Harvested my crop!

[whalen]

Well the threat of frost/snow in two days forced me to harvest my tobacco. I had about 50 plants this year and they just went nuts, I had a late germination and thought it was pointless to continue in June. I left the plants in the garden for two weeks in flats due to a heavy work load. My wife found a friend that had some room in their field, so I put the plants in late and reluctantly.

I put in a row of Maryland Catterton, White Burley, and a nice heirloom Virginia. Then we had a drought, for a month, and I had just given up. then, I got a call from a friend saying how nice my plants looked, I said Huh? went over and was shocked to find them waist high, a nasty tiny storm had missed us and just dumped on the plants. I spent a lot of time cultivating, watering, and then topping, and then the Tropical storm Irene just dumped 14 inches of water. Well the plants just sucked the water up, grew two feet in a week, and the leaves were pointed strait up and just as green and sticky as can be, really awesome growth.

I went over and harvested, and had to make two trips in the pick up truck to get them all! Just overwhelmed with tobacco just now, I will be priming them all day tomorrow. The tips are just so long and dense, just overwhelmingly perfect. I have access to a greenhouse for overwintering, and will cure it in the same greenhouse next summer.

[Premium Parrots]

Well the threat of frost/snow in two days forced me to harvest my tobacco. I had about 50 plants this year and they just went nuts, I had a late germination and thought it was pointless to continue in June. I left the plants in the garden for two weeks in flats due to a heavy work load. My wife found a friend that had some room in their field, so I put the plants in late and reluctantly.

I put in a row of Maryland Catterton, White Burley, and a nice heirloom Virginia. Then we had a drought, for a month, and I had just given up. then, I got a call from a friend saying how nice my plants looked, I said Huh? went over and was shocked to find them waist high, a nasty tiny storm had missed us and just dumped on the plants. I spent a lot of time cultivating, watering, and then topping, and then the Tropical storm Irene just dumped 14 inches of water. Well the plants just sucked the water up, grew two feet in a week, and the leaves were pointed strait up and just as green and sticky as can be, really awesome growth.

I went over and harvested, and had to make two trips in the pick up truck to get them all! Just overwhelmed with tobacco just now, I will be priming them all day tomorrow. The tips are just so long and dense, just overwhelmingly perfect. I have access to a greenhouse for overwintering, and will cure it in the same greenhouse next summer.

that actually brought a tear to my eyes. seriously mate.



I couldn't be happier for you. congrats






the only thing that could be better would be......


if it were weed. then you'd be rich.

[lxskllr]

the only thing that could be better would be......


if it were weed. then you'd be rich.

This is just the practice run. In a few years, tobacco will be worth more than weed ;^)

Congratulations Whalen! Why did you pick te particular species you grew?

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

Glad it worked out so well for you Whalen! I only have about 10 plants going this year. They are doing very well considering they are in containers. I will be harvesting them soon

[Ansel]

Well done Whalen!

[whalen]

that actually brought a tear to my eyes. seriously mate.



I couldn't be happier for you. congrats






the only thing that could be better would be......


if it were weed. then you'd be rich.

Hmmm......Rich, Hmmm....

[whalen]

This is just the practice run. In a few years, tobacco will be worth more than weed ;^)

Congratulations Whalen! Why did you pick te particular species you grew?

Wanted to try the Maryland Varieties in MD, although the soil types are different here, these are all heirloom varieties. Wanted Burley and a Virginia to make smokes for the wife, My needs for snuff/snus are modest. I have been buying whole leaf tobacco varieties in bulk from growers who know the art of curing, that is the real trick! Dark air Burley, Kentucky Air Burley, Virginia Bright leaf. I had a job for 5 months and decided to stock up and start a bunch of snuff tobaccos aging. I have to learn how to properly cure now. It is time consuming and tricky. Takes at least a year. Hell I am sitting on the mother-load of Grunt and other wonderful snuffs, just needed a cheaper hobby than fishing the Bay!

You and I had a motherload of Grov from Pact if I remember! Dollar a can! Jebsus that was a good deal! I am still trying to tame that damn Extreme tobacco snuff.

[whalen]

Glad it worked out so well for you Whalen! I only have about 10 plants going this year. They are doing very well considering they are in containers. I will be harvesting them soon

Containers can be perfect! The one thing I learned is that growing is actually the easy part, THe tobacco I want only comes from the heart of a 300 pound aged bale! Can you just imagine what a snuff that stuff would make! Thats the secret! Having the ability to sift through a large amount of naturally fermented snuff from shipping and aging.

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

Containers can be perfect! The one thing I learned is that growing is actually the easy part, THe tobacco I want only comes from the heart of a 300 pound aged bale! Can you just imagine what a snuff that stuff would make! Thats the secret! Having the ability to sift through a large amount of naturally fermented snuff from shipping and aging.

Yeah sounds great!

I haven't been snuffing much just snus. I just hang the leaves in the garage and they turn brown nicely. Got a lot still from last years crop. I should make some more snus now that I have some age on those leaves.

[whalen]

Nice thing about making snus is the resulting quick fermentation that gives a lot of deep flavor changes. I will make some crockpot snus this winter with Burley, then Virginia. Taste test time! I spent some time acquiring the taste for Ettan, now I am just floored by what a clean tobacco taste it has. Did not like it for a long time, then it was great. I am having a hate fest with salt in the Grov right now, after a hundred cans or so.

[lxskllr]

I am still trying to tame that damn Extreme tobacco snuff.

Do you think that's possible? I could see a bit of mellowing, not not to the extent of it being like a "regular" snuff.

I still have a bunch of Grov, but I'm not sure how much. I still like it fine, but not as much as I used to. I've been preferring Ettan for a plainer SM snus, and Pioneer all around. The Pioneer has a crisp spiciness that's been pushing the right buttons lately. Also, it's a smaller production. Non-publicly traded snus tastes better to me :^D

[Roo]

Congrats Whalen! Put some pics up on the site when you get a chance. Show me some bush.

[whalen]

Oh Pioneer is a must have favorite of mine! Hands down finest small producer los I have ever had. That first can was something! Everyone should try it. I have a rather modest stash put away of this one. What I would really like is to get some more of the Green los that was sampled. That was a hands down tasty flavored snus.

The Extreme tobacco just has so much nicotine, and nicotine is spicy in the nose. I have been working all the angles, my recent batch aged six months, still spicy yet real tasty.