Cigar Birthing

[tzaddi]

[SIZE="5"]September 22 Update[/SIZE]

Well it's getting to that time of the year when the nights are colder and the plants hurry to produce the seeds for the next generation. The other day someone asked me what those "nuts" where at the bottom of my posts. I explained that they are tobacco seed pods.
Hopefully the following photo will illustrate what part of the plant the seed pods come from. Early posts show how the plant forms a bud at the very top of the plant and from these buds the flower emerges. Once the flower opens it can then be pollinated allowing for fertilization. It is from this fertilization that the seeds form. At this point the flower dries up and falls off as the bulbous part below it remains holding the developing seeds.

Here are a couple more photos showing the bloom. It is hard to resist taking photos of the plant at this stage of development.

Something to note, if the plants are allowed to they will put out additional side shoots from the main stalk with fairly large leaves.

This week "Mema", the orange kitty is on quard duty. This cat just showed up last winter while I was out enjoying an evening cigar and decided to stick around.
I have hung the first two dried bundles in the green tobacco plants to contrast the color changes in the leaves. These first two bunches are from the first priming picked back on August 11.

Because these first two dried bunches are small with many of them having imperfections I decided to remove the central stem, take my ceramic knife and do a chiffonade. I will let it age in a cedar box, it already has a sweet heady aroma. I think it will be good for pipe tobacco once I find a good recipe. I am sure it woud make for an excellent cigarette as well.

At this juncture I find myself asking, "why I am doing this". With the bulk of the harvest yet to come it is easy for frustration set in. I realize how difficult it is to get a single leaf that is without holes, spots or mold and a beautiful shade of brown. This frustration is tempered by the gratitude and appreciation for those souls that labor in the commercial fields & factories to deliver me a good cigar. So it all comes full circle as I understand that I am a part of something, learning a leaf, a plant and a season at a time.

I think those are racoon paw prints to the right of the leaf.


Fall Colors.

I will close todays post with this photo showing todays stormy sky. As I look out the window I see that it is raining with the temperature @ 57°.

—Richard
[SIZE="2"]This is my 1000 post.[/SIZE]

[Spect]

I'm shocked that the Deer don't want anything to do with your plants. I've spent a lot of time in your area and I know those Deer are ravenous and will eat almost anything.

-Ray

[tzaddi]

Originally Posted by Spect

I'm shocked that the Deer don't want anything to do with your plants. I've spent a lot of time in your area and I know those Deer are ravenous and will eat almost anything.

-Ray

Ray, check out the previous posts in this thread where I have commented on my relationship with the deer and the agreement that we have come up with.

—Richard

P.S. Irons passed along this web site that I found to be imformative.

http://www.victoryseeds.com/tobacco/...ltivation.html

[Fenway]

Awesome thread. Very interesting and beautiful pictures!

[Moosecakes]

Absolutly amazing, Assuming how much farther along you're plants are, mine won't make it to bloom.... I started much to late as it seems. Next season will be much better, might I ask around what date did you start your seedlings? I'd like to be as prepared as possible for next season.

- Tyler

[tzaddi]

Up in your area you will want to start them indoors or in a greenhouse in early spring. Since tobacco is in the Solanaceae Family plant them when you plant your tomatoes.

Other well known members of this family are Chile peppers, Petunia, Deadly nightshade, Mandrake, Potato, Tomato, and Aubergine (Eggplant).

I still think your plants will bloom, unless you get a very sudden freeze within the next 3 weeks.

—Richard

[Moosecakes]

Awesome I hope they bloom, it looks amazing from your pics. Alright I'll have to plan a bit and next season will be better Thanks Richard.

- Tyler

[tzaddi]

Look who stopped by the garden to say hello. A couple of the big boys, a 7 & 9 pointer. The 7 pointer is the one that dropped his antlers conveniently next to the house earlier this year, I call him Jack.

—Richard

[tzaddi]

[SIZE="5"]October 5th Update[/SIZE]

[SIZE="4"]As the growing season nears it's end and the plants in my care reach the end of their cycle I am again drawn to demonstrate my fascination with the seed of this magnificent plant. With the following photos I hope to clearly illustrate the anatomy of the tobacco seed pod.[/SIZE]

As you can see the garden is in full bloom.

Cloudy skies with a bit of hail that day.
The flowers bloom in beautiful shades of magenta, perform their task, dry and turn brown.

I carefully look over the plant for a volunteer.
The dark brown "bean" peeking from the green along with the dried and shriveled flower indicate a good candidate.





Having given it up willingly we are ready to begin.
Clearly we can see the mechanisim that has created the magic right down to the resin coated hairs.





The flower continues to cling to the pod.





Peeling back the green sheath we see the seed case in all it's glory.






Guided by the clearly marked segments we make a cut.






The plants mission is completed, another generation is possible.






Making another cut the contents are revealed.






After letting it dry for a while we can see the bounty that is next year's potential crop.






Each plant has the potential to produce close to a million of these small seeds.

[tzaddi]

Another view






The potted plants are doing well with their small leaves.






Backlighting reveals the veins.






How's the drying and curing coming along?






It smells as good as it looks IMHO.






Until next time...

—Richard

[Sawyer]

Very nice. Thanks for all the pics and information.

[Bob]

I grew some tomatoes maybe I can some 'baccy next season!!

[WeekendSmoker]

This obviously should be (perhaps consolidated and) made into a sticky.
Will you also roll the leaves into cigars at some point?
WeekenSmoker

[tzaddi]

Originally Posted by WeekendSmoker

This obviously should be (perhaps consolidated and) made into a sticky.
Will you also roll the leaves into cigars at some point?
WeekenSmoker

It is not up to me whether it becomes sticky or not but it would be an honor. This thread has just about reached it's conclusion in the 5 or so months that it has been going. I have taken it from seed to seed jamming as much information in as was opportune

Yes, I will continue to roll cigars from tobacco I have purchased as well as my own when it has aged but that may be for another thread. I am also researching recipes and casings for pipe tobacco blends as well. Some of the tobacco I have grown and cured is not cosmetically suitable for cigars but is excellent for pipe tobacco IMHO.

We shall see....

[Irons]

Again wonderful information. Thank you again for Seed to Seed coverage.