AmaxB- Flue Curing Tobacco at Home: Wins & Fails

[AmaxB]

Load 6 came out today lost a good bit of time wound up frogging the Big Gold (spongy stems). The wife had to give up a cutting board and pizza cutter, the pizza cutter worked great.
The Big Gold cures to yellow gold, is heavy, and was still a bit sticky. Ya can flatten the leaves out real nice am thinking I may use some of these for stogies..
Got all my Kutsaga E-2 in and will be the only variety for this load (leaves are pretty thick). Am averaging 8 pounds dry weight per load so far am 48 pounds average, load 7 will push it to 56 pounds
give or take and I still have 2 or 3 loads more to go.

 

[DGBAMA]

Outstanding. I am going to come upshort of expectation on dry weight....i think due to thinner than normal leaf which i credit to our lack of sun in peak growing season.

 

[Knucklehead]

Outstanding. I am going to come upshort of expectation on dry weight....i think due to thinner than normal leaf which i credit to our lack of sun in peak growing season.

I think you're right, even my TN90 Burley has thin leaves compared to Don and Larry's.

 

[AmaxB]

Batch 6 Big Gold Frogged
.
.. After bringing the tobacco to order and having removed all the African Red from my chamber bagging and putting it up. I started the removal of the Big Gold only to find the steams still a bit soft. My solution was to frog leg the leaf, took some time but will insure I do not develop mold when stored.

 

[deluxestogie]

At what temp did you complete the stem kill on batch 6?

Bob

 

[bonehead]

you had to get rid of the stems sooner or later. when the last of my harvest is finish dried i think i will get it back in order and destem it all before i kiln it. it will give me more room in the kiln.

 

[deluxestogie]

you had to get rid of the stems sooner or later.

Unfortunately, tobacco with the stem removed is regarded as a "tobacco product," and if sold is subject to all federal regulations and taxes regarding the sale of tobacco products. By contrast, whole leaf tobacco is considered an agricultural product.

Bob

 

[bonehead]

Unfortunately, tobacco with the stem removed is regarded as a "tobacco product," and if sold is subject to all federal regulations and taxes regarding the sale of tobacco products. By contrast, whole leaf tobacco is considered an agricultural product.

Bob

i don't sell any. i think it would be more economical to just buy whole leaf with how many pounds i use a year. i just like to grow stuff so i do. i know my flue cured does not compare to what i have tried before. i was thinking personal consumption, like making beer,cider,wine, excedra. you can't sell any and are not suposed to make some but they are fun to make and good to drink and try new recipes. i didnt know it was for selling.

 

[AmaxB]

162F is where I had it Bob, the African Red was twig dry I think the Big Gold had a lot more heavy sap. the stems re-hydrated along with the leaf, before putting in order I checked the stems and they all appeared to be dry.
They fooled me........
You are 100% correct about the law....

 

[AmaxB]

An interesting read
http://books.google.com/books?id=K-...onepage&q=correct flue curing methods&f=false

Deluxestogie's EDIT: Tobacco Curing: Farmers' Bulletin (523), US Govt Prnt Off. 1947.

 

[AmaxB]

How to build a Flue Curing Barn
https://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S06/is.4469.1985.pdf

 

[Fisherman]

An interesting read
http://books.google.com/books?id=K-...onepage&q=correct flue curing methods&f=false

Deluxestogie's EDIT: Tobacco Curing: Farmers' Bulletin (523), US Govt Prnt Off. 1947.

Dang another great find!

Between the books and the fellas actively learning and succedding and SHARING...... we will all be pros one day./

Thanks

I especially like the part about raising the temps to 125 and lowering then repeating... I am having a terrible time with my last mixed load. And am having to do what this book says to try to get more green out.

 

[AmaxB]

Dang another great find!

Between the books and the fellas actively learning and succedding and SHARING...... we will all be pros one day./

Thanks

I especially like the part about raising the temps to 125 and lowering then repeating... I am having a terrible time with my last mixed load. And am having to do what this book says to try to get more green out.

Mr. Fisherman the bit about blasting the heat and than cutting back was in the book you posted a link for it is good to know it is in this publication too. I have not had time to really read it yet I skimmed it earlier today.
For this batch #7 I did start off with 2 blast, 1 to bring tobacco to 90F than a rest of an hour and a second blast I forget how high I went with temp. But than let the chamber cool on it's own to 91F and started the real yellowing phase. I hit 48 hours 15 minutes ago and leaves are almost yellow enough to start wilting. So it did cut time. Current temperature in the chamber is 100F. I have air flow in the chamber but have spent time reading about convection today so a few hours ago I added a fan on the floor pointing up and toward the door. I believe this will help move heat and keep my leaves dry while still holding humidity high. If in the morning I can begin ramping slowly I'll know it helped base on my experience with the previous 6 loads .

About your green problem...
could be to cool, need more air movement, humidity is / was incorrect, cold spots, or leaf was not ripe enough.
This load I primed / picked my Kutsaga from the ground to the top just bear stalks left all the leaves are yellowing pretty much the same. I thought it ripe 2 weeks ago I think the extra time helped.

 

[DGBAMA]

I noted the heat blast/kick start method when iread it too. Will follow you're results closely. It makes sense. With fresh leaf and high RH the short burst of heat should not set green.

 

[Knucklehead]

Nice find guys. My library is growing.

 

[AmaxB]

Batch #7 have just hit 70 hours am at 105 degrees Dry and 100 wet - 83% RH
over the next 5 hours will increase to 114 degrees and keep wet bulb at 102 - 103 and hold over night
Between now and 130 degrees is a critical time....

 

[AmaxB]

Nice find guys. My library is growing.

I read the publication front to back last night and again this morning it is a keeper...

 

[AmaxB]

I noted the heat blast/kick start method when iread it too. Will follow you're results closely. It makes sense. With fresh leaf and high RH the short burst of heat should not set green.

You will not set green, the cure has not started and the leaves hold to much water. I did this for #7

 

[jekylnz]

Hey max what do you think about naturally yellowing..then putting them into a chamber at 130 degrees to set?

 

[DGBAMA]

Hey max what do you think about naturally yellowing..then putting them into a chamber at 130 degrees to set?

Don't have the weather or leaf left to try it this year but the same thought crossed my mind too.