Taking my first shot at growing tobacco.

Originally Posted by shilala

I'm amazed at how fast they're growing.
I'm gonna let them get a little bigger and then I'm gonna have to start holding them back. Otherwise I'm gonna have to pich them back and I don't know how they'll respond, being as I never grew tobacco before.

Those plants are on a path to be over 8 foot plus. Pinching will cause multiple heads, which may result in smaller but more leaf. It's all good. Your doing a great job my friend. Making me feel a proud

[shilala]

Originally Posted by tzaddi

Those plants are on a path to be over 8 foot plus. Pinching will cause multiple heads, which may result in smaller but more leaf. It's all good. Your doing a great job my friend. Making me feel a proud

Thanks Richard.
I figured it'd push more leaves and they'd be smaller as a result.
I didn't imagine it'd create multiple heads. I thought they already put on lots of heads, kind of randomly.
I'm already thinking of an alternate place to plant these monkies because they're going to be a lot bigger plants than I imagined. I had imagined them to be somewhere around 2-2 1/2 feet wide, but it looks like they're going to be more like 4 feet wide.
Height isn't a problem as they were going to be planted next to the house, but the flower bed they were going to be in isn't deep enough to host them.
I think I'll companion plant them in the garden with my watermelons and pumpkins. The melons will like the shade and it'll slow up my pumpkins so they aren't ready so early.
I live in a river valley and the soil is crazy fertile, and there's some clinkers and potash mixed in that really helps the soil drain very well. Add to that the water table is only about 12-18 inches down and I have an awesome ecosystem for them.
There's going to be lots more sun in the garden than beside the house, too.
I have a perfect place to shade-grow a few plants by the front porch, although I'm going to have to amend the soil.
Which is the best variety for wrapper, Richard? I was thinking about using the 2000.

Yep, every time you pinch a head 2 more grow back. I would recommend the Havana for wrapper. It is much more elastic than the Mexican Maya Mopan or Louisiana Perique. The Havana seed I have shared also offers a lighter shade of brown on the first fermentation.

Your betcha those plants are going to be huge. Here are a few visuals form last years leaf and it was not even a huge year, due to the long month of smokey fires preventing full sunlight.




Doing the math your plants could easily have a circumference of 5 feet

They are going to be beauties. The tobacco road is a wondrous one with many rewards.

—Richard

Originally Posted by shilala

Thanks Richard.
I figured it'd push more leaves and they'd be smaller as a result.
I didn't imagine it'd create multiple heads. I thought they already put on lots of heads, kind of randomly.
I'm already thinking of an alternate place to plant these monkies because they're going to be a lot bigger plants than I imagined. I had imagined them to be somewhere around 2-2 1/2 feet wide, but it looks like they're going to be more like 4 feet wide.
Height isn't a problem as they were going to be planted next to the house, but the flower bed they were going to be in isn't deep enough to host them.
I think I'll companion plant them in the garden with my watermelons and pumpkins. The melons will like the shade and it'll slow up my pumpkins so they aren't ready so early.
I live in a river valley and the soil is crazy fertile, and there's some clinkers and potash mixed in that really helps the soil drain very well. Add to that the water table is only about 12-18 inches down and I have an awesome ecosystem for them.
There's going to be lots more sun in the garden than beside the house, too.
I have a perfect place to shade-grow a few plants by the front porch, although I'm going to have to amend the soil.
Which is the best variety for wrapper, Richard? I was thinking about using the 2000.

[gvarsity]

Ahhh. I love threads like this that have lots of pretty pictures, sound advice, positive vibe, camaraderie and are tobacco focused. Really, what more could you ask for? (assuming some tobacco consumption pictures in the end of course)

[MarkinAZ]

Nice looking starts you have going there Scott. Grow lights work wonders don't they for the colder areas of the country?

Now, I'm thinking the final product should be a 5x52 huh?

[shilala]

Originally Posted by MarkinCA

Now, I'm thinking the final product should be a 5x52 huh?

That sounds just about perfect.