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Thread ID: 122947 2012-01-22 22:16:00 Anyone here growing their own tobacco? Colpol (444) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1255531 2012-01-22 22:16:00 Growing my first crop and now harvesting.
I have planted some in the garden and others in pots. The garden ones look great with huge leaves almost ready. The potted ones not so big but I expected that. Question is does leaf size make any difference. The potted plants started turning yellow when they were about 8 inches long so I picked them and dried them and they have gone a medium brown colour and look OK.
Also some of the leaves while still green have dark brown areas where they have rubbed or been touching others. Is the dark bit OK or should it be removed?
Colpol (444)
1255532 2012-01-22 23:04:00 Try this site, grows very well in here in Nelson: theoldfirm.hubpages.com Arnie (6624)
1255533 2012-01-22 23:32:00 Try this site, grows very well in here in Nelson: theoldfirm.hubpages.com

Thanks Arnie.
Been there. Doesn't answer my questions.
Needs someone with experience.
BTW it should grow well there it was a main produce along with hops when I was a kid.
Colpol (444)
1255534 2012-01-23 00:59:00 You need to pick from the bottom leaves up when they are ripe only would probaly be in a couple of weeks
You would be picking the top leaves in April.
Ripe is when they turn a little yellowish.
My Dad grew baccy in Mot and his Dad and his Dad.
prefect (6291)
1255535 2012-01-23 01:25:00 You need to pick from the bottom leaves up when they are ripe only would probaly be in a couple of weeks
You would be picking the top leaves in April.
Ripe is when they turn a little yellowish.
My Dad grew baccy in Mot and his Dad and his Dad.

Thnks Prefect.
I know when to pick, no problem.
Just want to know about leaf size and if there is a difference in quality between a large leaf 24 inches and a small one 8 inches, and whether the dark brown brown patches on the unripe green leaf will be OK or if they (the brown patches)should be removed
Colpol (444)
1255536 2012-01-23 04:01:00 The first leaves around the bottom are smaller they are called lugs. These leaves were picked but are not as good as the following leaves and sold at a lower price.
Dark patches could mean the plant has mosiac which is virus and a plant disease. Depending on the variety some did have mottled leaves but when they were dried the mottling disappears.
But I guess you have a problem the leaves shouldnt have brown bits.
What variety do you have?
prefect (6291)
1255537 2012-01-23 04:18:00 Ok good answer just what I wanted to know. I have kept the small leaves separate from the big ones. Have tried the small leaves-bit harsh but otherwise not as bad as I expected so will be ineresting to try the big leaves when they cure.
The brown bits are there from where the leaf touched the ground or grew touching another leaf.
Don't know what variety they are.
You mention patches. Some of the plants in pots have the patches but none on those of those growing in the garden so I think the patches have something to do with the fact that they are growing in pots, maybe lacking in some food type.
I planted those in pots to see how they would grow. they were left after I planted 9 plants in the small garden.
Colpol (444)
1255538 2012-01-23 05:41:00 If the brown bits are from wind damage and touching the ground its all cool. Dont worry about it till its dried.
After the tobacco is dried you need to grade the tobacco which is remove any discolored or bad bits its does not take long.
What you are looking for is uniformity of the leaf.
The lugs were quite often picked off and dropped off on the ground as sometimes the 2 tobacco companies could only take so much of the lower quality stuff.
NZ tobacco was pretty horrible as it was only by blending it with overseas tobacco that made the stuff smokable, so the lugs would have been blended in a low mix.
prefect (6291)
1255539 2012-01-24 20:09:00 If the brown bits are from wind damage and touching the ground its all cool. Dont worry about it till its dried.
After the tobacco is dried you need to grade the tobacco which is remove any discolored or bad bits its does not take long.
What you are looking for is uniformity of the leaf.
The lugs were quite often picked off and dropped off on the ground as sometimes the 2 tobacco companies could only take so much of the lower quality stuff.
NZ tobacco was pretty horrible as it was only by blending it with overseas tobacco that made the stuff smokable, so the lugs would have been blended in a low mix.

Why would NZ not able to produce top end baccy?

We certainly can produce most horticultural stuff as good as most places.
Cicero (40)
1255540 2012-01-24 22:11:00 Why would NZ not able to produce top end baccy?

We certainly can produce most horticultural stuff as good as most places.
Possibly we could have but we had a tobacco research facility in Riwaka which was more interested in finding varieties which were able to be kiln dried and disease resistant. Also to be able to grow in Nelson hot and dry and early and late frosts ok.
prefect (6291)
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