Texas grown 2015 grow (cigarette type)

[Texasgrown]

Alright guys I wanted to start my first grow with a few cigarette types. Since we have two grow seasons here in Texas I figured I would experiment with a few types of each and bag a few for seeds next year of the ones I like. I put 2x 72 jiffy pucks ( two trays ) of seeds. I have a farm so space isn't an issue. I have 24 of each type:

virginia 116
golden burley
costello
prilep
turkish izmir
shirey

All look good as they are just in trays. I figure my planting date would be mid March depending on the weather.

 

[bonehead]

it was - 2 degrees f. yesterday at my house. i still have a long cold wait.

 

[Chicken]

that selection sounds good, for what your trying to achive,, i also grow for the same ... outcome you do,, and some of what you got growing im growing also,,,

next year be ready to grow twice as many varities..

 

[Texasgrown]

Thanks chicken i am going to do caterton and green briar along with a few others this fall figure I would stalk cut and hang these when they finish up in July then take the tractor and disk it up and replant for mid August through November crop Anything that you thing would be good? Again I have all the room in the world as we have a sheep pen that's about two acres being unused this summer.

 

[USHOG]

I would have the second crop going by the middle to the end of July if you want the tobacco to ripen by November and it is much harder to color cure here in Texas in November verses July. The prilep is a great tasting leaf.

 

[Texasgrown]

Thanks hog I will be planting seedlings I started probably around 3/15-4/1. That'll give me 4-8 week old plants. I have them under t5s floor lights in trays right now and all have little tails on the seedlings as of this morning.
I appreciate the heads up on my second crop and will probably be cutting planting and curing everything around the 4th of July. Do you have problems with heat stress on the seedlings? It gets hotter than hexx here. I guess I will just have to keep the water too thenmuntil it cools off more. I was thinking hanging cure my first crop and with my second batch to color cure for a month then do some sort of flu cure afterwards? I am sure I can magiver some sort of rig to do this and get it tasting ok. Thanks again for the heads up.

 

[USHOG]

No problem. Planting the seedlings in July is no big deal as long as you get the seedlings adjusted to the sun light over a few days. I just set the seedlings out in the morning until they wilt and then bring them back inside until they look normal. Repeat this until they stop wilting or almost stop wilting. Then they are ready for the garden. Tobacco does not seem to be bothered by our Texas heat

 

[Chicken]

i think you should just focus on one crop....

give that plant a full growing cycle, i mean if you got all that room.. one crop filling that space up should be plenty...

unless you plan on supplying a small militia with bacca,,

...

 

[bonehead]

i think you should just focus on one crop....

give that plant a full growing cycle, i mean if you got all that room.. one crop filling that space up should be plenty...

unless you plan on supplying a small militia with bacca,,

...

you could always try a sucker crop. some years i let one sucker grow near the bottom of the plant close to harvest time and when you cut off the stalk above the sucker the sucker grows so fast it is amazing. the roots are already established and you will probably be better off with a lot less work. if i can have success in the north east you should be golden. something to think about

 

[Texasgrown]

chicken/Bonehead thanks for the follow up. I am really growing for myself and the farm hands that help my dad out throughout the year. Growing enough for a small militia sounds right as I would bet these guys would smoke as much as you gave them lol. I have seen them individually crush a 30brick of keystones in one sitting each.

8 week hardened off seedlings planted 4/1 would give me 90 days by 7/1. I don't know the finishing times but I would assume they are around then?