Old Gasman's 2023 Blog

[Old Gasman]

Another couple of photos of this year's grow and already my GCR are starting to turn yellow. They're fine looking plants but the leaves are quiet far apart so I don't envisage much yield from them. The Little Dutch on the other hand are very vigorous and I have high hopes for them.

 

[Old Gasman]

My tobacco plants are now about three weeks since I topped them and once again I start to fret about when to harvest them. Last year was a hot sunny summer, this one is the exact opposite so here's a few photos of what I have so far. I'd really appreciate your thoughts as to whether you think they're about ready. The Little Dutch are now a pale yellow and he GCR are starting to take on what I've seen described as a Rugose appearance.

 

[Alpine]

Both the little Dutch and the GCR are mature (maybe a few leaves are mature-to-ripe). If you’re growing for cigarettes, I would wait a few more days, for cigars or pipe they’re about ready to harvest.
Don’t expect the GCR to turn yellow on the plant (it doesn’t) instead look for leaf increased rugosity and thickness and some yellowing at the very tip. Do not rush things, harvesting ripe leaves is the first step for a successful easy cure.

pier

 

[Old Gasman]

Thank you very much Pier that's good to know. I'm growing these primarily for pipe tobacco, I'll give them a few more days I think. It's a pity they're not so easy to judge as my tomato plants are. Many thanks.

 

[Old Gasman]

Another little update. My Little Dutch and GCR are gradually being harvested, neither of them seem to be yellowing on the plants but I believe that's not uncommon for the GCR. Some leaves I have primed and yellowed wrapped in the blanket on the work table whilst others have been hung entire. I've been really impressed by just how well the Little Dutch have done, they're real champions, so much so that where I cut the stalk I've now got new decent size plants growing.

 

[Old Gasman]

Did I not say that my Little Dutch plants are champions, they're cut down and curing in my garage and the stalks are growing new plants. It'll be interesting to see if they grow to full size and what they turn out like.

 

[Old Gasman]

Well then chaps, all my plants are hanging and curing in my garage apart from the second crop of my Little Dutch which are growing well. Once the leaves have browned I like to flatten them out and store them in a cardboard box prior to finally packing them away into zip lock bags for long term storage. I'll take a photo or two of my second crop Little Dutch in a day or two but at the moment I'm a bit hobbled as I've had a new knee fitted.

 

[LazyBaba]

Ive got g.c.r for next year hopoe they look as good as yours..

 

[Alpine]

G.C.R. is a peculiar tobacco strain when it comes to identify signs of leaf maturation: almost no “alligator skin”, some (but not much) increase in leaf thickness and just the very tip of the leaf turns yellow. If left on the plant, those subtle changes are all you can see for weeks but (and here comes the good part) you can harvest the leaves and expect them to cure to a beautiful copper red as soon as the first 5 millimeters (roughly a quarter of an inch for our imperial friends) have turned yellow/brown. One of my, if not THE, favorite strain among Va class of tobacco: sturdy, little suckering, easy to cure and good tasting even if smoked alone.

pier

 

[Old Gasman]

Well then chaps all of my Little Dutch plants have finished curing in my garage and the leaves look great, they range from a golden yellow right though to a mahogany bronze colour. However they feel sticky to the touch, really quite sticky. I've never grown this variety before so I'm not sure if that's normal, hopefully one of you chaps who have experience of this variety will tell me. Oh I almost forgot, the sticky leaves seem to be from the plants that I stalk cured, the primed leaves don't seem sticky at all.

 

[deluxestogie]

I would give them more curing time, or kiln them.

Bob

 

[cavedane]

I would give them more curing time, or kiln them.

Bob

The last fine topleaves on my burley was also very stiky the are dry now.. but have cured to a very dark color..think they are strong at taste and negotin.

 

[LazyBaba]

G.C.R. is a peculiar tobacco strain when it comes to identify signs of leaf maturation: almost no “alligator skin”, some (but not much) increase in leaf thickness and just the very tip of the leaf turns yellow. If left on the plant, those subtle changes are all you can see for weeks but (and here comes the good part) you can harvest the leaves and expect them to cure to a beautiful copper red as soon as the first 5 millimeters (roughly a quarter of an inch for our imperial friends) have turned yellow/brown. One of my, if not THE, favorite strain among Va class of tobacco: sturdy, little suckering, easy to cure and good tasting even if smoked alone.

pier

Great advice I shall put into practice next year.....

 

[LazyBaba]

The last fine topleaves on my burley was also very stiky the are dry now.. but have cured to a very dark color..think they are strong at taste and negotin.

I reckon you be right about the strength sticky equals alkaloids aka nicotine.....

 

[Old Gasman]

Well that's this year's grow blog pretty much done. All my tobacco is dried and packed away and my Buckets are emptied and stached away until next year. I didn't get that much tobacco compared with some of you chaps, I finished up with about 400 grams of Goose Creek Red and a similar amount of Little Dutch. But if I hadn't have bothered I wouldn't have any would I? Here's to next year's grow!