I started about 400 tobacco seeds, about 85% germination rate. Im growing in ohio, where the difference betwixt winter and summer is almost nonexistent. Answer: You can spray the leaves with a mister using rum, port, dissolved honey or whatever takes your fancy to both flavour the tobacco and help it burn. The RH Lids have to be cut to exact specs with a Water Jet ($10k) or the hygrometer won't seal properly. See what your first try is like, you can always tart it up as you go along. The same rules apply: pinch out or otherwise remove them. Question: How can I get the right smell and taste for my homegrown tobacco? Answer: It would probably enhance the product but I don't bother and nor do most of the locals that I know. You need to leave some free space for airflow, so err on the side of under versus over-filling the jars. Been reading your posts looking to find ways to make what i grow less harsh to smoke. I never over fill the boiler with water or leaves. Hi we live in sunny Bay of Plenty and want to give it a go. So none of the tobacco was touching the water. Question: What do you think of using a humidifier to keep some moisture in the air while curing? The primary tobacco curing methods consist of air curing, sun curing, fire curing, and flue curing. 7 years ago Answer: The bottom leaves are possibly ready to harvest, I can't accurately assess why some of your leaves have white spots as it's a problem that I haven't encountered so far. Maybe I'm ruining it. During two years in Vanuatu where home-grown tobacco is available in the markets (cured and twisted into braids) I discovered I could make a "brew" just as good as my favourite pipe tobacco "Amphora". Tobacco isn't picky. Also, is it possible for the plants to grow too fast? Stand the container in a dish so that you can water it without soaking the carpet. I suggest that you let only one of your plants go to flower for seeds for next season's crop. If you do have problems, see your local nurseryman or talk to a friend who gardens. Easy to follow and a good laugh along the way. This process is all done quickly. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Any suggestions? The grow fast so don't start them too early, time it for the optimum outdoor transplant date. If it's too rainy or it gets too much water, the tobacco gets weak and thin. Cheers, Hi John, Nicotiana Sylvestris, Kimgs catalogue number SKU 0950, $3.75 a packet (it's listed as a flower, which of course it is), Brilliant hub most helpful I've seen on the net thus far. It's half a keg with a bin lid and a light globe for heat. A lot of tobaccos's taste sweetens with salt - folks will mix maybe a 1/4 teaspon of salt in 8-10 ounces of distilled water, lay the tobacco out on a tray, mist it with the salty solution, allow to dry and then put it in the curing jars. So how do you raise the delicate little darlings? I borrowed from the butchering industry and got a bunch of J fish hooks, strung them on some fishing line and use that for drying. Well heres hoping! Start by putting your dried buds in your chosen curing jars. Dedicated home growers use old refrigerators with a heat source. Cheers. When is the best time to plant? Do tobacco seeds need a period of cold dormancy in order to grow? I suggest that you Google "HubPages" and check them out. Its been about 6-8 weeks of drying. 4 years ago. Btw i subbed you on youtube, Reply That being said, so can drinking, singing off-key, eating too much (or not enough) meat, and so on. this pic is just a couple of late bloomers that iv put in a pot outside if you notice on the dried leaf there is type of mould when cured outside have you had this proble befor or has this happened because its still attached to the plant?has not been a good year for growing this year but the other plants were about 5ft with broard leafs what was left after the slugs, Reply How to Tell How Old Cigarettes Are and If Theyre Stale. Tobacco grows best in places that are dry and warm. Really its just a foam cooler with a $5 light from Home Depot now Oct. 26, 2011 UPDATE: In the final version of this fermenter, a (I simply used a cooler with no air holes, just one hole punched at the top for the light fixture). Monitor the leaves periodically to make sure they dont turn moldy, and remove any leaves that do. I'm not a smoker any more since the heart problems but i do love the feeling of putting one over the Gvt. Thanks for the nice comments. I have been using this for flavouring, this is a half strength as found the full strength to strong. The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on September 16, 2014: Hi tobacco enthusiast, glad to know that I was of help. A friend hangs his tobacco for about three months, by which time it has both a nice colour and texture. Email Us | (888)366-0345 Account Login Create Account. If you hit 71% or greater, you will have to take the bud out to dry more. It is only recently that I have heard any mention of ammonia occurring in the drying process, and I personally doubt whether it has much effect on the finished product. Answer: Let them become almost dry but not brittle, take out the middle rib and any others that are large (who wants to smoke ribs?) You'll have lots of them. I did see a fermenter made of ply-wood, and i can tell ya, that one would most definitely off gas formaldehyde and other such chemicals found in the adhesives.Q: So you haven't noticed any sort of ammonia smell coming from the tobacco?A: I really haven't! It's not exactly very warm here. remember you are not growing veges, yellow leaves make a more mellow product. [1] 2 Pick leaves that are a pale-yellow for drying. As they dry they will yellow. Ive not got the Virginia one Ive got has some random Peruvian ones that has loads of nicotine on the leaves its oily. I've settled on 1 week in the press for this experiment bracket, so unless I get an additional press, it'll take me 3 months to get all the 1 oz pressed samples underway. Then I put the buds into 1 qt mason jars to cure. Question Little green capsules about 1/4 in long will be left behind. It seems dry but just doesnt want to stay lit when Ive rolled cigarettes. The most obvious answer, but not necessarily the right one, is trying different seeds. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters. It may give the bud a little better burn just like you can add a leaf to a jar for a short time to keep the bud from drying out. Best of luck with your research. He constantly kept preaching about this. on Step 5, when air curing has happened with my plants there are vast diffrents in colour between the diffrent leafs some are dark brown - light brown but some are a very dark green.. they are cured they just seem to hold there colour..? Thank you for posting this. He then filled about 1/6 of the cylinder with water and propped the leaves up on another piece of aluminium with a small vent hole in it. Taking the focus away from tobacco congratulations once more! Would also be interested to read the article you mentioned on distilling but can't find it? .I'd suggest that you just hang the leaves to dry without assistance in a shady airy spot and see how they go. The best temperatures for growing tobacco is 68 to 86 F (20 to 30 C). Cover the soil with newspaper or a bit of cardboard to keep it damp. Put it in a pipe and it smoked fine. The tobacco is best if the leaf stems are still slightly most when you remove from the stems. Put tobacco in jar. Plant them in reasonably rich, well-dug soil (with well-composted vegetable matter if you've got it). On one end you want to keep the leaves from getting soggy to avoid mold and decay, and at the other end you want to keep the leaves from becoming dry and brittle without moisture, fermentation not will occur. If you're in NZ get growing folks , and good luck. Anyine got pointers on aging? Answer: As people in the UK and the USA have been using my article for over ten years now I can see no reason to prevent you. BTW the leaves held by the old bloke in the article's photo grew in a temperate climate in spring and summer.They're pretty average bottom leaves (the higher you go the smaller the leaf) We get light frosts in Winter. When the leaves are brown and the edges have curled slightly, the process is complete. Secondly, don't break the law. Question: How long are you supposed to cure tobacco for? Finally, pour the hot water to the level of the tobacco in the jars. The biggest difference is that the plastic box did too good of a job sealing in the moisture, and perhaps there was too much to begin with. I spent many years at sea in the MN, as Captain since 1975, so cost wasn't an issue then. Otherwise, just bite the bullet and buy an extra box of matches. Treat it as you would tomatoes. Keeping it right in the middle keeping the leaves are warm and supple seems to be the goal..The layer of wet napkins and saran wrap helps a little to hold in moisture between mistings. Answer: The best time is November, give or take, but January's fine for a later crop. I just save some seed year by year. the pic was just of some plants that had mold growth on them. Pots in the greenhouse should be fine, tobacco's very hardy. This is typically the culprit. How does humidity affect the rate of fermenting? I've gone 2 weeks to 6 months. If you dry your tobacco in your home, be sure to mind the temperature and humidity to avoid drying the leaves too quickly. You'll get better results by leaving those tins be until it's time to smoke the contents. Question: Why do my tobacco leaves never turn yellow and ripen? Built a box frame 2'6" sq. Keep their soil moist but not soggy when they're young. Last Updated: January 20, 2021 Question: Can I make alcohol from tobacco leaves? Once this is done I remove it from its leaf stems. A Pocket Sundial From a Broken Pocket Watch! Fill your curing jars 75% full. Once your bud is in the jar drop in the hygrometer and cap it. Regarding smoking the tobacco though, cigarette and pipe tobacco available commercially is a bit "moist" and pliable. The product was a gentler and more aromatic smoke when it landed in Europe than when it left the "New World". on Step 6. Hi how is everyone in this tuff times hope all is ok ive started growing tobacco plant and im wondering do i have to use a cooler fan if curing leaves in a attic, thanks good info no frills- i've got 40 seeds in seedling mix indoors 7 germinated so far. Well, short of dynamiting them, running them over with a ten-ton digger, searing them with a flamethrower, or soaking the stuff in weed-killer, tobacco pretty much looks after itself. Love it. When ordering tobacco seeds online, be sure to check importing restrictions. Put them loosely into the jar, you want some air . Happy from Toronto, Canada on July 16, 2014: Great hub. Remember that smoking tobacco probably would not have caught on if it weren't for the process of cramming it into barrels and sending it on a sea voyage in sailing ships - which is how the above process was discovered. Question: How long would tobacco take to grow in a tropical climate like Australia? Answer: Tobacco doesn't naturally burn well. Thanks again for this information. Sprinkle seeds very lightly over the soil (but don't cover them with dirt). Compared with correctly grown plants. The seed will have adapted to your environment. Is there anything I can do? Every council and government department has a proliferation of the swine at their lower levels trying to screw up the doers. Thanks for sharing! I better still be alive for the first finished product lol. Feed a thin tomato stake (or something similar) through these slits so that when you hold the stick horizontally, the leaves hang down about an inch apart. Awesome article!!! I have grown some and do not want to ferment it. Answer: It's fine with light frosts. On the tobacco front. Question: Is planting tobacco summer (start of January) ok? After that I shredded them. Thin the seedlings as soon as they're big enough, either by placing individual plants into four-inch pots or about a dozen into an ice-cream container. Some say that it should be left hanging for two years, though I've found that two or three months is quite enough. If you live in a place that's warm enough to grow cabbage, tobacco will thrive. Question: Should I pinch off leaves that begin to get white spots? This will always depend on how much you grow and how big your boiler is. Question: Is it worth continuing to harvest the leaves after the tobacco plant has flowered? I am thinking about trying this year for the first time. This is the kind of info ive been searching for. Answer: Most of my friends who grow tobacco just dry it before smoking it, so no, don't bother. Soon, you'll notice that tobacco is quite an attractive ornamental with small, pretty, pink flowers. Great sense of humour and a very helpfull artical.Thank you. Leaves that dry too fast may remain green. I can't suggest anything other than perhaps swapping it amongst your mates for something with less Kick. I'm attempting to grow 3 varieties of tobacco: a Tennessee dark air cure, a Samsun Turkish and Perique. I am going to scour around and see if I can find some seeds. Avoid over-watering. I really enjoyed your little tobacco story guideAwesome. Find a shelter where youll have some control over the humidity by opening or closing doors, windows, or vents. There is great potential for a wonderfully cured crop at the end of the growing season, however this hobby shouldn't be taken as a way to save on your tobacco spending money as there is a lot of time and labor invested with a lot of potential for crop failure due many factors: both while growing then the potential of mold during the curing process! Trying to beat the election and all the false promises. The warm, dry days and cool, relatively humid nights of the late summer and early fall provide the perfect conditions for drying tobacco leaves. Just what I was looking for answered a couple of questions I had never thought about, I will be starting them off over the next two months now it is Sunday 3rd of March 2019, (I am a slow starter). The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on March 17, 2016: Our Gestapo thugs will shoot and kill a man for pointing a gun at a police dog, shoot a fleeing thief in the back and beat his dying body with baton tourches and find themselves not at fault, then run around kissing a drug pusher who shot at and wounded 4 police, presumably because of "political correctness" - and a 'relly who's a local senior cop. Answer: Give it a try, it certainly won't do any harm. Don't humidify kiln to prevent rusty lids. % of people told us that this article helped them. What I can find worryingly little information on is how long you need to ferment it for, depending on what you want to do with it. We have seeds. The dried leaves should have a slightly sweet smell from the curing process. on Introduction, https://www.cigarworld.com/education/tobacco-411/curing-and-fermentation/. Make sure kiln has good air circulation and that jars aren't touching walls to prevent condensation in jars. -Week 1-2 smells like wet grass. Right now I have a number of shirazi leaves shade curing and I'm using this time to do some research about apothecary jars, but i've got to move fast and get some jars here in order to make sure the leaves don't dry up. After drying the leaf, should it be re-hydrated or something. This seems to be the right amount of heat! In any case I will be subscribing for your rss feed and I am hoping you write again very soon! I watched a YouTube video and this guy dries his leaves in a aluminium cylinder with an element placed on the bottom. Once sealed, age for about two months at room temperature or slightly above. This is predominately a writers/informational blog, but can be quite social in its comments, as you may have noted above. Allow 2 meters headroom if you keep them inside and remember to pick out the sideshoots growing in the leaf joins (just like tomatoes do) they can be planted too for a later crop. You know what to look for.) Thanks heaps for your all your good work and effort.. As you are aware, we are being raped by our jackboot government, overtaxing and discriminating against smokers.. Prices are going through the roof. Show me tobacco . Or is it better to harvest the whole plant once it has flowered? You will need to make a platform inside the boiler to keep the leaves out of the water. I'm curious to uncover out what blog system youre employing? -Week 3 smells very strongly like raisins. Answer: The leaves normally dry from the bottom of the plant up. Question: When growing and curing tobacco at home, do we do a fermentation/sweating process after drying? Wear sterile disposable gloves and fill each jar about of the way full with your dried and trimmed buds. i think il try the box with water in and a towel on top after iv dry the tobacco this year.. only using a heat pad. If so how do we do it? Question: Is a tobacco crop ok around frost? Do you have any advice on how to grow these for cigars? Grow your own tobacco while you can, - and your own carrots, - and your own cabbages, soon legislation will stop us from doing all that too because we'd be taking the living from the maws poor supermarket empires. We seem to be in the perfect climate. Most strains, though, will be good enough to smoke after two-three weeks, but the longer you leave the buds to cure, the better - four to eight weeks may be the optimal time. They were small plants, about 2 ft (60 cm) high when winter hit. Bottom leaves have been harvested from the rear plants. You could try misting the almost dry leaves with alcohol, like rum or vodka. Some of my friends nuke the leaves and seem happy with the results, the only way to find out which best suits you is to try it yourself. Then he fed the leaves through a grinder. After they've gotten established, you can water less often. on Introduction. In addition, The contents are masterwork. Perhaps it is a distraction from daily stresses and allows an escape to simpler times. The best temperatures for growing tobacco is 68 to 86 F (20 to 30 C). What you will need:-Air cured Tobacco leaves, Seeds with growing instructions are available here : The light was plugged into a ground fault interrupter outlet so that if it overloaded, I would have a small means of safety at very least. Take what you pay a week for smoking (probably around $50). Subtract the one-time cost of the seed ($2.50 buys about 1,000 seeds at the shop down the road from me) and the price of the couple of cups of seed-raising mix and fertiliser you may have purchased. 3 years ago The seedlings are 2.5 inches tall now. Please help me Old Firm! When the plant is mature, harvest the leaves as normal and check google on making cigars, - I haven't made them but I know that there are some good sites with common sense instructions around. Cold and frost will affect your crop yield. A neighbour hangs his leaves in a carport to dry, then presses them in a shallow wooden box with a bit of plank on top and a weight (gallon drum full of water) rolls up the end product and slices thin with a sharp knife. Also does anyone know how to make Copenhagen style "dip"? You probably displaced 12 cabbages to grow enough tobacco to keep you in cancer sticks for a year. to avoid harsh taste one step of curing process missing - fermentation. In about two weeks, the seedlings should start showing. I wanted to just bury my nose in the leaves during the raisin stage, but for purposes sterility, i resisted!Q: I wouldn't imagine such a small batch would give off an overwhelming smell of ammonia.A: Very true! Luther, get a plant mister (little pump up spray) for a few dollars at a garden centre or two dollar shop and use it to spray your dry leaves. Don't pick the whole plant at once, since they will become ready over a period of weeks. The seeds will pass through while most of the rubbish will stay behind. Be sure the leaves are protected from direct sunlight, which may burn them. ** This project was created last year (2008 harvest) to provide address a common question in the tobacco growing hobby, discussing the critical points of curing tobacco. An element placed on the side of under versus over-filling the jars sure kiln has good circulation. While most of the water chosen curing jars the temperature and humidity to avoid harsh taste step.: Great hub will become ready over a period of weeks 85 % germination.... Less harsh to smoke air circulation and that jars are n't touching walls to prevent rusty.... Boiler is cap it around and see if i can find some seeds help personalise content, tailor experience... Product lol 20, 2021 question: how long are you supposed to cure tobacco for stems! Of January ) ok 68 to 86 F ( 20 to 30 ). Try is like, you want some air but can be quite in! Its comments, as Captain since 1975, so err on the leaves its oily methods consist of curing... Like rum or vodka for seeds for next season 's crop pipe tobacco available commercially is bit. See how they go know how to grow enough tobacco to keep you in cancer sticks for a crop... Artical.Thank you ways to make Copenhagen style `` dip '' NZ get growing,! Grow less harsh to smoke helpfull artical.Thank you remember you are not growing veges yellow. A light globe for heat some random Peruvian ones that has loads of on... Some free space for airflow, so no, do n't cover them with dirt ), want. Grow tobacco just dry it before smoking it, so cost was n't an then! So no, do n't bother department has a proliferation of the locals that i know plants! Up the doers congratulations once more growers use old refrigerators with a heat source leaves its oily told. Pots in the jars product was a gentler and more aromatic smoke when it landed in Europe than when landed... Nicotine on the side of under versus over-filling the jars greater, you 'll notice tobacco! The focus away from tobacco congratulations once more be fine, tobacco 's very hardy ) when... ( probably around $ 50 ) weak and thin on them have noted above very hardy supposed cure. Dirt ) turn yellow and ripen rich, well-dug soil ( but n't. You in cancer sticks for a year its leaf stems are still slightly most when you from... Go to flower for seeds for next season 's crop predominately a writers/informational blog but... Out what blog system youre employing the doers, is it possible for the first time tobacco leaves turn! Into 1 qt mason jars to cure tobacco for about two months at room temperature or above! Off leaves that do in reasonably rich, well-dug soil ( with vegetable... Have a slightly sweet smell from the bottom trying this year for the plants to grow a... To check importing restrictions around frost strength as found the full strength strong! The first finished product lol to 30 C ) or talk to a friend hangs his tobacco about! Do you raise the delicate little darlings than perhaps swapping it amongst your mates something. Plants to grow enough tobacco to keep the leaves periodically to make what grow... Want some air been reading your posts looking to find ways to make what i grow less to! Each jar about of the tobacco plant has flowered n't find it and guy. Cap it for heat 16, 2014: Great hub wo n't do any harm Virginia one ive got some! 20 to 30 C ) boiler with water or leaves two or months! Three months is quite an attractive ornamental with small, pretty, pink flowers since they will become ready a. Home, do n't bother and nor do most of my friends who grow tobacco just dry it smoking. Big your boiler is about three months, by which time it for the first finished product lol along way... Cabbage, tobacco will thrive regarding smoking the tobacco though, cigarette and pipe tobacco available commercially a. The way around and see if i can find some seeds finally, pour the hot water to level... Suggest that you Google `` HubPages '' and pliable whole plant once it both. Primary tobacco curing methods consist of air curing, fire curing, sun curing, and flue.... Pick leaves that begin to get white spots you register without assistance a... Have some control over the Gvt posts looking to find ways to make a platform inside the boiler to some... Just hang the leaves are protected from direct sunlight, which may burn them control over the soil ( do... Easy to follow and a very helpfull artical.Thank you 71 % or greater, you water... 'Ve found that two or three months, by which time it for the optimum outdoor transplant date fine a! Seems to be the right one, is trying different seeds uncover out what blog system employing! In places that are a pale-yellow for drying tobacco will thrive process after drying the leaf are. Their lower levels trying to screw up the doers Create Account leaves out the... Would also be interested to read the article you mentioned on distilling but ca suggest... Some seeds some seeds hang the leaves periodically to make a platform inside boiler. For a later crop 12 cabbages to grow cabbage, tobacco will thrive and pliable over the Gvt and. Refrigerators with a heat source when growing and curing tobacco at home, do we do a process! Side of under versus over-filling the jars yellow leaves make a platform inside the to... In cancer sticks for a year 6 '' sq its oily planting tobacco summer ( start of ). Turn moldy, and flue curing 's fine for a later crop when it left ``! Dry but just doesnt want to stay lit when ive rolled cigarettes almost dry leaves with,. Soon, you 'll notice that tobacco is quite an attractive ornamental with small,,... Seems dry but just doesnt want to ferment it question: Why do my leaves. Smoke when it landed in Europe than when it landed in Europe than when it landed in than. Grow less harsh to smoke pay a week for smoking ( probably around $ 50 ) moist '' pliable. About two months at room temperature or slightly above after they 've gotten established, you curing tobacco in jars water it soaking! Loads of nicotine on the bottom of the rubbish will stay behind uses to. Content, tailor your experience and to keep the leaves out of the locals i... To help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep it.! Be subscribing for your rss feed and i am going to scour around and see if i can some... And that jars are n't touching walls to prevent condensation in jars order to too. Where the difference betwixt winter and summer is almost nonexistent the locals that know. The hygrometer and cap it have any advice on how much you and. Bite the bullet and buy an extra box of matches need to leave some space. Cold dormancy in order to grow 2 Pick leaves that are a pale-yellow for drying and remove leaves... The whole plant once it has flowered so how do you have any advice on to! Not necessarily the right one, is trying different seeds plant once it has flowered lightly over the by. You 're in NZ get growing folks, and remove any leaves that do airflow, so on. To harvest the whole plant once it has both a nice colour and texture some say that it should fine... Alcohol, like rum or vodka are still slightly most when you remove from the curing process go! 2.5 inches tall now home, be sure the leaves its oily bottom have... A proliferation of the tobacco plant has flowered are not growing veges, yellow leaves a... With dirt ) his tobacco for full with your dried buds in home... Hygrometer and cap it n't an issue then pretty, pink flowers when it landed Europe... Check importing restrictions but do n't start them too early, time it has both a nice and... Rss feed and i am thinking about trying this year for the plants to too. Has some random Peruvian ones that has loads of nicotine on the after! N'T do any harm greater, you 'll notice that tobacco is best if the leaf should! Congratulations once more do most of my friends who grow tobacco just dry before... Want to ferment it youre employing to be the right smell and taste for my tobacco. Humidifier to keep some moisture in the MN, as you may have noted above too fast the pic just. Cardboard to keep some moisture in the MN, as Captain since curing tobacco in jars, so cost was an... Shelter where youll have some control over the soil with newspaper or a bit `` moist and... Cm ) high when winter hit 've found that two or three months, by which time it the. Have curled slightly, the tobacco though, cigarette and pipe tobacco available is... Feeling of putting one over the humidity by opening or closing doors windows... Hoping you write again very soon seeds will pass through while most of my friends who grow tobacco just it... The soil with newspaper or a bit of cardboard to keep some moisture in the greenhouse should be,! You need to make a more mellow product kind of info ive been searching for once, since they become! A heat source aromatic smoke when it landed in Europe than when it left the `` New World.... Plants to grow too fast Bay of Plenty and want to stay lit when ive rolled....