Cigar Birthing

[tzaddi]

Originally Posted by 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.

I am honored you would spend the first day of the new year viewing this thread. As with every "next" season I hope to apply what I have learned from this season. If nothing else it is a source of free tobacco seeds for my BOTLs and any SOLTs that want to give it a go.

Originally Posted by smokeyscotch

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

Tim, I may have already sent him some but no matter feel free share what you have with whoever. The plants are so prolific.

Originally Posted by MithShrike

Granted, Redding, isn't exactly ideal for traditional curing and fermentation.
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.

Matt, Redding actually presents excellent growing conditions and the soil in this area mimics some of the tobacco growing soil in parts of Cuba with it's red clay and quartz sand. Some US AG department studies done in the early 1990s give a big to Redding and tobacco.

As far as curing and fermenting check out this thread.
http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=119252
I have heard some great things about Tim, I would have thought he would be honored by my humble efforts to grow. I know that I honor the leaf and I would hope that it thinks well of my efforts to tend and care for it.

Originally Posted by nozero

Excellent thread. Thanks for sharing!

You bet, that's what this place is all about.

Originally Posted by 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.

Plenty of information to go around. Look forward to sharing with other gardeners.

Originally Posted by Aladdin Sane

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

Yea, I need to sit down this month and have a go at it.

Thanks for the encouragement.

[gamayrouge]

What an awesome thread! Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I've always wondered what tobacco plants looked like and how the seeds were formed.

[MithShrike]

It's more of the maduro-maker, shower type stuff that would drive him nuts. To him EVERYTHING must be done traditionally. He's trying to perfect box pressing cigars with wooden molds and it's a rather laborious process for him.

After looking over the curing link there is quite a bit there that I think Tim would disagree with... I'll get his thoughts.

[tzaddi]

Originally Posted by MithShrike

It's more of the maduro-maker, shower type stuff that would drive him nuts. To him EVERYTHING must be done traditionally. He's trying to perfect box pressing cigars with wooden molds and it's a rather laborious process for him.

After looking over the curing link there is quite a bit there that I think Tim would disagree with... I'll get his thoughts.

....





Matt, take a breath... I think you are missing the point of what it is I am sharing. Many cultures from all over the world for thousands of years have been growing, drying, curing and using tobacco. I respect all of those traditions.

Humbly... Richard

[adsantos13]

Thanks again for the great thread, Richard.

And I agree, really there is no ONE true traditional way to do anything. In essence, all human endeavor is based on experimenting and building on prior knowledge, right? Being bound to "tradition" is also sometimes being susceptible to stagnation.

This is not to say doing things in a so-called "traditional manner" is wrong, bad, or produces a less than stellar output. For example, I don't think anyone would ever argue that the tobacco growing traditions of Cuba produce a bad product. However, a true practitioner of any art should be able to appreciate another's work regardless of their methods, traditional or not. An unscrupulous cigar company spray painting a cigar black for profit is one thing. Experimenting with curing, growing, etc techniques by a true LOTL is FAR different and far far far from deserving ire.

Anyway

[Opusfxd]

Richard,
This thread is great! I've enjoyed reading it and am looking forward for more. In more ways than one, it's like growing the ingredients and then harvesting and cooking dinner with it. It's the equivilant of a food of love. Someday, I'd like to try one of them.

[tzaddi]

[SIZE="5"]Snow & Compost[/SIZE]
[SIZE="3"]The Final 2007 Chapter[/SIZE]
I thought it would be nice to have a final post reflecting the end of the 2007 growing season.

The Last Blossoms



December 27, 2007, 9PM




Frosty Seeds the Next Morning








Magenta Ice

[tzaddi]

January 2, 2008, time to finish up.




Plucked & Pulled




Empty Bed




Fallen Bloom




Sticky




Cut up and ready to Compost




The Last Pile of the Season




This pretty much shows the bounty, minus a few leaves here and there.




Tucked in for the Winter




Remember the bud clusters I mentioned in an earlier post, supposedly prized by some of the field workers...
They are coming along and the aroma is best described as "spicy".



Next Years Crop Awaits

Thanks for hanging in there, see you in the spring


—Richard

[Opusfxd]

The last blossoms is one pretty picture. Stands on it's own.

[Bones]

That latest batch of pictures is spectacular.

[str8edg]

Richard, thank you again for you work. I enjoyed your thread so much. I look forward to the spring.

[Joan]

This project, and your photojournal, leave me breathless!

Congratulations!
You have another new fan.

[dwhitacre]

tzaddi,

Great job with the pictures!

Thanks for sharing! This is very interesting for a newbie like me!

[tzaddi]

Hey guys and gals it's time to start those seeds germinating indoors if you've got the facilities. Your mileage may vary depending upon the part of the world you live in.

Has anyone visited this forum before?

"How to Grow Tobacco
How to grow and process tobacco at home"

I am not sure if it is within bounds to post the link to the forum, perhaps someone can let me know.

I will be checking it out when I get a moment or two.

Happy & successful germination.

[shilala]

I will find the time to read all of this.
We've got a lot of similar interests. I grow all my plants for my flower beds and gardens, have for 20+ years. Gardening is a true passion of mine. I spend every spare minute of my summer in the dirt. Over the years I've selected a couple varieties, one being a purple sunflower that is incredibly gorgeous.
I'd love to try growing tobacco. It's a very interesting plant.
If I recall, I need to start seeds in January to make a go of it here.
All I've started so far are Impatiens.
Thanks for sharing this, Richard.
I can't wait to read it all.