ShiniKoroshi Grow Blog 2025

[ShiniKoroshi]

I just ordered 8 varieties of Tobacco and some Deer's Tongue seed. Ill play with germination once they arrive and hopefully I can get a jump on 2025. Its expected to be a mild winter here so Im starting with a couple Swedish types and with any luck should have a successful but small winter crop. We will see!

Though its been a long time I was pretty good at growing tropicals and orchids. If I can find the right medium Ill try tobacco in semi-hydroponics (old school way) but for now Ill just stick them in the ground.

 

[johnny108]

A semi soilless mix works very well for me, when I plant in containers.
What I use is:
10 volumes coconut coir (hydrated with full strength triple-20 fertilizer and 2.5ml of Epsom salts per 5 liters)
5 volumes perlite
5 volumes vermiculite
5 volumes store bought Potting soil

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

That does sound good, thank you.
I keep giving container growing a second thought.

 

[johnny108]

10 liter containers are the minimum for non-oriental/turkish strains.
A 26-30 liter container will give you a full sized plant.
However, yields from the 10L containers are about 2/3 of a full sized plant, so, 2 plants in 10L containers is more tobacco (weight) than a single plant in a 20+L container.
You have to start more seedlings, but you will get more tobacco in 20L of potting mix, in 2 containers, than in one.
This does not take into account cigar leaf, which needs to be big. I don’t grow for cigars, so it’s not a problem for me, but, for full sized leaf for cigars, larger containers will get you the larger leaf that is needed.

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

My plan for container growing is using 5 gal buckets filled with freshwater diatomaceous earth rocks* (1/2"-3/4"). So Im looking at a bulk shipment to do that economically, if I can find a source. For now I think it will be easier to start with growing in the ground. This first year will be more about learning than results. However, I have a tendency to strive for perfection and with that bringing out a plant's maximum potential.

*The diatomaceous earth rocks are part of old school semi-hydroponics as the expanded clay pellets can cause root problems on species that must have constant exposure to oxygen at the roots (orchids).

 

[Knucklehead]

If dry weather is a problem in your area you try this or a combination of this with your other ideas

Knucklehead's 2023 Grow Blog

I plan to start seed 1 Feb for a planting date of 1st week of April. I will have 48 cells of Reams 158 flue cure variety. Four will be backups. My seedling mix is several years old and dry so I went down earlier and dumped a gallon of water in the bag to help premoisten the soil. I struggled...

fairtradetobacco.com

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

Ill have to read through that, thank you.

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

I have sprouts of Deer's Tongue! Just checking to see if my green thumb is still green. Now I can plant a few tobacco seeds.