UK first grow, not sure if seeds dying off: @SnuffmeisterUK

[SnuffmeisterUK]

@deluxestogie , took my biggest 4 into their final homes (can't use raised beds for this lot as knotweed treatment happening in a few days)

How often do they need water at this stage? They seemed to suffer a little bit in the mid day sun but are perking up again

 

[deluxestogie]

How often do they need water

It is fine if they appear slightly wilted during mid-day, but then perk up again in the evening. I would water them when the soil looks and feels too dry. When you do water, add enough for it to seep out the bottom. It's trial and error.

Bob

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Thanks @deluxestogie , I know its a hard question but how 'hardy' are tobacco plants from this stage onwards? Do they require as much love and care as they did to get them from seed to today?

 

[deluxestogie]

They are prototypic broad-leaf weeds. Once they get going beyond the seedling stage, they are hard to kill, and are generally drought tolerant. The tricky part is promoting optimal growth.

Bob

 

[Old Gasman]

Thanks @deluxestogie , I know its a hard question but how 'hardy' are tobacco plants from this stage onwards? Do they require as much love and care as they did to get them from seed to today?

I think you've already done the most ticklish bit. I've found that once they get outside and established there's no stopping them.

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Cleared my raised beds and planted my last load of plants.. burley, virginia and rustica.

Put new compost and chicken manure pellets in the beds, also watered the plants with a dash of tomato fertiliser.

They are a little close together (1 foot not two) but I wanted to get as many in as possible

@deluxestogie @Old Gasman @Knucklehead thanks for your recent help!

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Photo

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Had my first casualty as a newbie tobacco grower

At some point last night (I suspect) a fox dug up one of my newly planted virginia plants and did a massive s*** on top of it

Going to cover the raised bed with wire until the plants are bigger I think

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Digging up is one thing, to do a massive s*** on my innocent virginia plant is another. This is war!

 

[deluxestogie]

What fertilizer have you used on them? Fish emulsion and blood or bone meal may attract small predators. (...who then may leave a memo of their appreciation for having been deceived.)

Bob

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

@deluxestogie I used a generic liquid tomato fertiliser and chicken manure pellets, perhaps it was the latter? It smelt strongly of chicken poop when I first put it down so might have attracted them

I've covered the smallest plants with wire, the larger plants with wire at an angle as not to stop their growth.

They had their first ever night of rain last night, seem to have enjoyed the soak.

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

My South london tobacco is really taking off.
It's surreal seeing this as a first time grower.

As I naughty teenager I begged someone outside a shop to buy me my first golden Virginia pouch. I packed in ciggies years and years ago now using vaping and then my beloved snus and nasal snuff (2 years vape free now).

I have a real love and affinity for the tobacco plant, starting the moment I opened that first pouch of GV and living with me now as I run my hands underneath these big leaves.

Some might find my wording cringy and pretentious but people are allowed to wax lyrical about homebrewing , winemaking , veg growing and all plethora of 'hobbies' so I'm going to wax lyrical about mine!

 

[johnny108]

My South london tobacco is really taking off.
It's surreal seeing this as a first time grower.

As I naughty teenager I begged someone outside a shop to buy me my first golden Virginia pouch. I packed in ciggies years and years ago now using vaping and then my beloved snus and nasal snuff (2 years vape free now).

I have a real love and affinity for the tobacco plant, starting the moment I opened that first pouch of GV and living with me now as I run my hands underneath these big leaves.

Some might find my wording cringy and pretentious but people are allowed to wax lyrical about homebrewing , winemaking , veg growing and all plethora of 'hobbies' so I'm going to wax lyrical about mine!

View attachment 46600

We understand.

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Virginia plants getting bloody massive, far bigger in the flesh than I'd imagined

We understand.

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

@deluxestogie sorry to be a pest but i need your wisdom.. Two linked questions incoming

will my plants on the left of the image be restricted in their overall size compared to being out in a feild/patch? It's a rented house so I have no idea how deep the soil goes.. for all I know there is concrete at ground/paving stone level.

I'm a little worried that these plants will get HUGE (I know that might be odd for this forum to not want this) and block the passageway/irritate my partner (lol)/look nefarious to my neighbours,

Is letting the plants develop flower heads a way to keep them a little shorter? Having the pretty flowers also might help the garden both be aesthetically pleasing..

Perhaps I need to accept I'm now a tobacco farmer and embrace it.

 

[deluxestogie]

You will get to see which turn out larger. A typical burley, for example can reach over 5 feet in height, with a leaf spread of 24-30 inches from the stalk. Potted plants tend to grow to about ¾ the size of those in the ground. Allowing them to bloom will yield slightly smaller leaf size, and a slightly milder nicotine strength. Tobacco blossoms are always gorgeous, and may soften the hardest hearts of your neighbors.

Bob

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

You will get to see which turn out larger. A typical burley, for example can reach over 5 feet in height, with a leaf spread of 24-30 inches from the stalk. Potted plants tend to grow to about ¾ the size of those in the ground. Allowing them to bloom will yield slightly smaller leaf size, and a slightly milder nicotine strength. Tobacco blossoms are always gorgeous, and may soften the hardest hearts of your neighbors.

Bob

Hmm, I probably need not worry about mammoth sized plants then, which I'm glad to hear to be honest! I was going to let one or two flower but I might encourage others to do so as well just for the aesthetic beauty of em' and to soften the neighbours hearts (my flowers are directly over looked by two flats)

I know that farmers top tobacco plants to get fuller leaves but at the current rate my plants are going I've already got plenty to be getting on with!

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Thank you @deluxestogie For your help!

Hmm, I probably need not worry about mammoth sized plants then, which I'm glad to hear to be honest! I was going to let one or two flower but I might encourage others to do so as well just for the aesthetic beauty of em' and to soften the neighbours hearts (my flowers are directly over looked by two flats)

I know that farmers top tobacco plants to get fuller leaves but at the current rate my plants are going I've already got plenty to be getting on with!

 

[Old Gasman]

From my own limited experience I have found that you may benefit from stringing a wire along the fence and the wall to tie the plants to otherwise they may lean over and block the path.