ProZachJ's 2025 Grow Log
- Thread starter ProZachJ
- Start date
Now that the first two rows are established, I've installed a shutoff valve on them. Until now they've been getting 3 10 minutes drinks per day totaling 1/4 gallon per plant. I'm going to cut back to every other day until I get into the rapid growth phase. Seeing some decently strong winds and reasonably moist soil at the end of each day, so hoping a little less moisture will encourage some deeper root growth.
Some light reading I've been doing to improve my methods
Evaluation of the use of polyethylene mulches in the production of organic flue-cured tobacco
Should Tennessee tobacco growers invest in irrigation, fertigation, or plastic mulch?
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/16/7089
Irrigating Tobacco
https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B892&title=irrigating-tobacco
Evaluation of the use of polyethylene mulches in the production of organic flue-cured tobacco
Should Tennessee tobacco growers invest in irrigation, fertigation, or plastic mulch?
Crop Management System Consisting of Biodegradable Mulching Film + Drip Irrigation Increases Yield and Quality of Flue-Cured Tobacco
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/16/7089
Irrigating Tobacco
https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B892&title=irrigating-tobacco
The soil plants seem to be slightly ahead of the bato plants, however the bato plants were transplanted later, are in a bit less sun, and had a week long issue with an idiot operator who let the EC get up to 5.0. I think they will probably end up fine but stay tuned.
Similar to last year a few of my Texas Cubans (and one Del Gold) have had something happen to them overnight. Winds were not high last night and I've been regularly treating with BT so I'm unsure of the cause. The only clue may be some nearby rabbit droppings? Would rabbits do this? The stem of the plants are cut about 1/2 way through right near the soil line.
BT is probably not all that effective for such older cutworm instars.
Bob
Bob
Clearly
We got .45 inches of rain last night and today the plants have exploded with growth.
Del gold
Stolak 17
Blue Star 100
Texas Cuban
And the last row ..Perique and Staghorn that still are taking their dear sweet time...
Del gold
Stolak 17
Blue Star 100
Texas Cuban
And the last row ..Perique and Staghorn that still are taking their dear sweet time...
Del Gold comparison between bato bucket and soil. The bato was transplanted a week after the others but overall are still underperforming their siblings. The only issue I'm having with my soil, same as last year, is that it appears to be too loose to for the large plants to hold themselves fully upright, while the ones in the coco are perfectly vertical.
Your plants look great. 
Storms last night dropped 5" and 45+ mph winds laid waste to my tobacco, including by blowing a panel of my greenhouse 50yds away directly into them.
I know most of them will bounce back, but I think I do need to figure out a more stable soil situation than my compost mounds. They seem to just need more support to handle these Texas thunderstorms.
I know most of them will bounce back, but I think I do need to figure out a more stable soil situation than my compost mounds. They seem to just need more support to handle these Texas thunderstorms.
