Grow your own

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Originally Posted by bluenoser

Well today's the first day I've had off in about a month. Between work and trying to keep up with school I've neglected the gardening so this morning before the rain stsrts I'm heading out to harvest the tobacco. I'm assuming it's fine, but are the leaves near the bottom I was too late to harvest when yellow still fine to harvest now that they've turned brown?

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I'm no expert but I would guess they're no good. The way I understand it, the idea is to pick them off the plant while still yellow because sugar content is at the max. Then you kill the leaf by heating it somehow in order to preserve the sugar before the leaf can consume it. That's the case with Va anyway. Maybe if it's burley you'd be ok... AFAIK, burleys are usually just air cured anyway. Possible it can air cure on the stalk just as well as hanging in a barn. Only one way to find out.
:pipe:

Well the weeds stunted the growth a fair bit. All plants stayed under 3 feet so the leaves are a bit smaller than I hoped but harvest done. 2 in the chair are Adonis on the left, Virginia on the right and the table is Perique on left and Monte Calm Yellow on the right.

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/w...908_200922.jpg

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/w...908_200929.jpg

How long did it take for them to be ready to harvest?

I started them from seed about 5 months ago, in the garden for about 3 1/2. I probably could have started harvesting the odd leaves about a month or so ago but between school and unexpected work issues having me working 7 days a week I was neglecting the garden for the last month or so.

Nice first effort!
Perhaps one day I'll be able to try growing my own.

Might not get me anything worth smoking but looking forward to loading one of my home made pipes with some homegrown tobacco.

Couple update photos. Have them all hung and ready for color curing. Hoping the root cellar will make an adequate spot, warm but not too warm, and slightly more humid than the rest of this dry old house.

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/w...913_162751.jpg

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/w...913_162759.jpg