TOBACCO GROWING DIARY 2013

In 2012, I copied posts from the main blog to the Diary. This year, I am going to copy the URL for the post in question instead, and give a brief summary of the contents.

We can start with the post of 7th January 2013:

PLOT PREPARATION.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=2864&action=edit

This post describes the digging over of the plots. At this time of year, the objective is to open up the ground to allow frost to enter deeply. Turn the ground over in big lumps and leave them like that. The ground can be smoothed in spring.

The post incidentally mentioned the exquisite taste of my home-grown and the difficulties of growing tobacco plants indoors.

Post of 18th January.

GERMINATED SEEDS.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=2945&action=edit

Seeds were sown in a propagator on Sunday, 13th Jan. Today, Friday 18th Jan.,  they have germinated. There are pics of the seedlings. In a week or so’s time, the seedlings will be thinned, and the propagator put on a bedroom window ledge where they will get light, but the temperature is not too warm.

Post of 27th January 2013.

SEEDLINGS.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=2987&action=edit

The seedlings are growing well and are about 1cm tall, but there are far too many. They need to be thinned out.

Post of 5th February.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3015&action=edit

The seedlings are now nearly 2cm tall and are acquiring three or four leaves. They need to be thinned out again so that only two seedlings remain in each cell of the propagator.

Post of 15th February.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3076&action=edit

The propagator cells have been topped up with compost prior to holiday in Spain. The seedlings are now buried up to the leaves.

Post of 24th February.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3085&action=edit

After the holiday, the seedlings have grown really well during the holiday and are ready for transplanting into pots.

Post of 28th February.

TRANSPLANTING INTO POTS.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3094&action=edit

54 2″ pots have been potted with the seedlings and are looking good. There are still about 20 seedlings in the propagator in reserve. Includes a pic of a seedling’s roots.

Post of 8th March.

THE PLANTLETS AT 7th March.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3121&action=edit

Pictures of the good development in the last week. Final total of plantlets – 62.

Post of 11th March.

MECHANISING CIGARETTE MAKING.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3140&action=edit

I have found a machine which seems to be ‘good for purpose’, within reason. A hopper enables more rapid filling of the tray. Includes a video of the machine.

Post of the 15th March.

THE SEEDLINGS AT 14th MARCH.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3154&action=edit

The seedlings are really getting big now. They measure some 10cm across. Includes pic of root system showing how skinny roots are and that plants are not pot-bound.

Post of 22nd March.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3186&action=edit

67 days after sowing. The plants are getting really big.

Post of 25th March.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3207&action=edit

Shows a plant in a bucket on a window ledge indoors.

Post of 27th March.

THE MEAT MINCING MACHINE.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3222&action=edit

I was trying to find a machine which will make the job of chopping up the shredded leaves into bits easier. I could not find a purpose-built machine and so I bought a meat mincer. I had to replace the extruder (the gummage with holes in it through which the minced mead is pushed) because the holes were too small. There are pics of the machine suitably adjusted. It is quick and easy.

Post of 6th April.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3361&action=edit

Showing how well the plants in buckets indoors have done.

Post of 15th April.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3411&action=edit

Showing pics of the slug deterrent moats, the plantlets planted out and more about the plants indoors in buckets.

Post of 23rd April.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3450&action=edit

About how I never thought about wind chill. Some damage to plantlets, but have now ‘bottled’ the plants (pics). More about the indoor plants (pics).

Post of the 24th April.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3457&action=edit

About the electric cig making machine. The Zen Supershooter turned out to be a dud (possibly I was sent a defective machine from USA). The Supermatic 2 is very good so far.

Post of 28th April.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3482&action=edit

About towelling the indoor grown leaves. [Not a success!]

Post of 2nd May.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3516&action=edit

See also post between. For some reason or other, the towelling/wadding process has produced a rather nasty tasting tobacco. What is different about the indoor grown leaves?

Post of 8th May.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3545&action=edit

Did the indoor leaves lack carbon?

More about the difficulties of the planted out plants.

Post of 9th May.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3552&action=edit

2nd batch of indoor-grown leaves. No wadding? Just a bit – again produced unpleasant smelling tobacco. No good.

Have sown some more seeds re possible loss of many planted-out plants.

Post of 17th May.

Newly sown seeds have germinated.

Post of 20th May.

Pics of outdoor plants after re-planting deeper. Hope for survival but worry about possible ‘stunted’ growth.

Post of 15th June.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3703&action=edit

Germinating some seedlings in case plantlets erroneously planted out in April fail.

Post of 25th June.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3723&action=edit

Shows pics of mold (mould).

Post of 8th July.

Good growth of plants.

Post of 15th July.

Bugs eating plants.

Post of 21st July.

Harvesting leaves.

Post of 28th July.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3903&action=edit

Growth of plants.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3911&action=edit

Effect of wet weather. Canes.

Post of 30th July.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3917&action=edit

What is eating the leaves?

Post of 8th August.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3960&action=edit

The Heated Propagator.

Post of 11th August.

https://boltonsmokersclub.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3967&action=edit

Early comments on the propagator.