New Guy from Northeast PA

[Tendril77]

Hello Gents and Ladies,
I jumped into this forum to do research and begin my journey in tobacco growing and processing. I plan to be a hobbyist. I would like to grow something that could be smoked like a cigarette (Camel Wide Style) and also various Pipe tobacco's including Cavendish. I am a big fan of aeromatics, so I am very open to casings and the like. I am not afraid to try new things. I have also dabbled in making PID controlled meat curing cabinets and smokers, so I do understand what it takes to make electronically controlled curing and heating cabinets. I am looking forward to the wealth of knowledge you all have brought and the future to come. Wish me luck!

 

[deluxestogie]

Welcome to the forum. Be sure to read the New Growers' FAQ, and browse through the topics in our Index of Key Forum Threads. Both are linked in the menu bar. For producing the "Virginia" of cigarettes and pipe tobacco, you will need to grow a flue-cure variety, and it will need to be flue-cured (i.e. you'll have to build a flue-curing chamber). You can make Cavendish from anything. Other members may be able to assist with flavored casings.

Bob

 

[jclif43]

Welcome!

 

[Tendril77]

Welcome to the forum. Be sure to read the New Growers' FAQ, and browse through the topics in our Index of Key Forum Threads. Both are linked in the menu bar. For producing the "Virginia" of cigarettes and pipe tobacco, you will need to grow a flue-cure variety, and it will need to be flue-cured (i.e. you'll have to build a flue-curing chamber). You can make Cavendish from anything. Other members may be able to assist with flavored casings.

Bob

Thanks for the welcome. I have a bunch of studying to do. I have been researching tobacco types and uses, but there is so much out there, that it gets rather daunting to find tobacco's that will grow well where I am and pose the correct use for what I am looking to do. I certainly will look at the growing part of the forum first so i can get my seeds going then move on from there. I don't have much time, so I need to hit the ground running and get the seeds started. I am definitely going to make a flue-cure cabinet. I already have an "extra" controller that I can use. I hope to post my "portable" heat controller in the forums for everyones' use as well.

 

[deluxestogie]

A reliable source of tobacco seed: Northwood Seeds. On that site, you can be assured of the purity of all of the gazillion varieties he offers (that would be forum member @skychaser). Tobacco is commercially grown in Canada and Nepal. You should not have to give your climate any thought with regard to selecting a variety. How many plants are you considering growing?

Bob

 

[MarcL]

Welcome to Fair Trade Tobacco. Good luck.

 

[Tendril77]

A reliable source of tobacco seed: Northwood Seeds. On that site, you can be assured of the purity of all of the gazillion varieties he offers (that would be forum member @skychaser). Tobacco is commercially grown in Canada and Nepal. You should not have to give your climate any thought with regard to selecting a variety. How many plants are you considering growing?

Bob

I will certainly check out Northwood Seeds, especially due to they are a member of the site. While I am certain the virginia and burley plants will fair quite well (i.e. Lancaster is close and well known area below me), I haven't done much looking into Izmir, orientals, Turkish, etc. I have quite a bit of room in my field for plants, but as long as the wife doesn't kill me, I would like to plant maybe 4 of each minimum that I want to mess with. That way, I can let two of each go to seed at a time (covering the others so they don't cross). LOL, the wife rolled her eyes when she saw I was looking at tobacco seeds.......but.... she didn't get mad, so let her rip LOL! That 1 1/2 acre field may get quite a bit smaller...

 

[Homegrowngoodnes]

Welcome!

 

[Alpine]

Welcome to FTT

pier

 

[Oldfella]

Hello Gents and Ladies,
I jumped into this forum to do research and begin my journey in tobacco growing and processing. I plan to be a hobbyist. I would like to grow something that could be smoked like a cigarette (Camel Wide Style) and also various Pipe tobacco's including Cavendish. I am a big fan of aeromatics, so I am very open to casings and the like. I am not afraid to try new things. I have also dabbled in making PID controlled meat curing cabinets and smokers, so I do understand what it takes to make electronically controlled curing and heating cabinets. I am looking forward to the wealth of knowledge you all have brought and the future to come. Wish me luck!

Welcome from me in NZ. I'm pleased you have joined us and know that you're going get all the information and help you need.
Oldfella

 

[Havok]

Welcome to the forum!

Something to consider, if you’re only growing 4 plants of each variety: The plants put less energy into leaf production when they go to seed, one plant will give you more seed than you’ll know what to do with.

 

[Knucklehead]

Welcome. Thank you for joining us.

 

[Tendril77]

Welcome to the forum!

Something to consider, if you’re only growing 4 plants of each variety: The plants put less energy into leaf production when they go to seed, one plant will give you more seed than you’ll know what to do with.

Havock, I totally agree. I just want to pollinate each variety seperately, so I will leave two to flower of each. I don't want to cross-pollinate. I am assuming that I will cut off the top of one of them after my bees pollinate them. I have an apiary of my own that will be right next to the plants, so it will only take one day for each round. To be honest, I will be planting at least 6 of each, but I assume there will be more. I just hate wasting good seeds that have sprouted. Hey, the more I plant, the less of the field I have to mow LOL. I am pretty sure I will have more tobacco than I know what to do with, so I will be trying every style of curing (flue, sun, air, etc.) to see how it comes out. I am not afraid to just jump right in. That's how I roll. I am going to start a new "fall crop" garden in the field anyway, so I plan on planting these around the perimeter. I will have plenty of room, and the grass clippings as I mow around them will help deter weeds with little time and effort.

 

[Homegrowngoodnes]

An apiarist and tobacconist, interesting indeed. Do you know how many seeds can come from just one plant's seed head? A quarter or a million or more! Enough to plant 25 or 30 acres of tobacco!

 

[deluxestogie]

after my bees pollinate them.

If you wish to maintain the genetic purity of your tobacco varieties, bag the head prior to blossoms forming. Tobacco is self-pollinating. If you allow your bees to get near the blossoms from which you obtain seed, then it will no longer be a pure strain.

Bob

 

[Tendril77]

If you wish to maintain the genetic purity of your tobacco varieties, bag the head prior to blossoms forming. Tobacco is self-pollinating. If you allow your bees to get near the blossoms from which you obtain seed, then it will no longer be a pure strain.

Bob

Well, that is a good thing... I will do as you suggested and only leave (1) plant each to flower (bagged).