The 2015 Cosmic Crop

[cosmicfolklore]

No problem Crusader, I love reading about people who grow. That's awesome!

The rustica was super easy. But, harvest it quickly after you top it. It will quickly sucker up like a bush. I waited, thinking that I would harvest it along with the Virginias, but by waiting, I maybe got about 8oz. I just kept one back for insecticide next year, and the other I added to my twist to boost up the nicotine. It's a very small amount. But, in taste testing it while still in the cure, it has a robust but nutty flavor. The Del Gold was the easiest.
Next year, the plan is a larger patch of Dark VA and Virginia Gold, with a small patch of orinoco. It has all of the oriental flavors that I love, a flowery izmir of sorts. Very complimentary to the Virginias. Plus, it's not a variety used commercially, so it's nice to have something really tasty that can't be bought.

 

[jitterbugdude]

What type of Orinoco are you going to grow? Yellow Orinoco makes a very nice chew and when sun cured makes a very nice "Virginia" smoke.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I grew four plants of orinoco this year, but the seed packet was just labelled "orinoco." I put them out late, because I had a little room left. It doesn't seem strong enough to be a chew, and just after the initial cure the taste is unlike a straight Virginia, more like an oriental. The description had said to expect the plants to be very aromatic while growing, but I didn't notice any strong floral smell in the garden.

 

[jitterbugdude]

There are lots of Orinoco varieties. Some, Flue cured, some Primitive

 

[cosmicfolklore]

"Flue cure" is a variety? ::

 

[jitterbugdude]

Yes, Flue cured, Burley, Turkish etc

 

[jeepnewbie]

Looks awesome and a lot of fun.

 

[voorhees]

Very nice. Glad to see some fruits of your labor.

 

[okiescout]

Some how I missed this thread until today. That is truly freakin awesome.
Me too. This is great Cosmic. Thanks so much for sharing.

 

[mcitinner1]

To try out some twist talked about previously, I've got some Cotton Bole coming. Looking forward to it.
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/twist-tobacco-in-a-pipe

 

[backwoodsjack]

This is a fascinating post. It's great to see the results of careful work.
I would like a huge sniff of those twists. Looks amazing.
Joe

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Thanks guys, and just smoke that Cotton Boll slowly after a big dinner. I love it, but if my stomach is empty, it sends me to the spirit world, ha ha!

 

[mcitinner1]

Laughing...I've been really "spiritual" before.

 

[perdurabo]

Cosmic I got to give it to you, your progress is stellar. :worship:

 

[hawke]

Just found this! Great Thread!

 

[nutcracker]

Very nice and inspiring! I think I will look into doing this next year in our raised beds.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Yes, great stuff! And congratulations, again.
Question: how deep did the roots go? Was this the first planting in new raised beds?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I really didn't excavate the roots, but I do know that nightshades and most other garden crops only drop roots about 4-6 inches. Yes, this was the first year in this bed. I grew som last year also, but it was in a smaller bed that I grew sweet potato in this year.

I've since moved into the other house on the farm, so I have been rebuilding the garden in the new backyard. I may just grow a quarter acre next year, I just will have to set up a larger drip irrigation line. Drought and heat are the two things I fight most here in Alabama, which can kill tobacco quickly.

 

[davet]

Drought and heat are the two things I fight most here in Alabama

Would a greenhouse be a bad thing, thinking of us here in the north. We do get some hot temps here in July and August. I've been thinking of trying it since I first read this thread.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

A green house would only make the heat worse. We don' t have a lot greenhouses down here, except people growing tropical houseplants, and even then they mostly just use them in our short winters. But, if you can grow tomatoes in your area, you can grow tobacco.