What mulch are you using?
Pvt Public's Grow Log '26
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StoneCarver
Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense
I grind up stuff with my chipper shredder. Branches, twigs, leaves from random trees. I pile the mulch anywhere from 6inches to 18inches deep.
I've had wine caps to grow but only for a season or two at best.
I've had wine caps to grow but only for a season or two at best.
StoneCarver
Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense
No, no conifers. Its a mix of poplar, maple, mimosa, oak mostly. I think it just gets to hot and dry in the summer and they dry out. I try to water the beds but I can't really water it enough. The only mushrooms I've been able to do is oysters and shiitake on logs. One year, I did well with oysters on willow logs.
First image; the only Harrow Velvets and VA Brightleaf to be worthy of going in the beds. Unfortunately two of the VA's suffered transplant shock.
2: Samsun is doing remarkably well, basma in the back isnt doing too bad either.
3: Wine caps are well established and already quite productive.
4: The heirloom barley is coming up. I'll be using it to make traditional farmhouse ale.
2: Samsun is doing remarkably well, basma in the back isnt doing too bad either.
3: Wine caps are well established and already quite productive.
4: The heirloom barley is coming up. I'll be using it to make traditional farmhouse ale.
The orientals are exploding! The Va's and Burley aren't doing too bad either. However, I do have a question; I have one Burley that seems ready to prime or is needing some nutrient. I'm not sure which considering its size. Could I get some opinions?
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
From my limited experience with burley, but mostly from reading here: burleys just present like that.
Personally, I wouldn't prime anything until it's at least a few feet tall, and I'd find out what the regular growers of burley do before worrying about adding nutrients.
StoneCarver
Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense
I wouldn't worry about priming anything till after the plant tries to flower.
Otoh, mudlugs/volado that changed color to brown whilst still on the plant can be harvested as soon as they are brown.
Mudlugs can also be smoked immediately too. They are so mild that you don't really need to age/kiln them, usually.
Otoh, mudlugs/volado that changed color to brown whilst still on the plant can be harvested as soon as they are brown.
Mudlugs can also be smoked immediately too. They are so mild that you don't really need to age/kiln them, usually.
I suppose I should have asked this earlier, but do you wait until they're fully brown and wilted away? Or just starting to turn brown?
StoneCarver
Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense
For mudlugs/volado, if I understand things right, you don't have to wait for those leaves to turn brown on the plant but they may do so anyways.
On my plants, they turned brown on the plant. So, I harvested them right away before they got too tore up and decomposed. They will decompose quickly because they are literally laying on the ground. You might want to at least wait till they turn mostly yellow. Then let them finish up color curing inside. I've done that a few times too. I don't think it really matters. There's a lot of variables to consider. So you have to decide on what's important. Most of the time when I'm harvesting any leaves from my plants, volado and on on up, I have to decide between letting the leaves mature a little longer or spare them from further damage. If I think they're going to get too tore up, I go ahead and harvest. If I let my leaves get to the fully ripe stage, they'd probably be beaten up to ribbons and I'd never get anything binder or wrapper grade.
On my plants, they turned brown on the plant. So, I harvested them right away before they got too tore up and decomposed. They will decompose quickly because they are literally laying on the ground. You might want to at least wait till they turn mostly yellow. Then let them finish up color curing inside. I've done that a few times too. I don't think it really matters. There's a lot of variables to consider. So you have to decide on what's important. Most of the time when I'm harvesting any leaves from my plants, volado and on on up, I have to decide between letting the leaves mature a little longer or spare them from further damage. If I think they're going to get too tore up, I go ahead and harvest. If I let my leaves get to the fully ripe stage, they'd probably be beaten up to ribbons and I'd never get anything binder or wrapper grade.
That is incredibly helpful, thanks!
I have some Burley air curing now and its getting pretty fragrant and looking beautiful!
My first priming on the orientals didn't go well. It's hot and dry and they dried green.
I have a question about stalk curing. I've heard that the top leaves should show signs of maturity. My leaves are quite sticky, but I'm not seeing any yellowing just yet. How far up should they show? I have leaves that need picking and am wondering if I should just harvest the entire plants. I really want them sun cured instead of air cured. Pictured is Black Sea Samsun.
My first priming on the orientals didn't go well. It's hot and dry and they dried green.
I have a question about stalk curing. I've heard that the top leaves should show signs of maturity. My leaves are quite sticky, but I'm not seeing any yellowing just yet. How far up should they show? I have leaves that need picking and am wondering if I should just harvest the entire plants. I really want them sun cured instead of air cured. Pictured is Black Sea Samsun.
The earliest signs of leaf maturation are thickening and increased rugosity (rumpled surface, rather than just smooth and flat). From what I can tell in the photos, you could stalk-harvest those now.
Bob
Bob