FrostD’s 2025 Grow Blog

[FrostD]

Wow! Almost already 3 full months into 2025! Which means, I may be a week or two off from what I initially intended. Been in the “new” house for about 7 months now. Trying to knock out some projects, so time has been a little limited. So, until we can figure out a section (fingers crossed) for tobacco, it’s going to be pots again, which is a-ok. Have a few spots I can put some, which will be nice since our backyard is south facing. My plan is at least 12 total pots, 4 pots of 3 varieties. Should be an ok amount to manage, while we plan out the rest of the backyard.

I started these last Sunday (3/16/25). Containers… just reused what I’d thought would work. Since we still have stuff in boxes, needed to pivot. So, just put some soil from outside that we keep prior soil in. Tossed it in a bin after it warmed up, added some filtered water and tossed some seeds on. They are sitting next to an Aerogarden that has some herbs starting. Ambient room temp/RH is roughly 65-68F/ 35%-45% RH.

Pics from last Sunday (3/16/25):
Corojo ‘99 - from @WillQuantrill . Thanks buddy!


Havana 608: - from North Wood


Habano (FSG) -seed from Jeff Borysiewicz farm



*UPDATE* 1 Week later:
Corojo ‘99- Has tons of seeds that have already shown growth.


Havana 608- Some growth here as well!


Habano (FSG)- A couple starting. I anticipated these ones may need an extra week or so for more to pop.

 

[FrostD]

Oh, a side note. On my work travels up to Boston, MA & Southern New Hampshire, one of my clients gave me a bag of these seed pods. Supposedly Puerto Rican Landrace. Eh, I’m not sure. Perhaps a Puerto Rican heritage of sorts. I asked him how he handled the flower head & seed pods. They weren’t bagged flower heads at any point… so. Could be something slightly different. Eh, perhaps will find out at some point. Lol!

 

[WillQuantrill]

Wow! Almost already 3 full months into 2025! Which means, I may be a week or two off from what I initially intended. Been in the “new” house for about 7 months now. Trying to knock out some projects, so time has been a little limited. So, until we can figure out a section (fingers crossed) for tobacco, it’s going to be pots again, which is a-ok. Have a few spots I can put some, which will be nice since our backyard is south facing. My plan is at least 12 total pots, 4 pots of 3 varieties. Should be an ok amount to manage, while we plan out the rest of the backyard.

I started these last Sunday (3/16/25). Containers… just reused what I’d thought would work. Since we still have stuff in boxes, needed to pivot. So, just put some soil from outside that we keep prior soil in. Tossed it in a bin after it warmed up, added some filtered water and tossed some seeds on. They are sitting next to an Aerogarden that has some herbs starting. Ambient room temp/RH is roughly 65-68F/ 35%-45% RH.

Pics from last Sunday (3/16/25):
Corojo ‘99 - from @WillQuantrill . Thanks buddy!
View attachment 54954

Havana 608: - from North Wood
View attachment 54955

Habano (FSG) -seed from Jeff Borysiewicz farm
View attachment 54956


*UPDATE* 1 Week later:
Corojo ‘99- Has tons of seeds that have already shown growth.
View attachment 54957

Havana 608- Some growth here as well!
View attachment 54958

Habano (FSG)- A couple starting. I anticipated these ones may need an extra week or so for more to pop.
View attachment 54959

Being still new to this I am just as excited to see those seeds pop as you! Haha. May your yield be bountiful!

 

[FrostD]

Wow! It’s been almost a month since my last update.

The FSG seed I tried to start, none of them started. What grow that did occur were 2 clover plants and a blade of grass. Perhaps next year I might try to start more FSG seeds than this year, since the germination rate appears to be not the best.

As far as what did pop and start were the @WillQuantrill ’s Corojo ‘99 & Havana 608.

Before:




After:



Keeping the overall amount of plants down this year as I sort out this backyard. Soil is recycled soil from last year. I haven’t added anything to it. I figure once they get to their final homes, I can amend the soil before I plant them. Have a nice spot for at least 12x 5 Gallon pot size plants. If 12 don’t make it, eh… that’s ok. Staying pretty minimal this year just due to being busy with work, rolling, and home projects.

 

[FrostD]

A little over 2 weeks since last post. Haven’t really done much. Kinda under an Aerogarden light. Have only watered a couple times in the last 2 weeks. Waited to see the soil start to dry up a bit. Poured an unmeasured amount of water on top of each cell and filled the bottom tray with just enough water to cover the bottom. Brought them outside yesterday for a couple hours under our patio table umbrella to have some shade. Will be acclimating the same way the next few days (forgot today). I’m thinking they may be ready for final pots in a week or two, depending on how unruly they get. Maybe even stagger some of the transplanting, as some are getting larger faster.

Side note: Only water I’ve been using for them is filtered water with some banana peels that’s been put in the water. Replacing peels every couple of days. Why banana peel water…. Potassium water seems to show slightly faster growing & healthy lookin plants. I didn’t research this or can cite any scientific studies on it. Just messing around and figured why not try it.

 

[FrostD]

Little over a couple weeks since last post. Did some transplanting today. 16 total plants. 2 varieties (Havana 608 from @skychaser & Corojo ‘99 from @WillQuantrill ). Will prob take em a week or two to bounce back. Mixed in some organic powder fertilizer from a big box store. Nothing super special. Keep reminding myself to K.I.S.S.

 

[FrostD]

Almost 2 months since my last grow log post…. Been a busy year for sure! I’ve done pretty minimal this year. Water a few times with filtered water & added a couple compost teas with 2 waterings. High temps & humidity in Wisconsin has been helpful as well. This morning had some rain come through. Have another compost tea recipe I started up a couple hours ago to water with tomorrow.

I’m planning on not collecting seed this year and just letting the Havana 608 & Corojo ‘99 plants do their thing. May clip flower heads off at some point….we will see if I even get that ambitious. I noticed that suckering on the Havana 608 has been pretty minimal. Corojo ‘99 has some suckering, but super easy to tidy up here and there. With this year being the first plants grown at the new house, I’ve noticed no aphid outbreaks yet. Keeping my fingers crossed as other little critters may be more prominent here.




One of the Havana 608 plants had this pop up on 3-4 leaves. I’m thinking it could be a Boron deficiency, bacteria, weather stress, or something else. Odd that it’s only on a few leaves in the middle of the plant. Which leads me to think weather stress.

 

[deluxestogie]

Tobacco Etch Virus (TEV)

There are a number of viruses that affect tobacco, and most also can infect or be transmitted from other members of the solanaciae family (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers). Details of the pathophysiology of these virus infections are not particularly useful for the home grower. In this...

fairtradetobacco.com

Bob

 

[FrostD]

Tobacco Etch Virus (TEV)

There are a number of viruses that affect tobacco, and most also can infect or be transmitted from other members of the solanaciae family (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers). Details of the pathophysiology of these virus infections are not particularly useful for the home grower. In this...

fairtradetobacco.com

Bob

Bob with the save! Just perused the post from the link. As I was reading it, your experience sounds exactly like mine. Since, it’s isolated on the plant & leaves… I’ll think over what I want to do. Considering moving the plant to the side of the house by itself, removing infected leaf and seeing how the rest of the leaves will turn out. Otherwise, just say the heck with it and chuck it, pot, and the soil in it. Not worth the trouble or pain it may cause to others.

Appreciate it Bob!

 

[FrostD]

Almost a week since last post. Chopped down the whole plant with the Etch Virus and chucked it and the soil away. No need to fuss around with it. All are flowering and decided to not collect any seed this year. Down to 7x Havana 608 + 8x Corojo ‘99. May top the flowers off in a week or two. Depends if I get the time to do it.



Some leaf is looking like it’s ready to start priming as well. Noticed these spots on a few Havana 608 leaves. The quick research I did, appears it may be bites left over from aphids. I thought it may be honeydew left over, but when trying to swipe over the spots, it doesn’t off off. Part of the leaf. May or may not keep ‘em.

 

[deluxestogie]

I'll guess weather fleck (ozone and other nasties in the air). Aphids tend to gather on the underside of the leaf, near the stalk.

Bob

 

[FrostD]

I'll guess weather fleck (ozone and other nasties in the air). Aphids tend to gather on the underside of the leaf, near the stalk.

Bob

Weather fleck was another potential I thought that may be occurring. I did a quick glance over the top and bottoms of the leaf and didn’t notice any aphids, so I’m going to lean towards weather fleck on this one. Bob, you’re always a life saver brother! Greatly appreciate you!

 

[johnny108]

Almost a week since last post. Chopped down the whole plant with the Etch Virus and chucked it and the soil away. No need to fuss around with it. All are flowering and decided to not collect any seed this year. Down to 7x Havana 608 + 8x Corojo ‘99. May top the flowers off in a week or two. Depends if I get the time to do it.

View attachment 56779

Some leaf is looking like it’s ready to start priming as well. Noticed these spots on a few Havana 608 leaves. The quick research I did, appears it may be bites left over from aphids. I thought it may be honeydew left over, but when trying to swipe over the spots, it doesn’t off off. Part of the leaf. May or may not keep ‘em.
View attachment 56780
View attachment 56781
View attachment 56782

Keep ‘em.
Good “practice leaf” you don’t want anyone to see.
Besides, ugly cigar is better than no cigar.