Cigar Birthing

[Joan]

MMMmmmmmMMMMMM GOOD!

[Marklar MM]

So. Did one of those fine looking cigars get the axe yet?

[tzaddi]

Originally Posted by Marklar MM

So. Did one of those fine looking cigars get the axe yet?

Not yet, but soon. I want to sit and take a few photos when I do, so I have to make the time one of these evenings.

In the mean time the north deck has been converted into a drying barn. In the evening I turn on the misting system to remoisten. The past few days have been in the 105°+ which is supposed to peak in a few days.

See if you can find the guard cat on duty in this photo, .

[EvanS]

He does not look very "guardy" Richard. I think h, unlike me, is bored with the whole thing

[tzaddi]

Originally Posted by EvanS

He does not look very "guardy" Richard. I think h, unlike me, is bored with the whole thing

[Backsteper]

Richard, Curious as to what your camera specs are and what photo editing software you are using. Those pictures are so good. Looking at buying my wife a new camera.

[tzaddi]

Originally Posted by Backsteper

Richard, Curious as to what your camera specs are and what photo editing software you are using. Those pictures are so good. Looking at buying my wife a new camera.

It's just my old tired, but still useful Sony DSC-F717 5.0 Megapixels. I bought it in April of 2003. I use Adobe Photoshop and organize my photos in iPhoto.

When I get the funds to purchase a new camera I will need to decide between DSLR or continue with another all in one but I will seriously consider another Sony.

Hope that helps and thanks for the look.

[Joan]

OOOOH! NOW you've done it, EvanEss!

Looks like the Rare Orange Guard Cat is about to open a can o' Norcal Whoop-A$$ on you. Or slip you some tongue.

[tzaddi]

[SIZE="6"][SIZE="7"]August Harvest[/SIZE]
— Sticky Fingers —[/SIZE]

[SIZE="4"]

The residue on my hands is from the tobacco leafs.

The Monday following the little herf we had here @ San Souci I decided it was time to harvest some of the large leafs, the second priming if you will.

My thoughts included using the canvas shelter I had constructed over the north deck for the herf as a drying barn. I could take advantage of the misting system I had installed to counter the very dry humidity here in Redding, which sometimes reaches into the low teens.[/SIZE]



[SIZE="4"]And so it began…[/SIZE]





[SIZE="4"]It proved to be quite a haul with many leaves over 2' long and 1' wide.[/SIZE]





[SIZE="4"]Time to string 'em up.[/SIZE]





[SIZE="4"]Looking at the point where the leaf is tied you may notice the canvas support rope with the misting hose cable tied to it.[/SIZE]





[SIZE="4"]Five hours into the harvest I decided it was time to try a technique I had been thinking about. It involved pulling up entire plants and hanging them to dry. This would give me the opportunity to see if this method was perhaps better suited for Redding's extremely low RH. With the leaf still attached to the main stalk the drying would go much slower.


For those curious about the internal structure and root system of our patron plant I offer the following photos. [/SIZE]





[SIZE="4"]Cross section of the main stalk.[/SIZE]





[SIZE="4"]My "barn" was slowly filling up. [/SIZE]





[SIZE="4"]With some of the early bloomers starting to form seeds I concerned myself with gathering and labeling potential future crops.
Note: I have made an effort to prevent the several strains of Nicotiana tobaccum from cross breeding. [/SIZE]

[tzaddi]

[SIZE="4"]Hey, remember that Nicotiana bigelovii (Indian Tobacco) I have been growing? It is California's native species. As you can see the leaf and blossom are quite different from the Nicotiana tobaccum.[/SIZE]





[SIZE="4"]Here is a photo illustrating the differences in seed pods between bigelovii & tobaccum on the right.[/SIZE]





[SIZE="4"]I should have plenty of Nicotiana bigelovii seed for next year's crop.[/SIZE]







[SIZE="4"][SIZE="5"]So how's the tobacco drying & curing coming along?[/SIZE]

Within 4 days of the harvest I was already starting to see some color.[/SIZE]








[SIZE="4"]Eight to nine days in it looked like this.[/SIZE]









[SIZE="4"]Speaking of seeds, here are the heads from those sunflowers I had growing.[/SIZE]











[SIZE="4"]This year I noticed more insects having their way with the leaf than any other, had it been a commercial crop all of the little holes in the leaf would have been disastrous. [/SIZE]












[SIZE="4"]Actually the "worms you see in these photos where plucked from the plants when they where very small and then raised in jars.[/SIZE]

[tzaddi]

[SIZE="4"]But not to worry about rampant rodents…[/SIZE]




[SIZE="4"]Instead of pulling up some of the plants I merely cut them near the base and let the first sucker take over. I realize that this is not the way to obtain the best leaf for cigars but perhaps the leaf size would be suitable for pipe or cigarette tobacco. All in the name of my tobacco education. Looking closely at the following photo you can see where I cut the stalk and where the new growth has taken over.[/SIZE]





[SIZE="4"]The tobacco continues to renew itself, as is evident with this volunteer that has seen fit to grow in the ceramic container with this fern.[/SIZE]





[SIZE="4"]Did I tell you that I am growing amaranth this year?[/SIZE]




[SIZE="4"]So let's wrap this one up. [/SIZE]

[SIZE="4"]Thanks for checking in, see you next time.


—Richard[/SIZE]

[dwhitacre]

[SIZE=4]Holy Smokes Richard!!! YOu have been busy!!![/SIZE]
[SIZE=4][/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]Great photos!!![/SIZE]

[gvarsity]

Great update Richard. You really do a comprehensive job both with your agriculture and your documentation. I appreciate all of info. I learn so much from this thread. The sunflower seeds are really cool looking. Do you have to do anything to them before eating them roasting, salting ...?? What do you use the amaranth for? Good to see Orange Kitty isn't going hungry.

We have inadvertently adopted a grey and white kitty whom we call "Mooch" who keeps our yard free of rodents. He just moved into the yard sometime last fall and has chosen to stay. Made it through a very cold and snowy winter quite successfully. Completely feral as far as I can tell. Won't let us come near us which is fine as he seems to do perfectly well on his own. We just have some new animated yard art it seems.

Congratulations on the successfully harvest. Will you build a pilon for fermenting the tobacco? Oh and I meant to ask this before after you showed the cigars you rolled. Have you tried the entubo (sp?) rolling technique? Meaning rolling all the filler leaves into little tubes as opposed to bunching. Much more labor intensive per cigar but supposedly makes for a more consistent draw. Since you are not doing production quantities it may be worth the trouble.

Thanks again for the great thread. Cheers.

[tzaddi]

Originally Posted by gvarsity

Great update Richard. You really do a comprehensive job both with your agriculture and your documentation. I appreciate all of info. I learn so much from this thread. The sunflower seeds are really cool looking. Do you have to do anything to them before eating them roasting, salting ...?? What do you use the amaranth for? Good to see Orange Kitty isn't going hungry.

We have inadvertently adopted a grey and white kitty whom we call "Mooch" who keeps our yard free of rodents. He just moved into the yard sometime last fall and has chosen to stay. Made it through a very cold and snowy winter quite successfully. Completely feral as far as I can tell. Won't let us come near us which is fine as he seems to do perfectly well on his own. We just have some new animated yard art it seems.

Congratulations on the successfully harvest. Will you build a pilon for fermenting the tobacco? Oh and I meant to ask this before after you showed the cigars you rolled. Have you tried the entubo (sp?) rolling technique? Meaning rolling all the filler leaves into little tubes as opposed to bunching. Much more labor intensive per cigar but supposedly makes for a more consistent draw. Since you are not doing production quantities it may be worth the trouble.

Thanks again for the great thread. Cheers.

Appreciate the feedback Bob.

Over the past few years I have grown the sunflowers for the birds and seeds for next year's crop. This is the first year I have grown enough to consider processing them for my own and other's consumption. I have eaten a few raw, right out of the shell but I plan on roasting and salting a large quantity this year.

I have set aside the heads from the largest and tallest plants and will use those for next years crop.

Sunflower factoid
The sunflower plant originated in western North America. It is thought to have been domesticated around 1000 B.C. by Native Americans. Spanish explorers brought the sunflower to Europe in 1510. However, it was not until the late 1800s when the flower was introduced to Russia that the sunflower became a food crop. In 1860, Russian farmers made significant improvements in the way that the sunflower was cultivated. During this time, they became the world's largest producer of sunflower seeds. Today, they remain a world leader along with Europe, Argentina, and the United States. Production in the United States has emphasized oil producing varieties, but snack food producing sunflowers have steadily increased.

This the first year of growing amaranth. Amaranth greens (leaves) have a delicious, slightly sweet flavor and can be used both in cooking and for salads. The seeds are used as cereal or can be ground into flour for bread. In some parts of the world it is known as "pigweed".

It is native to Mexico and central America. Domesticated from c.4500 bc in Mexico and later in South America.

Yep, Orange Kitty has somewhat of the same origins but not likely of the feral variety. She has gotten in some tangles with coyotes and has thinned out a few quail families but generally is a great cat to have around. It is good to hear that you have a similar situation.

You know I think I just might go for the Pilón method this year. I seem to have the quantity to make it possible. Thanks for the suggestion.

As far as the use of the entubar method for the filler, apparently the technique I am currently using is cross between the entubar and book method. Now thanks to your suggestion I am going to pay more attention when preparing the filler and go for the entubar style.

Entubar
A rolling method that originated in Cuba. Rather than booking the filler leaves, the roller folds each individual filler leaf back on itself, then bunches the leaves together. Proponents of this method say it creates superior air flow through the cigar, which results in an even draw and burn.

Book Style (also Booking)
A rolling method by which the cigarmaker lays the filler leaves atop one another, then rolls them up like a scroll. Book style, or booking, is common in Honduras.

The above definitions where gleaned from Cigar Advisor.

Once it again it is a pleasure and I learn more through interaction, discussion and looking up answers to questions.

—Richard

[Joan]

Luscious, JUICY photos, Richard! Thank you so much for sharing the garden with us!