PressuredLeafs late 2024 grow
- Thread starter PressuredLeaf
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I’m glad I picked a couple orientals so I have different flavor notes to play with.
PressuredLeaf
Well-Known Member
Got the VA planted today. I’m out of town this week, hopefully they don’t fry when I’m gone.
Olmstead
Member
I'm not too familiar with the particulars of Arizona's climate—aside from it being very hot and dry—but since you have a much longer warm season than we do up north, I think you'll do just fine so long as your soil's good and you water regularly. Orientals are wonderful condiment tobaccos; love 'em in pipe blends. I'll be interested to see what comes of your plants.
PressuredLeaf
Well-Known Member
Thank you! I’ve never planted this late in the season. When I’ve planted earlier in the year the tobacco has always handled the transition to very hot with no problems. The question will be, can they adapt quick enough! I haven’t planted the the yayladag or Xanthi yet, but they will be going in soon.
PressuredLeaf
Well-Known Member
Well, good news. All the transplants are alive and growing! The ones in the area where the old garden was are doing better, probably because of the nicer soil. Also, it turns out the garden gets a decent bit of shade from the peach and apricot tree, even through its south facing. I have to keep fighting back the pumpkin vibe that’s trying to take over the yard.
Yayladag and Xanthi are almost ready to move outside.
Yayladag and Xanthi are almost ready to move outside.
PressuredLeaf
Well-Known Member
The Virginia seem to be doing well. I’ve noticed the unmistakable damage of horn worms. So, I applied BT today and will continue to do so.
Also, I’m contemplating removing the first 3 VA plants to make sure I have room for the oreientals. I Like VA, but I only smoke my pipe in the winter, so loosing 3 plants won’t be a big deal. Plus, the soil where these three plants are isn’t great, and seeing where oriental is grown in the Balkans, I think they will be fine.
It’s cooling down this week (from 110+ to about 102-105). I think I will be able to transplant the Xanthi and Yayladag this weekend.
Also, I’m contemplating removing the first 3 VA plants to make sure I have room for the oreientals. I Like VA, but I only smoke my pipe in the winter, so loosing 3 plants won’t be a big deal. Plus, the soil where these three plants are isn’t great, and seeing where oriental is grown in the Balkans, I think they will be fine.
It’s cooling down this week (from 110+ to about 102-105). I think I will be able to transplant the Xanthi and Yayladag this weekend.
PressuredLeaf
Well-Known Member
Almost 2 weeks since transplanting the VA, and overall I’m pretty happy. It’s my first time growing any VA types, so I’m not exactly sure what to expect. But so far, it’s been very hot, abnormally monsoon-ey with lots of wind and the plants are handling it like champs.
My plan is to plant the Yaladag and Xanthi tomorrow. Additionally, since it’s been about 2 weeks since transplant I’m going to give the Virginia their final does of fertilizer - ~ 10g of KNO3 each. That should ensure ample potassium free of chloride/sulfate for what I hope will be good and combustible leaf.
My plan is to plant the Yaladag and Xanthi tomorrow. Additionally, since it’s been about 2 weeks since transplant I’m going to give the Virginia their final does of fertilizer - ~ 10g of KNO3 each. That should ensure ample potassium free of chloride/sulfate for what I hope will be good and combustible leaf.
PressuredLeaf
Well-Known Member
Got the yayladag and Xanthi in today. Yayla on the left and Xanthi on the right. The larger plants in the background are VA.
The Virginia seems to be entering the rapid growth stage. Although the older leafs are pretty eaten up, the newer ones look great. It seems like the daily application of BT is controlling the horn worms for now.
The Virginia seems to be entering the rapid growth stage. Although the older leafs are pretty eaten up, the newer ones look great. It seems like the daily application of BT is controlling the horn worms for now.
BT washes away with rain. It breaks down in direct sun after about 5 or 6 days. Hornworm eggs take about 96 hours to hatch. I've found that, absent rain, a weekly spraying with BT does a fairly good job, and saves me a lot of bother spraying.
Bob
Bob
PressuredLeaf
Well-Known Member
Thanks, Bob.
I’m certainly overdoing it, but we’ve had stormish looking monsoon clouds almost every night. I don’t think it’s rained every time, but just to be safe, I’m spraying every day.
Something interesting I’ve observed: although there is clearly horn worm damage, I have found 0 horn worms. I attribute this to the abundance of birds in my garden. Early in the summer when it was really hot out, I would fill a large tray with water for the poor birds. I had doves, Gila woodpeckers, curved bill thrashers, and mockingbirds everyday. I’d even leave old fruit out for them occasionally. I think they are paying me back by eating the hornworm larvae.
PressuredLeaf
Well-Known Member
Oh I almost forgot. There is also a generational packrat that lives in a burrow under my garden bed. But he only eats my veggies, I don’t think he helps with the horn worms at all.
PressuredLeaf
Well-Known Member
We had a pretty wicked storm las night that blew all of the plants over. Today, they are looking fine, minus a good dusting of mud and sand.
3 weeks from transplant on the VA.
3 weeks from transplant on the VA.
PressuredLeaf
Well-Known Member
PressuredLeaf
Well-Known Member
Can’t stop admiring the tobacco. I’ve never grown a VA strain, but it’s looking like it will be quite productive.
Also, my sole pumpkin vine is taking over the yard after resurrecting from the summer heat.
Also, my sole pumpkin vine is taking over the yard after resurrecting from the summer heat.
PressuredLeaf
Well-Known Member
Almost 6 weeks or so since transplant for the VA.
PressuredLeaf
Well-Known Member
7 weeks for the VA, 6 ish for the Xanthi and yayalddag.
Wind has knocked most of the orientals over. The VA looks great, especially where the soil is richer. This fall I’ll need to do a better jobs tilling the soil.
Wind has knocked most of the orientals over. The VA looks great, especially where the soil is richer. This fall I’ll need to do a better jobs tilling the soil.