Wombat's 2026 Grow Log

[Wombat_smokes]

Well...... one of my worries has come true.


Åhus is flowering. I'm certain I did nothing wrong except under estimate how fast it matures. According to Northwest Seeds, Åhus reaches maturity 30 days after transplanting and can be harvested by 45 days. Reflecting on this 1st crop experience, one should not start seeds 6-8 weeks before transplant, but rather 4 weeks due to it's rapid maturity. When I evaluate my "days" after seed start, 4 weeks plus 30 days hits around this/next week. I'll still transplant and top this 1st crop so they can benefit from natural sunlight and soil. I'll collect seeds from my 2nd crop.

I also decided to test the frost resistance of One Sucker. I transplanted 8 extras where the frost test Åhus was. The cold spell for later this week has been downgraded to 3 nights of light/moderate frost (38-35°F). We'll see what happens.


PS - I'm planning a 2nd crop of One Sucker also. Fingers crossed that the weather in September/October works out.

 

[Wombat_smokes]

My paper bag pilones are coloring nicely. All varieties show some level of coloring up. Here is a picture of the Åhus.

I didn't think these clipping were mature enough to color cure. I'm glad I tried. This looks to be a viable "box curing" alternative for the Brightleaf primings. The plan for Brightleaf is sun cure the primings and stalk harvest when the top most leaves show signs of maturity. I'll choose some plants to prime completely so I have some ripe top leaves.

 

[Wombat_smokes]

The temperature right now is 38°F
Tomorrow morning should be the same. Daytime temps are ~58°F. I'm certain the One Sucker will be fine, but I won't be able to check until tomorrow afternoon.

 

[Wombat_smokes]

48°F this morning. Should drop another 4 degrees by sunrise. Good and warm daytime temperatures (64°F) today. 36°F for tomorrow's forecasted low. I'm not worried about survival, just how many extra plants are going to the compost

 

[Wombat_smokes]

It's a rainy 47°F this morning. Everyone got lots of sun and water yesterday. I planted the Åhus in some backyard grow boxes I use for some light gardening for my kids. My 5 yr old daughter loves that her "hummingbird" plant has pink flowers.

I gave Frog Eye Orinoco and Shargo a haircut this morning. It was more like a 1st priming given the size and yellowing of the leaves I removed.

My paper bag curing is going VERY well. I didn't expect the Bursa to color up, but they're doing very well.
The Åhus primings are also close to finishing.


Some of my One Sucker leaves finished browning, so I separated them in a phone book to finish drying.

I'm noticing that as the leaves reach full browning, they start to dry out. I've been "rotating" the leaves everyday to check on status & mold. Leaving fully browned leaves with the still curing leaves seemed a recipe for disaster, hence putting the finished leaves in a single layer to dry. I've also started mixing in/wrapping yellowed, browning leaves with the still green leaves to help keep things moist enough. The best part, I know that as long as the yellowing is complete, I can hydrate leaves to finish if they do dry out.

By the way, Shargo is very Burley adjacent. Some of the primings were so yellowed they seemed to be white. All the other varieties stayed golden yellow before browning. I'm glad to have learned that Burley isn't finished until it has browned.

 

[Wombat_smokes]

35°F this morning.

Over the weekend, I braved the rain & drizzle to plant 12 Little Dutch @ 24 in. spacing, 22 One Sucker @ 12 in, 11 Prilep @ 12 in, 8 Bursa @ 18 in, and 12 Tofta @ 24 in.

I'm certain that an occasional dip to these temperatures is ok, but prolonged exposure will either stunt or kill your plants. Yes, overnight temps in the 40's are fine, but I knew planting at this time would be risky. I have extra plants and plenty of time to start more seeds. We'll see how we'll everyone fairs.

 

[johnny108]

35°F this morning.

Over the weekend, I braved the rain & drizzle to plant 12 Little Dutch @ 24 in. spacing, 22 One Sucker @ 12 in, 11 Prilep @ 12 in, 8 Bursa @ 18 in, and 12 Tofta @ 24 in.

I'm certain that an occasional dip to these temperatures is ok, but prolonged exposure will either stunt or kill your plants. Yes, overnight temps in the 40's are fine, but I knew planting at this time would be risky. I have extra plants and plenty of time to start more seeds. We'll see how we'll everyone fairs.

How tall are the plants?
Row covers or water bottles/milk jugs with the bottoms cut off can help the plants by making a “miniature greenhouse” for them.

 

[Wombat_smokes]

All plants are 4-12 inches tall; 7-10 weeks old. Looks like there is leaf damage, but not as much to the growth tips.

Åhus


Tofta


Prilep


Bursa


One Sucker


Little Dutch


Tonight is the last cold dip (for now). While the best interpretation of "mature plants are frost tolerant" is fully grown & late season frost. My hopes for One Sucker tolerance might include early season frost. Again, we'll see what happens. I kept WAY too many seedlings and have enough time to start over. My 2nd crops might be out, but I'll plenty of leaf and practice with box/newspaper curing from the early, trash leaf primings.

Åhus in bloom

 

[Wombat_smokes]

I have reached a first-time grower's milestone... My first moldy leaves!

I was waiting for mostly browned leaves before putting them in single layers to dry out, but there was too much moisture building up between green and browning leaves. I've started to move fully yellow, browning leaves to "drying pamphlets". I expect the combined moisture to keep leaves in a good case level for finished browning. Again (and this can't be said too many times), yellowed leaf can be dehydrated (brought back into case) to finish browning in the "kiln". Green is the enemy, but small patches of green can be kilned out (most of the time).

The Åhus is played out as single leaves in newspaper. They have been changing from green to yellow to brown very nicely. These leaves are now starting to dry out as they reach full brown coloring.


Daily turning of the leaves allowed me to catch moldy leaves before it spreads throught the piles in my paper bags. Be vigilant & inspect your "box curing" tobacco regularly.

 

[Wombat_smokes]

All of the Tofta is dead.


The Little Dutch has green stems, but all of the growth buds are dead. I might get suckers, but I'll replace the worst with my extras.


The One Sucker isn't much better, but most have survived.


Åhus is just fine. All are alive and still flowering beautifully.


If your One Sucker is putting out "mature" leaves, it could/can survive an overnight light frost (39°F - 35°F). Best practice is waiting for 40°F or better. Growth will be slow, but they will survive.

My plans for a double crop of Tofta is out, but I have time to start more seeds and get 1 good crop + seeds.

 

[Wombat_smokes]

My first Shargo priming is ready to dry.


Note that it is mostly brown and the stem is looking wet and mushy. If left in the brown bag "pilones" it would surely mold. My other Shargo leaves are progressing from green to yellow to white to brown. Burley (esp. white stemmed Burley) ain't done curing 'till it browns.