UK Winter Grow.. an exercise in futility?

[SnuffmeisterUK]

From my first year of tobacco growing this year I have enough seed to start a cigar factory, its insane how much a plant can produce.

Anyway,

I got bored and decided to sow some rustica seeds about 2 weeks ago, I noted back in February when I started this years grow rustica was the first to grow and seemed very hardy, not at all fussed where it was. My harvested rustica is still outside producing small suckers despite the cold/rain etc.

The UK will be overcast, cold, damp and dark until March now.. has anyone successfully grown through European winter and harvested early in the year? This is purely an experiment for me.

 

[Alpine]

My climate doesn’t permit a winter grow, but if your winter temps doesn’t go below 0C I think you can experiment with a few plants. Small loss if everything goes bad, or big success if it goes well. And please keep us informed, you may even start a “winter grow blog”

pier

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

@Alpine my climate probably doesn't either.. I have a lifetime of seeds so it won't matter the outcome, I've read rustica is 'frost tolerant' so I imagine if I can get them strong/large enough indoors they may do ok

 

[Old Gasman]

Yes good luck with your experiment, for my part I tend to hibernate once November arrives.

 

[cavedane]

2024 I will wait 14 days ...the plants are sleeping /getting damage by the cold vind and rain ...then 3 g.frost .this was plantet 1 may.foto taken 9/5

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Open engagement in futility is a healthy exercise. It's the brother of art.

 

[deluxestogie]

"Few things are brought to a successful issue by impetuous desire, but most by calm and prudent forethought."
Thucydides

 

[johnny108]

You will need to color cure anything you get above 15C/60F, or the chlorophyll won’t be able to break down.

Source: http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/agr/agr177/agr177.pdf

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Well, my winter rustica seedlings have shot up, seemingly not fussed about the colder temperatures indoors and less hours of sunlight.. I feel almost guilty subjecting them to the cold..

Rustica is grown in Russia isn't it? I'm wondering if it will mind the frost