Cigar Birthing

[worr lord]

I love stopping in here, there's always something new to learn

[tzaddi]

[SIZE="5"]November 13 Update[/SIZE]
[SIZE="4"]This Story is not over yet![/SIZE]

[SIZE="3"]T[/SIZE]he lion's share of the leaf has been hanging in the drying/curing area (shower) for just about month now. Only faint traces of chlorophyll remain, shades of golden to dark brown grace the room. With the central stem of each leaf nearly devoid of moisture it is only a matter of days before I remove the willow hangers and prepare the leaf for the next step, aging. Check out this color.

[SIZE="3"]T[/SIZE]he heater & humidifier have been running 24/7, reaching temperatures over 100° and RH in the 60% range. As the drying is almost complete I am allowing the heat to drop and raising the RH to facilitate the handling of the leaf without damaging them.

[SIZE="3"]T[/SIZE]aking a look outside we can see that I have removed the fence from around the plants. There is still a small harvest remaining and hopefully that can be accomplished before the first frost, after Thanksgiving. One never knows when the weather will turn.

[SIZE="3"]T[/SIZE]o my amazment several potted plants have sprouted tobacco, probably from soils that I re-used containing "unsprouted" seeds. In the following photo they can be seen coming up at the base of this potted Jackass Bitters, Neurolaena lobata plant.

[SIZE="3"]T[/SIZE]here are still several large leaves on the two plants in the vegatable garden.

[SIZE="3"]A[/SIZE]lthough the handful of plants situated in the pool area where not big producers due to the placement and lack of sunshine they did brighten up the area.

[SIZE="3"]R[/SIZE]emember that drying contraption I devised early in the season? Well it proved to be very educational and useful in drying the smaller leaves. I ended up moving it into the utility room complete with humidifier and heater ducted inline. I plan on using it to conduct my "maduro" experiments later this winter. I am also starting to play around with pipe tobacco preparations involving heat & pressure...

[SIZE="3"]S[/SIZE]omewhere along the way I read that the pre-flower buds that are pinched to promote larger leaf growth are prized for their flavor. With that in mind I have a little box that I am drying some in to see if it is true.

[SIZE="3"]T[/SIZE]he bees are still on the job.

[tzaddi]

[SIZE="3"]A[/SIZE]part from the leaf I now have drying, shown at the top of the previous post here are a few photos of leaf that was picked and dried from these plants earlier in the season.

[SIZE="3"]W[/SIZE]ell that about wraps it up for today, thanks for stopping by.


—Richard

[neoflex]

Great pics and descriptions. I love seeing the passion you have for tobacco. I can't wait to start growing my crop with the seeds you provided. You truly do have a wealth of knowledge! Thanks for sharing!

[aldukes]

looking great! thanks for the updates.

[Mr. Ed]

After reading this thread for the last hour, I'm floored by the ridiculous amount of work and painstaking attention to detail put into this endeavor. Best of luck!

[tzaddi]

Originally Posted by Mr. Ed

After reading this thread for the last hour, I'm floored by the ridiculous amount of work and painstaking attention to detail put into this endeavor. Best of luck!

I chuckled when I read your post. The phrase "ridiculous amount of work" speaks volumes to me

Thanks for hanging with me for a while.

[Infin1ty]

Good luck man, I think when spring comes around I'm going to plant small crop so I can start rolling my own cigarettes, and possibly my own gars. I'm thinking you need to have a huge cigar tasting when those get ready

[str8edg]

Sir I can only thank you (and bump this thread) what a new years day gift. I has been reading it off and on all day. I am also laying a new sub-floor so I had to do some work!! But reading your thread was great. I have nothing close to a green thumb, and now living in the arctic there is no hope for me. I really don't know which is better, the thread or your photographic skills, I love macro and insects.

Anyway I just wanted to say thank you for you work and I look forward to next season.

[smokeyscotch]

Originally Posted by neoflex

If you could send me a PM of where I could buy some seeds it would be much appreciated. Now that I own my own home I think it would be interesting and fun to plant a couple tobacco plants and play around a little bit. I've been interested in doing this ever since I read an article about a gentleman who planted his own crop and rolled a couple of his own gars in Cigar Magazine a few months ago. TIA

If Tzaddi doesn't mind, I would like to PIF a little from a most gracious gift of his. PM sent.

[MithShrike]

Hey Richard, just an FYI, if you want to use the tobacco for cigar construction, you'll need to cut off the flower as soon as you see it. The leaves grow bigger and get more nutrients (which means more flavor). Granted, Redding, isn't exactly ideal for traditional curing and fermentation.

[MithShrike]

Originally Posted by MithShrike

Hey Richard, just an FYI, if you want to use the tobacco for cigar construction, you'll need to cut off the flower as soon as you see it. The leaves grow bigger and get more nutrients (which means more flavor). Granted, Redding, isn't exactly ideal for traditional curing and fermentation.

*removes foot from mouth*

I see you're already aware after reading through the thread. If Tim saw how you were curing, fermenting and aging he'd flip his lid. I'll make sure he doesn't see this thread.

[nozero]

Excellent thread. Thanks for sharing!

[Bones]

I just read through this whole thread in one shot.
My response begins like most others:
Wow.

When I get into a more permanent residence, I would like to try this as well.
If that is the case, I would expect a flood of PMs from me in around 2 years or so.

[Aladdin Sane]

This thead deserves a big Bump!! Great passion going on here. Can't wait to try one of your "fressh rolled"


THANKS!
.