My window, balcony and garden: 2026 @johnny108

[johnny108]

Aztec back ups are doing well.
Which is good, since the Brasilia-7 started flowering in the seedling tray, and didn’t get planted in the field.

 

[vktr]

> This is also how small I transplant my seedlings- it’s easier to handle them, early, as there are fewer roots to break.

True but the downside is you will never know which of them would be the strongest. I prefer piling them in and then pick the best one. In other words let them compete.

 

[hayfield311]

Aztec back ups are doing well.
Which is good, since the Brasilia-7 started flowering in the seedling tray, and didn’t get planted in the field.
View attachment 60040

if you don't mind me asking, what do you do with Aztec? I cant imagine smoking that stuff. Too much for me

 

[johnny108]

if you don't mind me asking, what do you do with Aztec? I cant imagine smoking that stuff. Too much for me

I use it as an addition to chewing tobacco.
I’ve also made it into fine cut tobacco for smoking in small bowl Japanese kiseru pipes.

I also roll a few cigarettes for a coworker who believes a straight Aztec cigarette is the perfect first cigarette of the morning.
(He’s a 2-pack per day smoker).

 

[johnny108]

> This is also how small I transplant my seedlings- it’s easier to handle them, early, as there are fewer roots to break.

True but the downside is you will never know which of them would be the strongest. I prefer piling them in and then pick the best one. In other words let them compete.

But I am getting the ones that handle transplantation the best. Usually one or two just aren’t that great at final transplant time.
I tend to not bother with them.
Less competition among themselves, and more competition against the environment.
(Northern Germany is not known for tobacco for a reason. My wife says I should take up an easier plant to grow in this area, I suggested cactus, and she rolled her eyes.)

 

[johnny108]

Izmir does not seem to like Northern Europe’s climate…these are about a foot tall, and I’ve found one with only 8-9 leaves that has started flowering.

 

[johnny108]

Virginia Gold in the garden, and the Little Dutch and Samsun Maden in containers are doing fine.

 

[vktr]

I also get a foot tall plants in small pots or more or less raw soil (that's why I stopped doing it). Those in raised beds with good soil and compost reach twice or thrice the height and produce much larger leaves. I'm talking about Aztec but it's proportionally true for Virginia as well (grew it two years back).

 

[johnny108]

I also get a foot tall plants in small pots or more or less raw soil (that's why I stopped doing it). Those in raised beds with good soil and compost reach twice or thrice the height and produce much larger leaves. I'm talking about Aztec but it's proportionally true for Virginia as well (grew it two years back).

I used these small pots last year for my Oriental varieties, and I ended up with 3’/1 meter tall plants with a normal leaf count, and smaller leaves- it worked great for Baffra Basma and Xanthi.
I was hoping for the same result with the Izmir, but I’ve got larger, fewer leaves….
Only thing I can think of is maybe too much fertilizer…it’s been an unusually hot summer here, but I would think Izmir would enjoy that.

 

[johnny108]

Sadly, the disease that wiped out my dark-air tobacco last year IS capable of infecting Virginia Gold.
(The only reason I planted it exclusively this year, is that it wasn’t damaged by the disease last year.)
Looks like rustica is the only safe plant in this disease-riddled ground.

 

[Alpine]

Bad news… any idea of what disease is?

pier

 

[Wombat_smokes]

Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TTobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV)MV)

 

[Wombat_smokes]

Let's try this again....

Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) - does not commonly spread by insects. Usually by poor hygiene of tools, direct handling by growers (hands) or infected seeds/soil. Can survive upto 2 years in soil. Can be disrupted by crop rotation.

Potato Virus Y (PVY) - spread by ahips and thrips. Best controlled by insect & host plant management.

My bet is PVY while TMV and similar viruses are possible.

 

[deluxestogie]

My impression from the leaf tip at the top of the first photo is either Weather Fleck (ozone damage from poor air quality) or Tobacco Etch Virus. Given the unusual weather conditions in Europe this summer, Weather Fleck seems likely.

Area Images - IPM Images

The Source for Agriculture and Pest Management Pictures

www.ipmimages.org

But my impressions are based only on a snapshot of a plant, and a snapshot in time. My guesses should be interpreted only as possibilities.

Bob

 

[johnny108]

TMV is a distinct possibility- I believe I transferred it from the garden to a balcony container plant last year.
I have made better hygiene and schedule changes to handle this problem- garden plants last, dedicated tools for each garden area.
For years, however, this specific patch was used to grow potatoes……and thrips are bad this year.

Both are possible.