FantomBadger's First Attempt at Tobacco

[Kushtaka]

I had a gas powered tiller once. What an unsatisfactory piece of shit that thing was.

Broadforks are superior to tillers. A tiller will increase compaction over time by turning the soil over, killing mychorizal fungi and destroying glomalin which allows water to separate sand, silt, and clay from organics. A broad fork doesn't turn the soil over. It just opens it giving roots easier paths and more oxygen. A broadfork will decrease compaction over time.

 

[UmbriaFarmer]

Broadforks are superior to tillers. A tiller will increase compaction over time by turning the soil over, killing mychorizal fungi and destroying glomalin which allows water to separate sand, silt, and clay from organics. A broad fork doesn't turn the soil over. It just opens it giving roots easier paths and more oxygen. A broadfork will decrease compaction over time.

I'm deffo gonna make one.

 

[StoneCarver]

Do you have any knowledge of oak leaves as mulch?

The general consensus that I'm aware of is that using oak leaves isn't an issue. However, it may take a year or more than softer tree leaves for them to adequately decompose. There are oak leaves in my compost as I use whatever fills up in my ditch. The oak leaves always take the longest to decompose. As usual, you want to balance the brown leaves with a green manure of some kind. For green manure, I use algae and weeds from my pond. Rarely do I use grass clippings due to the risk of weed seeds.

 

[UmbriaFarmer]

The general consensus that I'm aware of is that using oak leaves isn't an issue. However, it may take a year or more than softer tree leaves for them to adequately decompose. There are oak leaves in my compost as I use whatever fills up in my ditch. The oak leaves always take the longest to decompose. As usual, you want to balance the brown leaves with a green manure of some kind. For green manure, I use algae and weeds from my pond. Rarely do I use grass clippings due to the risk of weed seeds.

Cool, thanks! I don't even really care much if they take years to decompose, they're still gonna be effective as a mulch for weed suppression which is what I'm looking for.

 

[FantomBadger]

Small update, just posting one photo.



We are surviving the heat. It’s cooling down. I’ve changed my watering routine to include two small waters around 11h00 and 14h00 to help with the heat. Broadleaf 2 is looking really good. They’re the plants that starts on the 3rd row, photo is taken from newest to oldest plants.

First two beds have received their second pass of SOP, BL 2 has received their first.

Most of BL 1 and Mixed 1 has been topped and topping on BL 2 are expected to start by the weekend.

I am not getting to it, but my 60 Olor seedlings need a small N boost.

I want to apply Bt tonight.

 

[FantomBadger]

A lot of growth, but no real updates. Still watching day time temps and watching for anything to respond to.


Good looking burley plant.



Broadleaf with some nice leaves.



They are really getting character now. Pretty plants.

 

[StoneCarver]

In the second pic, it looks like you have some suckers you could pinch. You definitely have things rolling along.

 

[UmbriaFarmer]

Yes, get rid of those suckers - I can see loads...

 

[FantomBadger]

Trying my best with the suckers. Got a lot of them off.

Tomorrow potassium and deep deep watering. I normally give 3 liters on a watering, tomorrow will be 5 liters. I’ve given water during the intense heat spells during the day, but the nutrients we’ll water slowly and deeply.

Here they are.


Broadleaf 2.


Mixed 1.


Broadleaf 1.


Mixed 2.

Burned a yellow broadleaf leaf, after just hanging it for about 3 days. As a test.

Tobacco smell. But not like what I’m used to. Green but very earthy and complex already.

Plants are small, but healthy. I’m going to get usable leaf out of the experiment.

 

[UmbriaFarmer]

In my experience, they don't even begin to smell like tobacco until after curing and fermenting. One need to have confidence that they will eventually turn into something wonderful...

 

[deluxestogie]

The plants look good.

Bob

 

[FantomBadger]

Quick update. First real rains have started coming. I’m sceptical, but we’ll see.

Broadleaf 1.


Broadleaf 2,


Mixed 1 & 2,

 

[bbfarmky]

I am not a tobacco expert but those plants look happy and healthy. Good color, standing upright, and very little leaf damage. Fingers crossed for a nice harvest.

 

[FantomBadger]

I am not a tobacco expert but those plants look happy and healthy. Good color, standing upright, and very little leaf damage. Fingers crossed for a nice harvest.

Thanks a lot. I appreciate it and take it as a big compliment.

I made some mistakes that they never 100% recovered from, some avoidable, some not. I very sure that I will do it better than this year, starting before anything even gets planted, fixing the soil, getting organic matter in and ensuring it has a good reservoir, keeping water for longer, but also nice and airy.

Will do a soil test, mostly to check for phosphates, and will take it from there.

Overall for where I started last year to now, I’m happy.