harvesting tobacco plants vs priming

[BarG]

Experience in harvesting cigar filler varietys?

Whole stalk cure or prime.

Pa. red
Ct. broadleaf

All the lowest lugs have been primed and the Ct, Broadleaf is looking more stressed than The Pa Red, it realy looks like it wants to keep going.

EDIT; I believe its been 4 weeks since topping on the Ct. Broadleaf.

 

[BarG]

An even more specific question on filler varietys? After stalk harvesting what does it mean Just hang the stalk and cure or after wilting strip the stalk and hang the leaves.?

Inquireing minds don't know. I'm sure what ever I do it will be fine.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

If you are stalk harvesting, cut the stalk and hang the entire thing upside down in barn, shed etc. Let the entire plant cure that way. It will take roughly 4-6 weeks. Once all of the leaves are cured you can strip them off the stalk and tie them into hands. Best to do this in the early morning or a rainy day so the leaves are pliable.






edit: best to all this while smoking a cigar!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Boboro]

When stalk harvesting do ya'll slit the stalk?

 

[Jitterbugdude]

I just chop mine off at the base of the plant but last year I split the stalk down 3/4 of the way and hung them up. I did not notice any difference in the curing time from cutting them off at the base.

 

[Boboro]

I got a book that says to. I've done it both waysand not seen that it made a diffrance but a need every addvange I can get.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

I think the idea behind splitting the stalk is twofold. (1) it is thought that by splitting the stalk it allows the plant to "die" faster, speeding up the curing process but like I said I did not notice any difference and (2) splitting the stalk allows you to straddle it over your stick as opposed to piercing it onto a stick.

 

[Chicken]

my whole stock, curing from last year turned out real good,

i'd suggest processing it, as soon as it dries,

i let mine continue to hang all year and devoleped a little mildew on some leaves,

 

[BarG]

I'm thinking of stalk hanging all or most of the plants that have been primed of the lugs and some varietys the middles were primed also. I'm hoping its okay to hang the tops on stalk. I think the tops will take longer to cure so I will keep a eye out for to many high humid days till cured. If I get the time I may strip later and leaf hang.

EDIT; Naturaly while smokin a big ole homegrown with a nice bezuki wrapper.

 

[Chicken]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEj1iqqXZtY&feature=g-upl

that is where, all my baccy will be going in the future,

i have another video also, but it didnt download correctlly,

look for video #2

 

[Tom_in_TN]

BarG, if you guys are getting low humidity in the afternoons then I would think stalk curing would help with the overall cure of the leaves as opposed to priming. Based on what others have said it appears that taking the leaf off the stalk once they cure is OK and may be the best method in your area of lower humidity. I figure with the higher humidity here in Baccyville the cure rate will support priming the leaves and be OK until November/December. Of course some of this is based on what I remember 30 years ago +/- and what my neighbors remember from a few years ago 8 +/-.

I am still wanting to hear from any members who have a good method, other than pile curing, on how to color-up a bunch of leaf before hanging in the barn?