Cigar Birthing

[Woogie]

Very cool pics. As much as I enjoy cigars, I know very little about the tobacco plant. I should do some research and learn more.

Woogie

[Pete]

Originally Posted by tzaddi

As the plant matures, an irregularly branched flower cluster develops at its top. The variety that I grow produces a nice pink flower.



Well there you go, hopefully this conveys a bit of the amazing process that is the "birthing of cigars".

—Richard

I was looking at these earlier today and was amazed. Really, really, really nice work!

[MiloFinch]

I may have to start that. Be a lot cheaper than buying them. But, it takes a few years before you can start smoking what you made, correct?

[CeeGar]

really interesting, thanks for the post!

[Stonato~]

Very very cool. Nice of you to share these pics.

[Mr. White]

Do you normally cut the buds to produce a larger leaf or do you leave them to bloom? I'm just curious.

Originally Posted by earnold25

Wow. I'm an idiot. I know your name I'm reading a Robert Jordan novel right now so that may be where Robert came from

You know, The Wheel of Time series never ends. :P

[RPB67]

Great Pics.

You need to keep in sync and use a quarter instead of a penny !

Great little hobby to play around with. Who knows, you may grow something half descent.

[Cigar Lover 101]

Nice pictures. Didn't know flowers actually could be produced.

[Mr. White]

Originally Posted by Cigar Lover 101

Nice pictures. Didn't know flowers actually could be produced.

Yeah they produce flowers if they are allowed to. Most manufacturers don't allow them to because the flowers take away nutrients from the leaves. Resulting in a smaller leaf with a changed flavor profile.

[tzaddi]

Originally Posted by MiloFinch

I may have to start that. Be a lot cheaper than buying them. But, it takes a few years before you can start smoking what you made, correct?

Yeah, it takes quite a bit of time and effort to produce something that one would want to smoke. Just getting the tobacco to a state (dried, cured/fermented) where it can be aged is a monumental task. On top of that one would need a place to store said tobacco with the appropriate environment (heat/humidity). I have found that a minimum of 2 years aging can make a nice cigar but upwards of 4-5 years is desired. Of course we have all heard of those long lost bundles that are many, many years old. (These are my own opinions based on my limited research and experience).

With that said...do not under-estimate the value of growing your own. If you have ever done any gardening or have a desire to do any gardening then as a cigar smoker growing tobacco is something that you will eventually do.

Thanks for the encouraging comments.

—Richard

[tzaddi]

Originally Posted by Jokieman

Do you normally cut the buds to produce a larger leaf or do you leave them to bloom? I'm just curious.

Cutting or "topping" the plant is a common commercial practice. As you have noted it allows the plant to focus it's energies into producing bigger, perhaps better leaves by postponing the reproduciton process. In a large field of tobacco a few plants are selected and allowed to mature, producing seeds for the next generation. In my case, since I grow such a small plot I let most of the plants go to seed. The hummingbirds appreciate the blossoms and the bees and butterflies are always ready to do their part with pollination .

Believe it or not an interesting video to watch if you get the chance is the CAO "Seed to Soul" DVD.

[FranktheTank]

Great photos. Im in the middle of "The complete idiot's guide to cigars" and they explain the process pretty well but these pictures tie it in perfectly.

[Mr. White]

Originally Posted by tzaddi

Cutting or "topping" the plant is a common commercial practice. As you have noted it allows the plant to focus it's energies into producing bigger, perhaps better leaves by postponing the reproduciton process. In a large field of tobacco a few plants are selected and allowed to mature, producing seeds for the next generation. In my case, since I grow such a small plot I let most of the plants go to seed. The hummingbirds appreciate the blossoms and the bees and butterflies are always ready to do their part with pollination .

Believe it or not an interesting video to watch if you get the chance is the CAO "Seed to Soul" DVD.

Thanks for the link I'll check into it. I can never get enough info on this kind of stuff. I eat it up like candy. hehehe.

Originally Posted by FranktheTank

Great photos. Im in the middle of "The complete idiot's guide to cigars" and they explain the process pretty well but these pictures tie it in perfectly.

Yeah it does help. But it's even better when you can talk to people who actually do it.

[solafid3]

Awesome pics, makes me want to plant my own just to grow them

[Tristan]

Fantastic pictures; thank you for the excellent post!