desert_pioneer's first grow blog, 2020

[desert_pioneer]

Seeds have been germinating the past week since I planted.

Out of the three varieties I planted, the gold dollar is outpacing virginia slightly, while burley is lagging behind, although I do see a few sprouts and some seeds that look ready to open up.

In the picture, the uncovered sprouts are gold dollar.

I will be moving plants to their individual soda can pots, in which they should be able to stay in until it's time for them to go outside at last. I hope the tobacco plant's reputation does not fail me in the desert climate, which is gearing up for the first 100 degree weather by probably May (it won't average above 100 till later, though)

 

[desert_pioneer]

Also, please comment if you have any tips or better ideas, although at the moment, I am still waiting for them to grow more

 

[Knucklehead]

Also, please comment if you have any tips or better ideas, although at the moment, I am still waiting for them to grow more

They appear a little leggy as though searching for light. What is your light source/setup?

 

[desert_pioneer]

They appear a little leggy as though searching for light. What is your light source/setup?

I'm kind of impressed you noticed that, but being new to growing, perhaps such "legginess" is apparent to the trained eye. During the first week, I used a lamp that shone from the side so that explains why all the plants were tilted to one side. However, I am using a smaller lamp that bends over and shines light directly from the top now.

 

[MrMotion]

I'm assuming you are watering from the top or did you put some holes in the bottom of the ice cube trays? Most recommend bottom watering at this stage.

 

[fimbrew]

Hopefully you can get them in the ground before it's too hot. You will have to baby them with shade cloth and misting with water. I have planted in June but they just deflate in the middle of the day. If you are quick with the shade and water they will come back. Right now it's all about root growth. Use all the tricks to encourage root growth ( Clipping, potassium etc) to make sure they can get enough water to stand up to Phoenix weather.

 

[desert_pioneer]

Hopefully you can get them in the ground before it's too hot. You will have to baby them with shade cloth and misting with water. I have planted in June but they just deflate in the middle of the day. If you are quick with the shade and water they will come back. Right now it's all about root growth. Use all the tricks to encourage root growth ( Clipping, potassium etc) to make sure they can get enough water to stand up to Phoenix weather.

well darn.

I am assuming that what you mean is even more mature tobacco plants cannot withstand Arizona summer well? (even with daily watering?)

I know I have read that overwatering is a mistake new growers make, but I have a feeling that daily watering (not soaking) in a 100+ degree environment with sub 5% humidity would not result in overwatering.

 

[desert_pioneer]

I'm assuming you are watering from the top or did you put some holes in the bottom of the ice cube trays? Most recommend bottom watering at this stage.

Yes I am watering from the top. There is a hole per each cube spot. However, once I transplant them and empty the tray out, I mean to make the holes bigger than they are currently, since they are probably clogged. However, due to the dry climate, there is no mold and the water bottle spray appears to be gentle enough (since they have now germinated nicely)

 

[fimbrew]

Once they have established a good root system mature plants can handle the 110+ temps with enough water. Getting them to that stage is the hard part. And yeah over watering once in the ground is hard to do. In pots watering them from below and letting them dry out incourages root growth.and prevents damping off.

 

[Knucklehead]

Once they have established a good root system mature plants can handle the 110+ temps with enough water. Getting them to that stage is the hard part. And yeah over watering once in the ground is hard to do. In pots watering them from below and letting them dry out incourages root growth.and prevents damping off.

Top watering seedlings can also compact the soil and cause spiral root.

 

[Knucklehead]

How is your grow coming?

 

[desert_pioneer]

How is your grow coming?

Yes, it has been a while. My original seedlings seen in the images I uploaded are nothing but dust .

However, I have been growing a new set of Virginia and burley, and I have three samsun seedlings (although one of the three has "slanted")

Either way, the Virginia and the burley are a little smaller than a dime apiece, but are doing well.
My grow blog will officially be indoors in a grow tent, and I will be getting a good grow light very soon, maybe tomorrow - it's shipping.

 

[Knucklehead]

Way to hang in there! Kudos. Keep us posted and if I can be of any service just holler.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Maybe humour me with an experiment if you don't mind. There have been studies which showed that transpiration, (evaporation from leaves), is decreased in soybean after application of salicylic acid... in really small amounts. It apparently triggers a hormone reaction.

If my memory serves me, it's something like 1 tablet of aspirin in a gallon of water, then spray the leaves of the plants.

Should improve root growth too, so all together better drought resistance.

I've tried it, but it doesn't really get very hot or dry in the summer.

 

[fimbrew]

Planting during the monsoons might be a good time. You don't lose anything but time and a few seeds if you try and it doesn't work out. But you learn a lot the first few years. You could do a fall crop or maybe even a winter crop. The only reason to tough it out during this time of year is to cure during the monsoons. If you have a kiln/curing box that's not so important. Keep growing some seedlings and trying things out.

 

[fimbrew]

If I can remember I'll try the aspirin on a few plants next year. It is recommended for preserving christmas trees so there might be something there.

 

[desert_pioneer]

Maybe humour me with an experiment if you don't mind. There have been studies which showed that transpiration, (evaporation from leaves), is decreased in soybean after application of salicylic acid... in really small amounts. It apparently triggers a hormone reaction.

If my memory serves me, it's something like 1 tablet of aspirin in a gallon of water, then spray the leaves of the plants.

Should improve root growth too, so all together better drought resistance.

I've tried it, but it doesn't really get very hot or dry in the summer.

Perhaps I'll transplant a few burleys outside instead of in my tent when they're bigger (more then the 6-8 inches) cause it's simply a lot hotter than typical weather for growing anything except cactus. I'll do a control group as well that will be outside without such aspirin water.

However, I can't guarantee anything because the summer weather here is just terrible - I literally never go out unless it's car distance.

 

[desert_pioneer]

Planting during the monsoons might be a good time. You don't lose anything but time and a few seeds if you try and it doesn't work out. But you learn a lot the first few years. You could do a fall crop or maybe even a winter crop. The only reason to tough it out during this time of year is to cure during the monsoons. If you have a kiln/curing box that's not so important. Keep growing some seedlings and trying things out.

I'll probably leave curing and kilning indoors in some foam box that I'll make when the time comes

 

[Knucklehead]

Yes, it has been a while. My original seedlings seen in the images I uploaded are nothing but dust .

However, I have been growing a new set of Virginia and burley, and I have three samsun seedlings (although one of the three has "slanted")

Either way, the Virginia and the burley are a little smaller than a dime apiece, but are doing well.
My grow blog will officially be indoors in a grow tent, and I will be getting a good grow light very soon, maybe tomorrow - it's shipping.

What caused the seedlings to die?

 

[desert_pioneer]

What caused the seedlings to die?

Honestly, I'm not sure, but overall, the setup was shabby compared to what i have now, and what i have now is rudimentary to begin with.

But one virginia today is sideways on the ground, unable to support itself . I don't know what caused it to do so, and I only have 7 of them left. That's plenty and actually too much for my tent but 7 is a lot less than what i started with.