above tried to distract my mind with my fussing and experimenting... it has resulted in a ridiculous experimental germination station that folks might find offensive, but I have learned a lot from it and survived the week.

 

[JMorgan]

 

[Oldfella]

View attachment 39979

View attachment 39980

Your seedlings are coming along nicely. What is the one with the red tipped stick? It looks good. Anyway Your going well. I doubt you will have any problems.
Oldfella

 

[JMorgan]

Your seedlings are coming along nicely. What is the one with the red tipped stick? It looks good. Anyway Your going well. I doubt you will have any problems.
Oldfella

It is one of the 'Long Red'. It started faster than the others and is leagues ahead. I will take some comparison pics tomorrow to show