Soap on tobacco leaves

[GregroyFincher]

Hey yall, I'm brand new to tobacco growing and have a bit of a problem, my tobacco grow (virginia i believe) developed a white fly problem and the soap we used for it has an awful taste to it, its so stuck on that wash with the hose will bruise the leaves before the soap comes off, any tips for getting soap off tobacco leaves?

 

[Knucklehead]

Hey yall, I'm brand new to tobacco growing and have a bit of a problem, my tobacco grow (virginia i believe) developed a white fly problem and the soap we used for it has an awful taste to it, its so stuck on that wash with the hose will bruise the leaves before the soap comes off, any tips for getting soap off tobacco leaves?

My patch was several hundred yards from a water faucet so I never had the opportunity to blast each leaf with water while the leaf was still attached to the plant. Instead, I would wash each leaf immediately after priming. I would take the leaf to the tailgate of the truck and let the water from the hose run over the leaf (without a nozzle or jet blast of water). I would hold the water hose with one hand and gently rub the other hand over aphid infested leaf. There was nothing to bruise. If you have a nearby water hose and a helper you could do the same thing with the leaf still on the plant. Have some one hold the hose while you take both hands and wash the aphids and soap off with your hands. Or do I as I did and wash at priming time paying attention to signs of soap as you gently wash it off using water and your hands. Helper optional.

 

[Knucklehead]

When I was using soapy water, i used Ivory or Dawn and noticed no taste. Since then I stepped up my game and have used Imidacloprid in the transplant water. That eliminated the hardest part of tobacco growing for me, but I was growing a lot of plants.

Imidacloprid: Bayer Fruit Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control for APHIDS

Imidacloprid: Bayer Fruit Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide that can be added to water at transplant, to provide control of aphids (and some other insects) for most of the growing season. A common problem is that the most readily available...

fairtradetobacco.com

 

[deluxestogie]

Welcome to the forum. Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum.

How long has the soap been on the leaf? Is the leaf green or yellow? How soon will you be harvesting it?

Bob

 

[GregroyFincher]

Welcome to the forum. Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum.

How long has the soap been on the leaf? Is the leaf green or yellow? How soon will you be harvesting it?

Bob

Howdy! Im Greg, thank you for the warm welcome, I wasnt expecting some a prompt reply, its nice to see that this forum is active.

The soap has been on the leaves for at most 2 weeks, the leaves are green but had to cut the plant before they could begin to yellow, which I believe was a mistake but hoping its not the end of the world. Is a green harvest possible to recover from?

I have been using my hose and gloved hand to try to wash away soap residue and leaving them to try on a rack in the sun.

I am very amateur at this and appreciate yall's help in the matter.

 

[GregroyFincher]

When I was using soapy water, i used Ivory or Dawn and noticed no taste. Since then I stepped up my game and have used Imidacloprid in the transplant water. That eliminated the hardest part of tobacco growing for me, but I was growing a lot of plants.

Imidacloprid: Bayer Fruit Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control for APHIDS

Imidacloprid: Bayer Fruit Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide that can be added to water at transplant, to provide control of aphids (and some other insects) for most of the growing season. A common problem is that the most readily available...

fairtradetobacco.com

I only have two plants, one still in the ground, but that is a great tip! I will see if i can try it the next go around.

 

[GregroyFincher]

My patch was several hundred yards from a water faucet so I never had the opportunity to blast each leaf with water while the leaf was still attached to the plant. Instead, I would wash each leaf immediately after priming. I would take the leaf to the tailgate of the truck and let the water from the hose run over the leaf (without a nozzle or jet blast of water). I would hold the water hose with one hand and gently rub the other hand over aphid infested leaf. There was nothing to bruise. If you have a nearby water hose and a helper you could do the same thing with the leaf still on the plant. Have some one hold the hose while you take both hands and wash the aphids and soap off with your hands. Or do I as I did and wash at priming time paying attention to signs of soap as you gently wash it off using water and your hands. Helper optional.

The gentle part has been the most difficult part so on, the soap is so caked on I've been needing to bruise it to get it off

 

[Knucklehead]

The gentle part has been the most difficult part so on, the soap is so caked on I've been needing to bruise it to get it off

Were you using soap or soapy water? How much soap? What kind of soap? Did you have any rain along the way?
The only thing that comes to my feeble mind may sound counter intuitive but perhaps you could try washing with soapy water followed by straight water. My thinking is that maybe the new soap can reactivate? the old soap and at least help in getting it washed off and prepped for straight water. I would recommend dish washing soap like Dawn or Ivory liquid. Just a squirt with some water.

edit: I’m guessing the aphids are gone.

 

[Knucklehead]

Howdy! Im Greg, thank you for the warm welcome, I wasnt expecting some a prompt reply, its nice to see that this forum is active.

The soap has been on the leaves for at most 2 weeks, the leaves are green but had to cut the plant before they could begin to yellow, which I believe was a mistake but hoping its not the end of the world. Is a green harvest possible to recover from?

I have been using my hose and gloved hand to try to wash away soap residue and leaving them to try on a rack in the sun.

I am very amateur at this and appreciate yall's help in the matter.

Just curious, but if the leaves are green and it was stalk harvested, how do you know it tastes bad? Are you sure the taste is soap and not just the taste of freshly cured leaves which aren’t always great immediately after cure. Most need to age for quite awhile. They can have an almost grassy smell and flavor until aged.

 

[deluxestogie]

If the leaves are already removed from the stalk, and are still green, then soak them in plain water overnight. Do your rub and rinse after that soak.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

Post some photos--close-ups of the wayward leaf.

Bob

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

I use a hose similarly to how @Knucklehead does, except I use a gentle spray and do it against a vertical board.

Another option, if you're going to hang your leaf within the day would be to immerse it in a tub/wheelbarrow of water for a few minutes, but that might not get the flies off.

 

[Oldfella]

Were you using soap or soapy water? How much soap? What kind of soap? Did you have any rain along the way?
The only thing that comes to my feeble mind may sound counter intuitive but perhaps you could try washing with soapy water followed by straight water. My thinking is that maybe the new soap can reactivate? the old soap and at least help in getting it washed off and prepped for straight water. I would recommend dish washing soap like Dawn or Ivory liquid. Just a squirt with some water.

edit: I’m guessing the aphids are gone.

I only use dishwashing liquid as well. I don't think the brand matters it's designed for food dishes and is not supposed to taint. Laundry soap. Bad.
Oldfella

 

[Oldfella]

Just curious, but if the leaves are green and it was stalk harvested, how do you know it tastes bad? Are you sure the taste is soap and not just the taste of freshly cured leaves which aren’t always great immediately after cure. Most need to age for quite awhile. They can have an almost grassy smell and flavor until aged.

Good point.
Oldfella