Leverhead's Flue Cure experiment 2013

[AmaxB]

Isn't this small scale stuff a PIA!

PIA
a little but more fun than pain

 

[johnlee1933]

John,
You generously sent me some of your CT Shade "seconds." Although some worked well as wrapper, those that were too fragile were used between a sturdy binder and a wrapper to add a nice complexity to the taste and aroma. I would suggest keeping them. They might also serve well, when cut in half, as the starting binder for rolling cigar scrap.

Bob

Glad you liked them. More of the same and some odds and ends will be on their way soon. Enjoy.

 

[leverhead]

PIA
a little but more fun than pain

I haven't quit yet, I don't think I will either.

 

[leverhead]

This is for Amax. This is the 3rd leaf down from the crow's foot, it's a seed plant so it's not topped. I'd let this leaf go at least another week, I'll take another picture then.

 

[BarG]

This year I am considering discarding leaf too small or damaged not to be wrapper. My leaf sucks as filler.

John

The Ct. Shade you sent also makes a great puro cigarillo. I take the damaged leaves and wrapper parts and use them when I'm out of rolling papers. That is about all I will get out of my shade patch this year due to aphids , poor fertilization and neglect. Sometimes work is more important. I fairly managed to keep up with my main patch.

Leverhead , still working on trying to get down that way, but making the drive to houston is almost as bad as pulling eye teeth. Ive been putting it off and putting it off but I have a load of red cedar with my name on it waiting also so as soon as I can twist my own arm I'll make it.

 

[leverhead]

Leverhead , still working on trying to get down that way, but making the drive to houston is almost as bad as pulling eye teeth. Ive been putting it off and putting it off but I have a load of red cedar with my name on it waiting also so as soon as I can twist my own arm I'll make it.

If you wait too much longer, I'll make you help me with the second planting.

 

[AmaxB]

This is for Amax. This is the 3rd leaf down from the crow's foot, it's a seed plant so it's not topped. I'd let this leaf go at least another week, I'll take another picture then.

Nice photo.. yeppp that is how mine are looking awesome help! Was doing sucker work today and my Kutsaga 110 (topped about 2 weeks) are looking like that nearly the whole plant. Same goes for the African Red cept it has only been topped little more than a week - maybe 10 days and the Stolak 17 too. These 3 are pretty much the whole plant. Looks like when the time comes I'll be taking a lot of leaf fast. Hung lugs in the garage today just to see how they will react without special treatment.
This is more fun than pain can't wait to smoke some.

 

[leverhead]

OK Amax, same leaf eight days later. Forgive me for I have mislead you! If your leaf looks like the leaf in post 64, pick it and load it. I think this last picture is a little too ripe. I just got done unloading, it's pretty thick and leathery. I'll take pictures with another camera later and maybe get closer to live colors.

 

[AmaxB]

Thanks leverhead a very full one third of my leaf looks like Post #68 another third looks like post #64.
What variety was your last batch that cured thick? Have you smoked any?

 

[leverhead]

It's all Southern Beauty, the last run of the season. I've tried some from the first run, it was pretty good but very "new". It sounds like I know what you're doing with your free time for a while.

 

[AmaxB]

Yeah my plate is more than full for the next few weeks. I'll be pulling leaf, got a few things to learn, and doing the repairs as they come in.

 

[AmaxB]

The Samsun PHYB I grew is something liky your leaf above cept it has dark green with yellow blotches over the whole leaf and thickened a lot. The whole plant is like this they were topped bout 4 and a half weeks ago. I won't prime them I'll just take all the leaves at one time.

 

[leverhead]

The Samsun PHYB I grew is something liky your leaf above cept it has dark green with yellow blotches over the whole leaf and thickened a lot. The whole plant is like this they were topped bout 4 and a half weeks ago. I won't prime them I'll just take all the leaves at one time.

The thickening is a good thing, up to a point. It makes for a dark, dense cut tobacco that needs to be blended with a bunch of thinner leaf. Picking everything at once, I don't think it's a good idea. The rate of yellowing gets slower as you go up the plant. You might get away with 5 to maybe 6 leaves for a priming per plant.

 

[AmaxB]

I was talking about the samsun PHYB only not the others but I'll take the advice of some one who has a few batches under their belt 5-6 leaves or less. I do want it to cure right. It is looking like I might be able to get some priming in today the sun is trying to shine. Will have a look in the patch in a bit to see if the leaves are drying off. I don't think I have enough of the PHYB to fill a rack and wondering about the difference in leaf size and the curing. Will need to think of something (the how to).
Thanks Lever

 

[leverhead]

I was talking about the samsun PHYB only not the others but I'll take the advice of some one who has a few batches under their belt 5-6 leaves or less. I do want it to cure right. It is looking like I might be able to get some priming in today the sun is trying to shine. Will have a look in the patch in a bit to see if the leaves are drying off. I don't think I have enough of the PHYB to fill a rack and wondering about the difference in leaf size and the curing. Will need to think of something (the how to).
Thanks Lever

I misunderstood you, I thought you were going to pick it all clean. If you can't fill the whole rack with one variety, cut the leaf butt at an angle so you can identify it later out of the mix. The atmosphere in the chamber should be pretty well controlled, I don't think the different leaf size will be that much trouble. Differences in the rate of yellowing for that variety might cause more trouble. My guess is, the time window for moving away from yellowing is about 6 hours before we'd notice much difference. Somebody that has done this for 20 years might say otherwise. Don't pick wet leaf! You don't need anything else making it harder.

 

[AmaxB]

I like the racks with the changes I made, loading is a breeze same for unloading. The 1st batch was kind of screwed but dried it complete anyway to go through the exercise. Did not bring it back to order before removing from the racks and the super dry leaf was no problem could do it without breaking.
Think I'm on the right track for this second batch has been 2 and a half days leaf at stem butts are yellowing won't be long and I can go into wilt stage. All same variety Mid & Upper stalk, bottom third had been primed. Little better than half a row to fill the chamber all leaf was loaded dense but not packed up real tight. Am keeping humid but not wet, looks to be doing good. My finish line looks to be end of September 1st half of November.
When what I kept of the 1st batch is in order I'll bag it, label, and put on the shelf.

 

[leverhead]

I'm not sure that I understand what changes you made to your racks, pictures would help. I couldn't get near my leaf until it was brought back to order. I like the whole idea of your style of rack, you work out all the bugs and I'll copy it I promise that I won't have it made in china. Maybe by Christmas I can twist your arm enough for a leaf swap.

 

[AmaxB]

ROFL
Don't need to bring the ChinaMen into it..you'll see my racks for sale some place with a stamp on em - Made In China -
Damn dude got the bugs evicted > sent Deputy Wolf Spider in to serve up da papers > racks are clean...!
I'll do a drawing and post it...

 

[AmaxB]

Here is what I am doing for racks leverhead...
.

 

[leverhead]

OK, I see now what you were talking about.