Topping too early?

[FALaholic]

I have been topping the moment I see a seed pod appear. By that I mean, two 1.5" leaves that come out, surround a green seed pod (2-3 green balls), appear. I then clip that off, usually with my nail.
Have I been topping too early? Been thinking the sooner I take out the seed pod, the less energy is wasted on seeds.

 

[Knucklehead]

Commercial growers top the whole field when 50% of the plants show at least one flower. Keep in mind that suckers start growing after topping, so any energy saved going to the seed pods is more than made up for by the energy going to sucker production. Having said that, I don't think you're hurting anything doing it the way you are doing it.

 

[BigBonner]

Here is the stage I like to top tobacco at . Barely showing flower to showing no flower but a decent size plant with decent size leaves .

 

[DrBob]

Big Bonner is right.

 

[Ben Brand]

When commercial farming we used to top as early as possibly. Like knuckle said 40-50% early flower we started topping. As long as the top leaves thats left behind is longer than 30cm, if a growth inhibitor (sucker oil) is used, the leaves smaller than 30cm is likely to be affected. Studies in our tobacco research did show the earlier the topping, the higher the yield.

 

[FALaholic]

Here is the stage I like to top tobacco at . Barely showing flower to showing no flower but a decent size plant with decent size leaves .

View attachment 8854

Thanks BB. Going from that picture, it is about 1-2 weeks before that stage that I top.
As for suckers, I nip them when just two 1" nodes appear.

 

[FALaholic]

One quick question. Once topped, nothing is supposed to grow past the point where you topped?

 

[LeftyRighty]

One quick question. Once topped, nothing is supposed to grow past the point where you topped?

correct, except suckers may sprout - get'em !