Opinions on variety for "one-variety" cigars?

[Skafidr]

Hello!

I'm shopping for the seeds I'd like to plant for next growing season and I need opinions.

I'd like to have a crop in order to make cigars of a single variety. I'm wondering which variety would be suited for this.

I suppose I have "functional" constraints:
- I won't grow in shade. Not in a field but on my patio (see a picture here if you're curious). South facing, at least 8 hours of sun per day.
- I cure/dry by hanging leaves (air curing), I don't have access to stalk curing.
- I'm not able to kiln either. Age the tobacco with time. Super low tech.

Looking at Northwood Seeds' seeds list, I see four varieties that are labelled as "wrapper/filler":
- Corojo 99
- Glessnor
- Habano 2000
- L'Assomption 201

I remember seeing a post where Bob suggested Corojo 99 for a puro, and not Habano 2000. It seems that L'Assomption 201 would "fit", functionally speaking, but Glassnor is typically stalk cured, which I can't do. The site does not describe how Corojo 99 is typically dried/cured.

Without any more opinions, I'd likely order Corojo 99, but I thought I'd ask first!

Any opinion on L'Assomption 201? Other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[WillQuantrill]

My own experience growing Corojo 99 was underwhelming compared to the "parent" variety Corojo. While I could see how 99's leaves would be great wrapper mine never grew big enough to use as such while Corojo in the same garden same year grew to 7 foot with nice size leaves. I may have played an unintention part in 99 being unsuccessful but Corojo made it so my short list of seeds I would grow again. Hope that makes sense.

 

[deluxestogie]

L'Assomption 201 data page.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

I would be inclined to go with a shorter plant height, for pot growing, vs a tall plant. The issue of stalk-curing is relevant only to the curing conditions and ease of harvest. Any tobacco variety can be successfully primed and strung for air-curing.

Bob

 

[TigerTom]

Here's a great write-up Bob posted some years back about Vuelta Abajo.

Vuelta Abajo

I kilned the sample of Maryland-grown Vuelta Abajo leaf (assumed to be TI 1453; PI 405668) that I received from Jitterbugdude for 4 weeks. The leaf shape and vein pattern is suggestive of a wrapper type, though ARS-GRIN dubiously calls it an Oriental. [Their database states that it was...

fairtradetobacco.com

-Tom

 

[MadFarmer]

I've grown Glessnor and Corojo 99. I have not tried to grow Corojo 99 in a pot, but all my Glessnor has been grown in a pot. I have found it very pot friendly, final size, days to maturity all seem to work well in a pot to get what to my mind equals full expression of the plant. It also helps that it was the first recognizable cigar flavor from my own garden - all the others I've grown tasted good but not familiar (at first.) When I grew Corojo it grew to over six feet, I have no idea what that would look like in a container.

Also, if I end up growing Vuelta Abajo this season it will be becase of Tom's post.

 

[wruk53]

Also, if I end up growing Vuelta Abajo this season it will be becase of Tom's post.

Me too, just started some seeds this morning.

 

[TigerTom]

I've grown Glessnor and Corojo 99. I have not tried to grow Corojo 99 in a pot, but all my Glessnor has been grown in a pot. I have found it very pot friendly, final size, days to maturity all seem to work well in a pot to get what to my mind equals full expression of the plant. It also helps that it was the first recognizable cigar flavor from my own garden - all the others I've grown tasted good but not familiar (at first.) When I grew Corojo it grew to over six feet, I have no idea what that would look like in a container.

Also, if I end up growing Vuelta Abajo this season it will be becase of Tom's post.

Thanks for the kind words. I think credit should go to Bob and his wonderful wordsmithing.

 

[deluxestogie]

With regard to Vuelta Abajo, it is, of course, just the name of a location. The backstory of the ARS-GRIN accession of PI 405668 is truly murky. (The oldest date within their records is the transfer of a seed sample from one research center to another, back in 1964.) The most likely date of acquiring the seed originally from Cuba is during the mid-to-late 1920s.

During that time window, Cuban tobacco production had not yet paid the slightest attention to Mendelian genetics. [No bagging of blossom heads!] A small number of centrally located seedling farms would provide started seedlings (think of filled 1020 trays today) of "tobacco" to the tobacco growers. The growers would plant whatever they received. As the plants matured, the growers and their workers would identify the plants that looked promisingly like "cigar" leaf, and would lovingly prime those plants. The not-so-promising plants were often simply harvested for use in cigarettes.

The result is that today, ARS-GRIN has records of a number of different tobacco varieties identified as "Vuelta Abajo". This particular one (PI 405668) happens to be, by pure luck, the real deal. It is likely the parent variety used in Cuba to eventually develop the various "improved" varieties leading to the series of so-called Corojo tobaccos. Most of these "improvements" were simply a selection more resistant to the tobacco pathogen du jour.

It's definitely a nice cigar variety, yielding deep brown, nearly oscuro upper leaf.

Bob

 

[TigerTom]

The result is that today, ARS-GRIN has records of a number of different tobacco varieties identified as "Vuelta Abajo". This particular one (PI 405668) happens to be, by pure luck, the real deal. It is likely the parent variety used in Cuba to eventually develop the various "improved" varieties leading to the series of so-called Corojo tobaccos. Most of these "improvements" were simply a selection more resistant to the tobacco pathogen du jour.

It's definitely a nice cigar variety, yielding deep brown, nearly oscuro upper leaf.

Bob

Is that strain (PI 405668) the same as what's for sale at Northwood Seeds?

-Tom

 

[deluxestogie]

Is that strain (PI 405668) the same as what's for sale at Northwood Seeds?

Yes. Do ignore the statement that it is an Oriental. That was an ARS-GRIN employee's silly error (still listed that way) for that Habano variety.

Bob

 

[TigerTom]

Yes. Do ignore the statement that it is an Oriental. That was an ARS-GRIN employee's silly error (still listed that way) for that Habano variety.

Bob

Thanks, Bob.

 

[Bottenslam]

About not kilning: just letting The tobacco age will take years. Depending ofcourse on humidity and temperature, but for me it takes about 3 years to get a good flavour. Works well when growing large amounts, but small it might not make sense.

 

[Skafidr]

About not kilning: just letting The tobacco age will take years. Depending ofcourse on humidity and temperature, but for me it takes about 3 years to get a good flavour. Works well when growing large amounts, but small it might not make sense.

It's not that I'm actively against kilning my tobacco, but rather because I don't currently have the space where I could do this safely.

 

[johnny108]

I don’t have any space, either…..
A small yogurt incubator works great.

My window and balcony: @johnny108

It is dangerously green. But after 30 days it’s gonna be pretty strong, nicotine-wise. If I waited till it yellowed, I’d have to keep it inside while it was snowing, and it would be strong enough that using it would be difficult. (Plus keeping it away from a toddler) I’m going to use it in...

fairtradetobacco.com

 

[Skafidr]

I don’t have any space, either…..
A small yogurt incubator works great.

My window and balcony: @johnny108

It is dangerously green. But after 30 days it’s gonna be pretty strong, nicotine-wise. If I waited till it yellowed, I’d have to keep it inside while it was snowing, and it would be strong enough that using it would be difficult. (Plus keeping it away from a toddler) I’m going to use it in...

fairtradetobacco.com

Interesting idea!

 

[Bottenslam]

It's not that I'm actively against kilning my tobacco, but rather because I don't currently have the space where I could do this safely.

Yeah, i assumed so, same reason for me, just pointing out it takes years to get smokable tobacco whidout kilning.

 

[ProZachJ]

Or...in my case 6-7 months hanging in a greenhouse with no vents, Texas heat and humidity, and a 2700w heater running full blast even on the hottest days I'm sure my leaf will continue to get better with more age, but Id definitely call it smokable.

 

[Bottenslam]

Or...in my case 6-7 months

Cant say im not envious of your climate...