Tobaccofieldsforever 2022 Grow Log

[skychaser]

In reaction, the roots become more robust, and increase their production of alkaloids (e.g. nicotine) to transport to the poor, threatened leaves. You get stronger roots, thicker stalks, and more insect resistant leaves.

As many of you know, because I have said it many times, I never clip my leaves. And I have never seen any studies showing it increases root strength or vigor. Stalks yes, roots no. I read a recent publication over the winter by NC state that referred to clipping leaves as a way to increase stem strength no less than 6 times. A big advantage to large commercial growers who use planting machines. But it never mentioned anything about roots. Would love to read some studies on that if anyone has a link. I have no idea if it increase alkaloids in plants so small or what they even produce at that young age. Seems logical it would produce an herbivore response though. Has anyone ever seen a chemical analysis of babies? But topping later in life definitely produces an herbivore response. More nicotine to make it more toxic to eat and it really encourages sucker growth. Can't argue against anything else Mr. Bob said. Clip away if you want too. It won't hurt them. But not doing it doesn't hurt either. I might do it I were trying to hold them longer because spring refused to cooperate with my planting schedule and they were getting way to crowded.

Nice looking plants you have there Mr Tobaccofields. You are doing something right!

 

[deluxestogie]

The absence of information is a shaky basis for questioning it. I'll avoid hijacking this thread by sending you a PM.

Bob

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

Yes. Trimming the leaves induces an "herbivore predation" response from the plant. [If the plant were a forum member, it would complain that something is eating its leaves.] In reaction, the roots become more robust, and increase their production of alkaloids (e.g. nicotine) to transport to the poor, threatened leaves. You get stronger roots, thicker stalks, and more insect resistant leaves.

The trimming reduces shading of smaller or slower plants. The trimming reduces leaf surface area (and water demand) at the time of transplant, so the plants are more tolerant and resilient. And finally... all of the clipped leaves would end up as bottom trash anyway. I've compared growth in the field. Untrimmed plants start off ahead of trimmed plants, but within about 3 weeks they are indistinguishable. Also, my count of useable leaves per plant is the same.

My Orientals (Prilep 66-9/7) looked similar this morning. Then I gave them a heartless buzz (photo in my grow log). They are the stick figures in the far-right of the photo.

Bob

I saw your trim job. I’m very impressed with your confidence. If your plants were a forum member they would undoubtedly be posting a thread with help in all caps somewhere in the title!..haha!!

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

The absence of information is a shaky basis for questioning it. I'll avoid hijacking this thread by sending you a PM.

Bob

It is an equally shaky basis for confirming it though (devils advocate). That being said,I trimmed my plants a couple days ago and it makes sense to me that it would in fact trigger an herbivore predation response. I don’t think there is an absence of information, maybe an absence of formal agricultural studies on the topic at hand but, even as a child of academia, I don’t consider that to be an absence of information. Please don’t worry about hijacking my grow blog, this is what I want it to be. A thread where everyone can gather and talk about growing tobacco with a peppering of current plant pics etc… I also want to be kept up to date on this current topic if the conversation continues.
Thank you @skychaser! It certainly helps to start with excellent seed!!
Plants post trimming (it is below freezing outside AGAIN so there may be many more trimmings in the future depending on how they respond to this one!):
You can ALMOST tell I did anything!!..haha!!…I was nervous!

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

The above tray are my original plants for the season. The below tray are backup plants that I replanted rather than killed and thinned. I may want to think about more trimming…

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

Well, my plants are doing well. If only the weather would cooperate…

 

[Alpine]

Time for a haircut…

pier

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

Time for a haircut…

pier

I know but I’ve done it 3 times or more now. I’m trying to let them go until they get in the ground but it’s not looking good!

 

[Alpine]

If you don’t clip the very tip of the plant, you can keep on “haircutting” as long as you want (this will obviously stunt the growth of the plants). If the weather forecasts say that the temperatures are above 8/10 C at night, you can transplant in full ground outside. The seedlings will just stop their growth (but survive) until the temps are just right.

pier
Edit: 46 to 50 F is the conversion from C degrees

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

If you don’t clip the very tip of the plant, you can keep on “haircutting” as long as you want (this will obviously stunt the growth of the plants). If the weather forecasts say that the temperatures are above 8/10 C at night, you can transplant in full ground outside. The seedlings will just stop their growth (but survive) until the temps are just right.

pier
Edit: 46 to 50 F is the conversion from C degrees

The temperatures are fine now, it is the ungodly amount of rain making it nearly impossible to even get to where they need to be planted

 

[Alpine]

You have to wait for better weather then: tobacco doesn’t like wet feet at all.

pier

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

You have to wait for better weather then: tobacco doesn’t like wet feet at all.

pier

Right, and it’s looking like a wet spring/summer so far. Hopefully it’s drier than last year. Some farmers have field corn standing from last year that they were unable to harvest due to overly wet conditions.

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

Some of my krumovgrad plants are around a foot tall right now.when I plant these would it hurt anything to bury the stem very deep up to the leaf cluster around the growth point?(The red line in the photo below)

 

[Knucklehead]

Some of my krumovgrad plants are around a foot tall right now.when I plant these would it hurt anything to bury the stem very deep up to the leaf cluster around the growth point?(The red line in the photo below)View attachment 41647

The red line would be about right. Remove the lower leaves below the red line.

 

[deluxestogie]

I agree with @Knucklehead. My sense of it is that, since tobacco generally produces relatively shallow root systems (8-15" deep), and spread laterally up to 12-18", that you can safely bury ~6" of the stalk, maybe a bit more.

Bob

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

I have a two headed prilep plant! Growing two growth points that split off and are exactly the same height.

 

[deluxestogie]

One of them is a sucker. I cant tell which. My choice would be to clip one off, since otherwise you end up with the same total weight of leaf yield, made up of a larger number of smaller leaves. The world won't end if you allow both to grow. If you prime your Prilep leaf, the cost (or labor) increases in proportion to the leaf count. Even with stalk-cutting and stalk-curing, you eventually have to handle each leaf.

Bob

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

One of them is a sucker. I cant tell which. My choice would be to clip one off, since otherwise you end up with the same total weight of leaf yield, made up of a larger number of smaller leaves. The world won't end if you allow both to grow. If you prime your Prilep leaf, the cost (or labor) increases in proportion to the leaf count. Even with stalk-cutting and stalk-curing, you eventually have to handle each leaf.

Bob

That was my initial thought but I’ve never seen a sucker grow at the same rate as the main growth center. I am going to remove one of them.

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone in the northern Ohio area planted outside yet? I am debating whether or not I should. Only a few days ago we had a partial frost. Still a bit early in my opinion but my plants are getting too big for their cells (in my opinion) and I don’t want to have to keep trimming them…

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

I am now adding Shirey to my list of varieties I am growing this season. It was a very pleasant surprise to me as a dark Virginian was on my “maybe list” of seeds to purchase this season. Anyway, I visited my local farm market yesterday and to my surprise they were selling Shirey, Havana and golden burley tobacco plants for 1.99/plant. I purchased all the Shirey they had (only 6 plants) and am excited to be growing a dark Virginia variety for the first time ever. How is this variety traditionally cured? Any tips or advice on Shirey would be much appreciated!
I know I could’ve purchased almost 4 different varieties worth of seed for the price of these 6 plants but I also know the work that goes into getting a tobacco plant to this stage so 1.99 seemed quite fair to me. Not to mention the fact it is too late to start any seed.