The Knucklehead way to Grow a Blog

[Knucklehead]

If you plan on treating an uncertain (at best) deficiency, I would suggest treating only half or fewer of the plants. That way you can see what "do no harm" looks like.

Bob

Is the weather set-back causing any harm or is it just adding to the Days to Maturity? The rain is bound to stop sooner or later, will they just pick up where they left off? They appear healthy, they're just sitting there not growing. The Burley and Virginia under the landscape cloth have some yellow lower leaves due to moisture retention, but no permanent damage. Would you recommend just waiting out the weather?

 

[Knucklehead]

So far I've managed to fight off the desire to experiment and see what happens. The fertilizer I gave them a couple weeks ago was scheduled and actually slightly overdue. It really didn't make a bit of difference to the plants. Right now I've just been dosing with BT between the storms and waiting for the weather to turn. As long as they're not permanently stunted, I think some sunshine will make all the difference in the world.

 

[marksctm]

I'll give minerals a try. I think the main thing they are missing is dry feet and Vitamin D from sunshine.

I think once they get some sun and dry out some, you'll be surprised at how they will take off.

I'm trying the, set it and forget it method this year, and so far it's been working good.

I do think by me not watering them this year has made the roots grow deeper and they are not effected by dry spells like they were last year, and today it's 90 degrees and a 70 dew point.

I think we should call it, Don's tough love for tobacco program. It's been working for me anyway.

I think you'll be finer than frogs hair Knucks, just give'er some time.

 

[DonH]

I'd wait out the weather. Either that or get a soil test so you can tell exactly what any deficiency might be. In Alabama you don't have to worry because you have a long time until the first frost. And you can be sure there will be lots of hot weather coming. Where I live the nights start to cool down in mid August.

Anyway weren't all you southern guys complaining about drought the last two years?

 

[leverhead]

Anyway weren't all you southern guys complaining about drought the last two years?

I still am.

 

[Knucklehead]

I think once they get some sun and dry out some, you'll be surprised at how they will take off.

I'm trying the, set it and forget it method this year, and so far it's been working good.

I do think by me not watering them this year has made the roots grow deeper and they are not effected by dry spells like they were last year, and today it's 90 degrees and a 70 dew point.

I think we should call it, Don's tough love for tobacco program. It's been working for me anyway.

I think you'll be finer than frogs hair Knucks, just give'er some time.

I'll be okay regardless. I still have 200 seedlings from the seed grow outs I'm about to plant. They should get full on summer treatment.

I'd wait out the weather. Either that or get a soil test so you can tell exactly what any deficiency might be. In Alabama you don't have to worry because you have a long time until the first frost. And you can be sure there will be lots of hot weather coming. Where I live the nights start to cool down in mid August.

Anyway weren't all you southern guys complaining about drought the last two years?

I wasn't growing the last two years. lol. Oct. 31 I have a 20% chance of 32F frost. Plenty of time.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

I still am.

Hey Leverhead,
Is that because you like to complain or do you still have a drought going on....

 

[workhorse_01]

Not me! I was happy the way it was! Now I have plants that are 6" tall and all I can see are the tips of the leaves.

I'd wait out the weather. Either that or get a soil test so you can tell exactly what any deficiency might be. In Alabama you don't have to worry because you have a long time until the first frost. And you can be sure there will be lots of hot weather coming. Where I live the nights start to cool down in mid August.

Anyway weren't all you southern guys complaining about drought the last two years?

 

[leverhead]

Hey Leverhead,
Is that because you like to complain or do you still have a drought going on....

I like to multitask when I can, it's both.

 

[AmaxB]

I don't know much but I'd wait and let em be some of mine took of others just set there. Has been near 4 weeks and the ones that just set there have started over the last week.
Some as a test I gave some fert with no real change to them. Apart from the test plants I have not fertilized at all.

 

[Knucklehead]

More rain this morning. I was going to plant my wrapper varieties. The plot is all ready, cloth, drip and labeled stakes. All I have to do is drop the plants. I'll shoot for this evening if it dries out enough to keep me from sliding off the mountain.

 

[DGBAMA]

Yup some sun would be nice.

 

[Knucklehead]

More dang rain and 50% chance of thunderstorms and small hail tomorrow. Rain projected the next 10 days. I may wait to plant this last wave until all this hail talk is over. Took some more pictures today. First two are the main plot, planted about 10 weeks ago, still sitting there giving me finger. My NP and GRIN seed grow out seedling are looking good and ready to plant as soon as the hail scare dies down. The roots are growing out the bottom now. This is where I'm planting the wrapper varieties from the NP grow outs. It's ready to drop the plants. It'll have to dry out some so I don't slide off down the dang mountain. I'm getting this spot ready for the flue cure, binder and filler varieties from the NP grow out. The Orientals from GRIN will probably go at the end of my main plot.

 

[Knucklehead]

The bottom three pictures were deleted, rotated and added back into the post. Don't yell at me because they still showed up.

 

[DonH]

Your grass looks way too close to the plants in those pictures. The grass will rob nutrients and choke off some root development in the tobacco. Something to think about anyway.

But your plants are looking pretty good considering the weather. Give those roots some space and they'll shoot up soon.

 

[rainmax]

Nice area, bad weather. All we need is wait for the sun. Roll a cigar and think positive.

 

[ne3go]

Knucks sent me a rain and i will sent you a lot of sun! My plants are almost toasted...

 

[DGBAMA]

Still much larger than mine buddy. I would say looking good considering the minimal sun we have had.

 

[Knucklehead]

Finished planting the 15 wrapper varieties in my shady spot on the mountain. Total 46 plants. Looking good. Moving back down to the pond for the flue cure, Oriental, binder and filler varieties. Taking my time and working just before dark.132 plants to go and I'll be planted out for the year. Chance of more thunderstorms every day for the foreseeable future. I've had about four days of part sun with no rain. It was fun while it lasted.

 

[DGBAMA]

Good to have some sun. If I did not know better I would have thought they were dying of thirst and over watered them.