Oldfellainspain 2024 2nd Grow Log.

[oldfellainspain]

Yet another slow but steady week of growth. I'm almost missing the panicky meltdowns I suffered in my first two grows when things kept going pear shaped. I've taken the plants out of the trays now and spread them out a little. Where they are situated now gets early morning sun for a few hours, and it's easy for me to shade them if need be.

 

[Knucklehead]

Yet another slow but steady week of growth. I'm almost missing the panicky meltdowns I suffered in my first two grows when things kept going pear shaped. I've taken the plants out of the trays now and spread them out a little. Where they are situated now gets early morning sun for a few hours, and it's easy for me to shade them if need be.

They are looking great!

 

[oldfellainspain]

They are looking great!

Thanks Knucklehead.
My plants are outgrowing the 3" pots.
I've got over half transplanted up into their final homes now. I've used a mix of, 4 parts old mix from the last grow, 1 part new potting soil and 1 part compost. I'll leave them inside today in the hope that will help with any transplant shock.
On the next grow, when transplanting to 3" pots, I won't use plastic marker tags for the two types of tobacco, as, while hardening off on a windy morning a few of the lower leaves got shredded by them. I know I'll probably throw those leaves anyway, but I like things to look nice.
Now that this mornings work is done, I've shredded and mixed the baccy for next weeks smokes. Burley-Virginia-Oriental..... 60%-30%-10%.

 

[oldfellainspain]

Yesterday after their first day outside (in shade), the plants looked pretty sad. Luckily they look okay this morning.

 

[Huffen'Snuff]

A great low cost lighting for seedlings is a 48" duel tube t5 ho florescent, it's got enough efficacy to compare to sunlight. It's footprint realistically is 4feet by 1foot with two t5 ho tubes, for vegetative growth or hardening. For small seedlings two t5ho tubes could power 4x2 feet. Though for flowering we used four t5ho tubes for 4x1 feet. And for tobacco the media I liked best was pro-mix soil, I am still having hit and miss success with tobacco so far, but I think I'm pretty dialed in for next spring at this point. I have some intense LEDs but there expense is not necessary, I already had them before tobacco plants.

 

[Huffen'Snuff]

Can you lower the LEDs closer to the plants, or maybe add a reflective barrier around the lighting footprint. Another way to increase light to the plants would be adding space between individual plants or if nothing else add hours to the day. Mine were getting 24hrs most of the days and they didn't revert straight to bloom after moving them outdoors. Adding light indoors may help ease them into transplant outdoors.

 

[oldfellainspain]

Can you lower the LEDs closer to the plants, or maybe add a reflective barrier around the lighting footprint. Another way to increase light to the plants would be adding space between individual plants or if nothing else add hours to the day. Mine were getting 24hrs most of the days and they didn't revert straight to bloom after moving them outdoors. Adding light indoors may help ease them into transplant outdoors.

Hi Huffen'Snuff, thanks for your comments. I only used lights to germinate the seeds. After that, they were inside by a window for a while, then shade outside, and small amounts of time in direct sun to harden them off (I probably should have hardened them off for longer). Now they have outgrown the 3" pots, (eleven weeks since germination) I've transplanted into 3 gallon grow bags. My roof terrace gets fierce sunshine this time of year, and even moving the bags continually to keep them in the shade, the heat coupled with transplant shock is hard on them. My two previous grows were the same. I always worry at this stage, and am inclined to over water them. I'm gritting my teeth, and waiting to see how they look the following morning to try and get out of this habit.

 

[oldfellainspain]

The transplants are wilting less, and recovering quicker. There's also a small new leaf on all plants. I think they are over the worst. Still keeping them out of strong direct sunlight, and will start moving them into the sun next week. I haven't panic watered every time they wilt this time. Learning, learning, learning.

 

[oldfellainspain]

Last few plants needing to go into 3 gallon grow bags. Ordered this morning, so should be able to transplant tomorrow evening.

 

[oldfellainspain]

All plants in grow bags now. This second grow appears to be going okay. I love seeing the plants first thing in the morning before the sun gets on them. They look so fresh and healthy.

 

[oldfellainspain]

These plants are taking off now, all looking good with the exception of one runt. I'll give it a little longer and if I don't feel happy about it, I have three backups.
My thermometer in direct sunlight just went of the scale at 120ºF. 10.45 in the morning. About 85ºF in the shade. East coast Spain shouldn't be getting these temperatures until mid/late August. Mind you, I think I say this every year.

 

[oldfellainspain]

I replaced the runt with one of my backups and it's looking good. This second grow is coming on a lot faster than the first grow. More sun and much warmer temperatures makes a big difference.

 

[oldfellainspain]

Summer thunderstorm going on at the moment. Even on the roof terrace, wind and rain are taking their toll. Another couple of hours and it should be over.
Looks like I'll have some work on my hands tomorrow as pots are waterlogged and I'll need some support poles.

 

[deluxestogie]

When a plant is bent over sideways, the growth end of the stalk immediately begins to curve upwards. The sooner that you can get them upright, the straighter the stalks will be.

Bob

 

[oldfellainspain]

Thanks Bob.... Will do.

 

[slouch]

When a plant is bent over sideways, the growth end of the stalk immediately begins to curve upwards. The sooner that you can get them upright, the straighter the stalks will be.

Bob

A couple of my lanky orientals took a beating from the storms this year and I can attest to your statement they broke over and where laying flat like they where ready to die, 2 days later they where curved and growing straight up again.

 

[oldfellainspain]

Storm has finished and sun is out again this morning. Time for the big sort out. Everything is completely waterlogged. I've had to support six plants that had gone over and remove all trays from under the grow bags. I'm hoping they'll dry out pretty quickly. I think trying to have three grows has been a mistake. The first grow was slow, as it was started in the winter months, and the second grow has nearly caught it up, resulting in everything being too cramped. Trying to fit in a third grow is now impossible. I'm going to have a few plants from the second grow with wonky stalks, but hopefully they'll all survive.
As I can buy whole leaf Burley and Virginia quite easily, I'm thinking growing some Orientals may be a better choice for the limited space I have.

 

[Skafidr]

Summer thunderstorm going on at the moment. Even on the roof terrace, wind and rain are taking their toll. Another couple of hours and it should be over.
Looks like I'll have some work on my hands tomorrow as pots are waterlogged and I'll need some support poles.

Fortunately, looks like nothing fell on your plants to break them!

I think trying to have three grows has been a mistake.

I'm a first time grower and personally, I feel like even if I still do this every year for the next 10 years, I'll still have something to learn from experience... (And that's okay, at least for me!)

 

[oldfellainspain]

All plants seem to have recovered from being waterlogged by the storm. A few wonky stalks, but everything upright and growing okay.

 

[Florida Dave]

All plants seem to have recovered from being waterlogged by the storm. A few wonky stalks, but everything upright and growing okay.

I had a couple of stalks blow over last year and actually split - I staked them up and they continued to grow for a couple more months. That taught me to not give up on a tobacco plant until it turns brown.