Golden Virginia seeds.

[Millymollymandy]

I'm laughing here cos mine has only just started to actually GROW since planting it out in the ground. Mind you it has grown quite a lot in the last few days, probably combination of some decent rain plus some decent warmth/sun. But flowers and suckers, do what? *giggle* I wonder if mine will ever get to harvesting stage. They do have 6 inch long leaves now and are about a foot high.

[MKG]

They'll grow until either they flower or it gets too cold - don't forget the profuse watering, 'cos they love it. If you get anywhere near a frost and you haven't got any yellowing leaves, cut down the entire plant and hang it upside down somewhere dry and frost-free. You'll still have usable tobacco.

Boast time - my biggest leaf so far is 2 ft 6 ins. Mine's bigger than yours nuh nuh ne nuh nuh.

Mike

[Millymollymandy]

I know you've got a biggun Mike but mine have been slow from day one. Never mind, maybe they will suddenly go whoosh rather like my potimarrons which have had about 5 fruit just in the last week, after doing pretty much nothing for 2 months.

[prison break fan]

MKG, I waited for them to dry, but I think it was only because I had so many other things going on! But I got masses of seed as you know! Flowers in the garden I leave to dry and then collect the seed. Oh how I love being a guru!! It's been a long time coming!!! pbf.

[Tru&Ad]

I'm not sure about the nicotine content of my first batch of leaves, plus they don't give you the hit at the back of the throat that shop bought gives you. I've mixed it with shop bought but still has a slightly 'green' taste to it I shall have to do some more investigation on processing it

Got about 30 plants on allotment so I hope I can find something that works.

Mike I've not been up plot for a couple of days but I'd have to say mine are giving yours a run for their money size wise ;-)

[boboff]

Well I have lots with holes in the leaves.

I was wondering with the nicotine when I pick it all, will all the slugs be going round arguing with each other as they are withdrawing?

[Millymollymandy]

I have flowers on my two biggest ones that have finally made it to about 3 foot tall!!!!!! I don't have any yellowing leaves so do I just wait until... when? to pick the leaves off - ummmm I dunno what to do!

[oldfella]

MMM, will give you a shout, when the bloke down the road starts to take in his crop, in fact if you like, I will get a couple dozen leaves of him, and post them on to you mind, not being a smoker, I don't know what type they are.


Or wait to the spring and I will a" Acquire" a bale of the dried ' stuff, Duty free of course.

[Millymollymandy]

Hey Eddy, thanks but I don't need any more leaves - there's plenty here - just not sure what to do with them now! One has uprooted somewhat during yesterday's rain and slight wind and they don't look like they would be very easy to stake up either with all the big leaves in the way.

[MKG]

Harvesting, I've discovered, is a bit of a guessing game. The general rule is that a leaf showing signs of yellowing (through maturity rather than through any mineral deficiency) should be taken off and hung to dry. However, they're unlikely to have a high nicotine content until after the plant has flowered (or, at least, attempted to flower). Any buds should be taken off immediately (except for the plant you've decided will be your seed source for next year), quickly followed by any leaf suckers in the joints at the base of larger leaves - you'll get fed up of those little buggers. After the flowering stage, you're waiting for ripeness which is, apparently, signalled by the leaf stem becoming "snappy" like celery rather than bendy - plus, of course, that yellowing. These are the leaves with an increasing nicotine content as the plant approaches complete maturity. If you're getting towards the end of the season and you still have leaves on your plants (yellow or not), you cut the entire plant at the base (not an easy task, I can assure you) and hang it upside down in a dry, airy place.

With any leaf or plant after it's cut, you're looking for a "colour-cure", which is a complete drying to a yellow/brown colour, and the received wisdom is that the darker the cured leaf, the higher the nicotine content. I THINK I've detected this increase in nicotine, but I'm still not entirely sure. If you find that a leaf dries with any green remaining, then misting it with water should restart the curing process.

The stuff is smokeable at the colour-cured stage and merely crumbling it will enable that - you don't have to go through the shredding routine, although it does help. My little experience also tells me that fermenting the stuff in a curing chamber isn't necessary either, although it may improve the flavour (that being virtually non-existant without it). It will also reduce the nicotine content which, as far as I can see so far, would NOT be desirable.

Mike

[Millymollymandy]

Do we know if last year's seed will be good next year? I still have tons of it obviously, but only grew 3 plants. I think I will take the flowers off anyway and attempt to stake up all 3 as we are due high winds tomorrow, so if one has half fallen over in a slight breeze they're all gonna be prostate tomorrow!!!

Thanks Mike - I think it is going to be very hit and miss and I'm more doing it for fun than the thought that I am seriously going to smoke this stuff as I can't smoke roll ups - but hey we'll see!

[southeast-isher]

you could get one of these MMM...

http://www.roll-ups.co.uk/includes/cats ... ype_id=295

[southeast-isher]

If i grew some tobacco at some point i would air-cure it to ensure a low amount of TSNAs (rather than fire-cure it, etc) and then i'd consider trying to pasteurise it, if practical to. I'd either make loose snus (which i guess could be quite messy so perhaps inpractical) or i would make the tobacco bits akin to the Olvier Twists you can buy here in the UK - they are classed as chewing tobacco but a far cry from the American chewing stuff as more accurately you are said to just park it inbetween your gum and cheek, much like you would a losenge. You do not spit or swallow too apparently.

[Millymollymandy]

you could get one of these MMM...

http://www.roll-ups.co.uk/includes/cats ... ype_id=295

I said I can't SMOKE roll ups, not that I can't ROLL a roll up! Roll ups give me a bad chest - I will have to try with filters in. Anyway that would certainly help protect from the bits of dried out crumbled tobacco ending up in my mouth as well.

[southeast-isher]

Oh yeah you must put filters in roll-ups.

But that machine makes cigarettes... you pull the tobacco into an empty cigarette tube.