Does rustica smell curing how long does it take?

[Pj654]

Short questions at bottom.

In short, I am growing a bunch of aztec rustica. I am realizing now I might not be able to make it work as after their growing I may only have a month of cooler sun to cure them, sun cure takes a while too... So I am thinking I may have to try the Indonesian sun style on mesh like rajangan. Has anyone cut up and cured rustica like that.

The problem is I live with my landlord he tolerates me smoking outside and even letting me use the garden. Does curing tobacco indoors smell bad? I could set my closet up for it I'm just scared it'll smell alot. I was hoping to get it stable enough to be put into jars before frost comes back. I do not want to bother landlord been so polite to begin with.

Thanks sorry that was a mess of a message.

-Does rustica smell curing. If not, can probably ignore next questions
-is there a curing method for rustica you recommend? My main goal is snuff, I'm not picky I just want heavy hitting snuff I get sick of smells so if it's bland that's totally ok. If I have some I can use for pipe, bonus

-has anyone done sun cured rustica, how long it take? I can hang under garage over hang for probably 1-1.5 months. Goal is to get it stable so I can get it into jars inside as soon as
possible,
Still ended up long. Thanks for any one who has the kindness to read and have patience to give me some guidance
Main goal, get tobacco cured and stable in jars as quick as possible. ( Quality is not a HUGE importance. )

 

[plantdude]

Rusticas tend to cure best for me on the plant unless the leaves are very ripe. Otherwise they end to try and go green, which is less of an issue with snuff/chewing tobacco. Some people on the forum claim some rusticas smell like cat urine as they cure. I've not noticed it but I cure my rusticas on the back porch with other tobacco so I can't give a good answer on that. If your landlord allows cats I suppose you're covered - at least the smell doesn't stay in the carpet
My best advice is priming (harvesting) as the leaves turn brown. Sun curing will get the leaves browner, but if they are immature and green but this still gives them a grass like flavor and often doesn't remove all the green. Cooking them longer and adding a little extra flavoring hides it a bit for chewing tobacco though if you have enough good cured leaf in the batch.
If you sun cure them succesfully they should retain a little more sugar and aroma - I'd leave them on the stalk and harvest the whole plant early (sun cure the harvested plant) if you are going to try sun curing them. Just my suggestion, but you'll have to experiment with your growing season.

 

[johnny108]

To make rusticas “heavy hitting “ (nicotine), you must top them when they flower, and sucker them at least every 2 weeks.
After topping, keep watering, but stop fertilizer. After topping, keep the plant going for 30-45 days (minimum 30, max 45- before 30 nicotine won’t max out, after 45 days, you won’t get any more).
Aztec tends not to color cure very well for anyone, but I have had good luck with Sun curing on my car’s dashboard.

My window and balcony: @johnny108

Just air cure for now, No kilning. I use it in snus, after a considerable resting time (longer than tobaccum) i get a berry like taste, quite plesant actually. Tho rediculusly strong on its own, and the texture isnt great(doesent stick together). I usually mix it with tubaccum at about 1/3...

fairtradetobacco.com

Edit: never starve a rustica for water: it stunts them and lowers the final nicotine.

 

[Pj654]

Rusticas tend to cure best for me on the plant unless the leaves are very ripe. Otherwise they end to try and go green, which is less of an issue with snuff/chewing tobacco. Some people on the forum claim some rusticas smell like cat urine as they cure. I've not noticed it but I cure my rusticas on the back porch with other tobacco so I can't give a good answer on that. If your landlord allows cats I suppose you're covered - at least the smell doesn't stay in the carpet
My best advice is priming (harvesting) as the leaves turn brown. Sun curing will get the leaves browner, but if they are immature and green but this still gives them a grass like flavor and often doesn't remove all the green. Cooking them longer and adding a little extra flavoring hides it a bit for chewing tobacco though if you have enough good cured leaf in the batch.
If you sun cure them succesfully they should retain a little more sugar and aroma - I'd leave them on the stalk and harvest the whole plant early (sun cure the harvested plant) if you are going to try sun curing them. Just my suggestion, but you'll have to experiment with your growing season.

Fantastic thanks very much
If I am too late, and I need to cure in closet, should I cure the same way - the whole plant hung up? Thanks!

 

[Pj654]

To make rusticas “heavy hitting “ (nicotine), you must top them when they flower, and sucker them at least every 2 weeks.
After topping, keep watering, but stop fertilizer. After topping, keep the plant going for 30-45 days (minimum 30, max 45- before 30 nicotine won’t max out, after 45 days, you won’t get any more).
Aztec tends not to color cure very well for anyone, but I have had good luck with Sun curing on my car’s dashboard.

My window and balcony: @johnny108

Just air cure for now, No kilning. I use it in snus, after a considerable resting time (longer than tobaccum) i get a berry like taste, quite plesant actually. Tho rediculusly strong on its own, and the texture isnt great(doesent stick together). I usually mix it with tubaccum at about 1/3...

fairtradetobacco.com

Edit: never starve a rustica for water: it stunts them and lowers the final nicotine.

Great thanks !!!

 

[plantdude]

Fantastic thanks very much
If I am too late, and I need to cure in closet, should I cure the same way - the whole plant hung up? Thanks!

I always have a few plants I harvest late and hang them (the whole plant) in my garage, which would be about the same as hanging them in the closet. They tend to dry green after months of hanging over winter though if they are not mature enough. It doesn't produce a good product for smoking but leaves can be used sparingly for snus or making a mild (definetly don't overdo) rustica tea mixture to add to your chewing tobacco instead of straight water prior to cooking. Keep in mind nicotine is water soluble and is poisonous and your concentrating it if you make tea so go light - I use no more than a mid sized leaf per half a cup of water that gets added to about a half gallon size bag of ground tobacco prior to cooking. Remember nicotine can be absorbed through the skin so any concentrated teas can be dangerous to handle or consume. If most of your ground tobacco is rustica I'd go even lighter on the tea - or better, skip it entirely - or your final product is going to be too strong (especially if you add any alkalizing agents that increase nicotine absorption). I generally only use about 10% or less rustica in my mix for chewing tobacco. If you're using a high percentage of rustica in your blend your head is probably going to be spinning and I would skip adding any extra teas or alkalizing agents.

 

[Pj654]

I always have a few plants I harvest late and hang them (the whole plant) in my garage, which would be about the same as hanging them in the closet. They tend to dry green after months of hanging over winter though if they are not mature enough. It doesn't produce a good product for smoking but leaves can be used sparingly for snus or making a mild (definetly don't overdo) rustica tea mixture to add to your chewing tobacco instead of straight water prior to cooking. Keep in mind nicotine is water soluble and is poisonous and your concentrating it if you make tea so go light - I use no more than a mid sized leaf per half a cup of water that gets added to about a half gallon size bag of ground tobacco prior to cooking. Remember nicotine can be absorbed through the skin so any concentrated teas can be dangerous to handle or consume. If most of your ground tobacco is rustica I'd go even lighter on the tea - or better, skip it entirely - or your final product is going to be too strong (especially if you add any alkalizing agents that increase nicotine absorption). I generally only use about 10% or less rustica in my mix for chewing tobacco. If you're using a high percentage of rustica in your blend your head is probably going to be spinning and I would skip adding any extra teas or alkalizing agents.

That's all such great info thanks.
So I should just leave them until weather says no more / or yellowing on their own.
That's interesting, I do want to make nose spray so that is one thing I could use.
Have you ever used it as snuff,? I've seen A few but it's rare. I'm hoping to get enough to get me through a year and start a cycle. I love snuff but I need more kick, and to take way less of everything would be nicer. Won't lie this is just nicotine addiction harm reduction lol

 

[Juxtaposer-]

N. Rustica has harmine and harmaline alkaloids which are MAOI’s. This is in addition to high nicotine amounts. These MAOI alkaloids are amazing as mood elevators but also bring with them their own withdrawal symptoms. If you are using N. Rustica regularly you should be aware of the effects of skipping a dose. Not a problem for most.

 

[deluxestogie]

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors: Mayo Clinic.

Bob

 

[Pj654]

N. Rustica has harmine and harmaline alkaloids which are MAOI’s. This is in addition to high nicotine amounts. These MAOI alkaloids are amazing as mood elevators but also bring with them their own withdrawal symptoms. If you are using N. Rustica regularly you should be aware of the effects of skipping a dose. Not a problem for most.

Good to know. Thanks sir! I will make sure to rotate regular tobaccos then and keep an eye out for that. Thanks

 

[Pj654]

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors: Mayo Clinic.

Bob

Thanks for that link sir .

 

[plantdude]

That's all such great info thanks.
So I should just leave them until weather says no more / or yellowing on their own.
That's interesting, I do want to make nose spray so that is one thing I could use.
Have you ever used it as snuff,? I've seen A few but it's rare. I'm hoping to get enough to get me through a year and start a cycle. I love snuff but I need more kick, and to take way less of everything would be nicer. Won't lie this is just nicotine addiction harm reduction lol

I try to leave my rusticas out as long as possible - usually through the first light frost or two - no hard freezes though. I generally have more tobacco than I know what to do with so I'm willing to gamble with a few late season plants. I do not use pesticides, our springs are unpredictable, and we always get a few damaging storms in summer so I over plant to account for losses. Rusticas only account for a small portion of my overall crop which tends to lean heavily towards cigar varieties.
I make chewing tobacco and cigars but the only thing that goes up my nose is my finger and an occasional gnat or two I've never tried snorting any form of tobacco and personally would pass on it. Besides, my allergies are terrible, if I had to rely on putting something up my nose for a nicotine hit I'd be screwed all spring and summer.

There are some regular tobaccos like Punta de Lanza that have higher than normal nicotine content. Northwood seeds (run by @skychaser) sells punta de Lanza and could probably advise you on some other high nicotine strains. I have had good luck growing Punta de Lanza in my climate - better yields for me than rusticas with our hot dry summer weather. It's an older strain that's no longer commercially cultivated. I was expecting it to be harsher but it's surprisingly good in cigars and does great in chewing tobacco. Just mentioning it since there are other good options out there besides Rusticas that may give you a higher yield and less headache come curing time.

 

[Pj654]

I try to leave my rusticas out as long as possible - usually through the first light frost or two - no hard freezes though. I generally have more tobacco than I know what to do with so I'm willing to gamble with a few late season plants. I do not use pesticides, our springs are unpredictable, and we always get a few damaging storms in summer so I over plant to account for losses. Rusticas only account for a small portion of my overall crop which tends to lean heavily towards cigar varieties.
I make chewing tobacco and cigars but the only thing that goes up my nose is my finger and an occasional gnat or two I've never tried snorting any form of tobacco and personally would pass on it. Besides, my allergies are terrible, if I had to rely on putting something up my nose for a nicotine hit I'd be screwed all spring and summer.

There are some regular tobaccos like Punta de Lanza that have higher than normal nicotine content. Northwood seeds (run by @skychaser) sells punta de Lanza and could probably advise you on some other high nicotine strains. I have had good luck growing Punta de Lanza in my climate - better yields for me than rusticas with our hot dry summer weather. It's an older strain that's no longer commercially cultivated. I was expecting it to be harsher but it's surprisingly good in cigars and does great in chewing tobacco. Just mentioning it since there are other good options out there besides Rusticas that may give you a higher yield and less headache come curing time.

Great I'll try to give them plenty of time.. they are a bit behind but I should have about 2 months of long sunny days and another month cooling off but still plenty warm then drops off quite a quick after August. So hopefully that is enough. I was hoping to cure outside but not sure about that now.
Oh that sucks! I have allergies too but snuff doesn't seem to bother me much it tends to dry it out of anything. And the menthol ones clear me right up haha . But I LOVE the effects it's so much lighter and level that smoking if that makes any sense. I'm very excited to see the effects of rustica and blend it into other tobacco to make it stronger.
Thanks for all the great info sir.

 

[WiscoGold]

Have any pictures of your grow? Always interested to see how others are doing!

 

[deluxestogie]

First grow documenting, Wild Aztec Rustica: @Pj654

My first time growing, growing rustica, I have 60-70 of them hoping I have some success I am bit worried they are stunted and a bit behind they stayed in the tray for to long. Their roots however were insane so that's good. They are spaced 15 ish inches apart. I won't lie I got kinda sloppy as...

fairtradetobacco.com

Bob

 

[Pj654]

First grow documenting, Wild Aztec Rustica: @Pj654

My first time growing, growing rustica, I have 60-70 of them hoping I have some success I am bit worried they are stunted and a bit behind they stayed in the tray for to long. Their roots however were insane so that's good. They are spaced 15 ish inches apart. I won't lie I got kinda sloppy as...

fairtradetobacco.com

Bob

Thanks bob

 

[Pj654]

Have any pictures of your grow? Always interested to see how others are doing!

I will be documenting on the post Bob provided. I am hoping I have enough time

 

[plantdude]

Have any pictures of your grow? Always interested to see how others are doing!

Garden number 3 from last years seed increase with a few rusticas thrown in (pictured).
This year is too embarrassing to take pics of. Late start and a bunch of yellow waterlogged plants that I don't want to remind myself of next year. After all the previous rain this spring we are now going on day two of five of more forecast rain. They are currently sitting out out in the dark in about 1 inch of standing water - at least that's what it looks like between lightning strikes. Tobacco doesn't make a good aquatic plant. I imagine I'll be replanting a fair amount if we don't get a couple of dry days in a row soon.

 

[Pj654]

Garden number 3 from last years seed increase with a few rusticas thrown in (pictured).
This year is too embarrassing to take pics of. Late start and a bunch of yellow waterlogged plants that I don't want to remind myself of next year. After all the previous rain this spring we are now going on day two of five of more forecast rain. They are currently sitting out out in the dark in about 1 inch of standing water - at least that's what it looks like between lightning strikes. Tobacco doesn't make a good aquatic plant. I imagine I'll be replanting a fair amount if we don't get a couple of dry days in a row soon.

Man that sucks. Sorry bout your luck!
Those from last year amazing! How long had they been in dirt for? I'm quite concerned about time. Mine are tiny ATM

 

[plantdude]

Man that sucks. Sorry bout your luck!
Those from last year amazing! How long had they been in dirt for? I'm quite concerned about time. Mine are tiny ATM

Think it was about 3 - 3.5 months in that picture. Last year was a mediocre year, the usual wet spring and aphids galore. For some reason I had fewer lady bugs and assassin bugs last year to keep the aphids in check, probably had something to do with whatever the city was using in their mosquito spray.
Once your plants get established they will take off. There usually is about a two week lag time after transplanting. Half strength fertilizer helps with getting them established a little faster and getting over the transplant shock. I wouldn't worry too much about the shade you mentioned in the other post. Full to at least half day sun is ideal of course, but unless it's pretty dense shade I imagine you'll do ok with rusticas. The nicotine content will be lower (they're rusticas though) but the leaves are likely to be a little bigger in the shade. Keep them on the dry side once they are established. Topping them a week or two early and keeping the suckers under control, which can be a chore with rusticas, should help them mature a little faster.