Wilting and color curing

[johnny108]

Industry growers who stalk harvest their crops often cut the plants down and leave them to wilt in the field for a while, before bringing them into the curing barn.
This is done to make moving the plants easier (less leaf breakage), and to save on weight that needs to be carried and hung in the curing barn- less water weight.

As a hobby grower dealing with (smaller) container plants, I just cut down and immediately hang them up.

I am STILL color curing some Ligero leaf!
It’s now so cold that this has slowed to a crawl. Just in the last week, the plants have finally gone limp, and I’ve noticed that after wilting, some seem to be coloring faster, despite the cold. But since I haven’t tracked it (bad note keeping. Yes, I’m bowing my head in shame), it could just be a perception on my part.

My question is: does wilting speed color curing on the stalk?
What have been all your experiences?

 

[deluxestogie]

Wilting cut stalks in the field is usually used for burley, but not for other varieties. The risk of wilting in the field is sun-scalding more delicate leaf prior to its being able to color-cure.

Bob

 

[johnny108]

I’m capable of wilting in the shade.
I’m still wondering if leaf senescence is sped up by a wilting phase…

 

[Sergey Z]

Industry growers who stalk harvest their crops often cut the plants down and leave them to wilt in the field for a while, before bringing them into the curing barn.
This is done to make moving the plants easier (less leaf breakage), and to save on weight that needs to be carried and hung in the curing barn- less water weight.

As a hobby grower dealing with (smaller) container plants, I just cut down and immediately hang them up.

I am STILL color curing some Ligero leaf!
It’s now so cold that this has slowed to a crawl. Just in the last week, the plants have finally gone limp, and I’ve noticed that after wilting, some seem to be coloring faster, despite the cold. But since I haven’t tracked it (bad note keeping. Yes, I’m bowing my head in shame), it could just be a perception on my part.

My question is: does wilting speed color curing on the stalk?
What have been all your experiences?

This year I cut several varieties of orientals into bushes. I hung them in the shade, as for me, they turned yellow faster and more evenly. The weather was about 40 degrees Celsius and dry, and it hadn't rained for about a month.