i plant them in the ground so i achieve maximum height. When the flowers die off each will form a green pod which will slowly turn dark brown. ** This project was created last year (2008 harvest) to provide address a common question in the tobacco growing hobby, discussing the critical points of curing tobacco. I know people who smoke tobacco at every shade, as the whim and their approach to curing takes them, and they seem no worse off than off the shelf smokers. Thanks. JavaScript is disabled. Do I have to ferment the leaves at all? I'll go into why transferring to a jar might be ideal in the next section. Question: When the bottom leaves go yellow before flowering starts, do I cut off the yellowing leaves and dispose of them or keep them? Don't humidify kiln to prevent rusty lids. So none of the tobacco was touching the water. In about two weeks, the seedlings should start showing. Aging ? and is it any good? After drying the leaves then adding flavour such as vodka and then slicing/cutting would I store the tobacco in a air tight container? Doing so removes excess plant material from your nugs, making drying much faster. Problem solved! Answer: Yes, The way I know of is to spray the rum/wine/honey solution or whatever on the dry or near dry leaves with a garden mister. % of people told us that this article helped them. If this seems a. little tricky here, it is. Answer: Home grown tobacco doesn't naturally stay burning. Information I will be collecting: This has several advantages: If you want to enhance the flavour of your smoke, dissolve a little honey in a couple teaspoons of alcohol (port, rum, vodka, or moonshine) and dribble it in as you cut your leaf. oops, I must have had a couple to many ales the last time I wrote in. Question Gonna have a couple of acres there, so can plant heaps, and better growing conditions. Some years ago I stumbled upon tobacco seeds (for the first time) in a Richters plant/seed catalogue out of Canada ( I live in the U.S). Not to mention the moaning at the forever price hikes in Tobacco. By using our site, you agree to our. It's a bit late now to plant outdoors, but you can probably start your seedlings in the hothouse, or better still in little pots on a warm windowsill (Like in the kitchen) . After that I shredded them. I've settled on 1 week in the press for this experiment bracket, so unless I get an additional press, it'll take me 3 months to get all the 1 oz pressed samples underway. The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on May 16, 2014: Hi there Rob n Rose, sorry for the tardy reply. !, i want to ask you why? on Introduction, https://www.cigarworld.com/education/tobacco-411/curing-and-fermentation/. Curing is basically the drying of tobacco in a moderately controlled environment. Best If You Have Several Strains to Cure or Store At Once: Set of Four Wide-Mouth Quart-Size Ball Mason Jars Price: $24.85 Amazon Customer Reviews Pull out any small plants or weeds that try to crowd each tobacco plant. Frankly, if you're regularly ingesting nicotine, traces of ammonia, if they exist, should be the least of your concerns,- and homegrown tobacco is a lot less dangerous than the commercial stuff. The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on July 05, 2016: The blog given to us has some exciting features. Cold and frost will affect your crop yield. Question: How do you flavor tobacco with honey and alcohol? When the leaves are in the Eski fermenting do you turn them or move them around. The tobacco is best if the leaf stems are still slightly most when you remove from the stems. This method of curing will produce tobacco leaves that are, relative to other curing methods, low in sugar, high in nicotine, and sweet in flavor! Thin the seedlings as soon as they're big enough, either by placing individual plants into four-inch pots or about a dozen into an ice-cream container. Question: Thank you for the article. Be sure the leaves are protected from direct sunlight, which may burn them. Let the flowers bloom and die off. Answer: An airtight container's a good idea, but I can't tell you how long the tobacco will last. Pick whichever leaves are ready, and cut a slit near the stem end of the centre rib of each leaf. This process takes about 3-4 weeks.2) Fermentation: Sweating out ammonia, and a few other complicated chemical processes. Hi EveryoneI have just read the post for about the 6th time and decided to join the group and say HI!!! Question: I was wondering if I can take some larger leaves from my plants before they turn a paler green as I have planted my plants to close together. Is there a big difference in letting the leaves age? Just wanted to see how it's done. To counteract this situation, I have replace the bulb with a lower wattage, 32 watt and put the light on a timer, set to go on for 30 mins then off for 45. How broad it can be. im in manchester uk.. i have tried drying in about 4 diffrent places now over 2 years .. i dried that lot in the loft so there was temp fluctuation. Before starting here's a small note of discretion: Typically tobacco growing hobbyist raise and cure these plants for the pure enjoyment of taking care of this fast growing monster! I didn't realize you had all these messages! As you know i don't smoke anymore, but gotta thank John Keye for the taxes, and the opportunity for extra income ( wink wink ), just follow the advice given here Jen, you cant go wrong, I gathered some seeds from a garden not knowing it was tobacco.They have grown amazingly.Thanks to your practical info I'm setting about drying the leaves .Might find a use for my grandads pipes in a rack yet .Thanks. Keep their soil moist but not soggy when they're young. I'd suggest that you leave them for the time being but monitor them and if the spots increase noticeably remove the offenders. This will help preserve the tobacco after it dries, and may prolong the burning. Im from west Wales in the UK. First time grower. Put jar in kiln. The tobacco color should also change to a much darker hue of brown. Put a fine sieve in the top of a clean, dry bowl, or on a sheet of paper. Using a solution of honey or something sweet may help also. Water them thoroughly and then keep watering to prevent the dirt from drying out. Thank you so much for putting up this site. Reckon next year I will have to double my crop, I may be a bit shy this year. Also without an insulator, there would be a lot of heat loss, you would need higher temps than a psudo greenhouse.The cooler method traps in heat, but because the seals are not air tight there seems to be a lot of air exchange going on. 7 years ago You'll know they're ready for use when theyve turned dark brown and the edges of each leaf are curled. Would also be interested to read the article you mentioned on distilling but can't find it? Did you dry indoors? Well heres hoping! That being said it is taxing to spray the leaves so often. You may need to use a humidifier if your leaves are drying too quickly. Btw i subbed you on youtube, Reply Have you tried this method? Store the tobacco in a room between 60 to 95 F (16 to 35 C) to cure it. We seem to be in the perfect climate. Turn the marijuana every few hours, so that all parts are exposed to the sun. whoever they may be. Answer: I don't know, it's been many years since I was in Australia, but I would guess a tobacco plant would take around three months or less to grow there. Hang the tobacco where the humidity is consistently around 65 percent. Also, can we use wine to spray the leaves whilst curing as opposed to water? As each plant grows, you'll see small tobacco plants (suckers or basal shoots) starting to grow as side-shoots from the main stalk at the base of the leaves, the same as with tomatoes and that other stuff some people smoke. Why am I growing tobacco? At this point, pick them. Im thinking about purchasing and would like to hear some opinions. A lot of tobaccos's taste sweetens with salt - folks will mix maybe a 1/4 teaspon of salt in 8-10 ounces of distilled water, lay the tobacco out on a tray, mist it with the salty solution, allow to dry and then put it in the curing jars. Sadly Kings no longer sell tobacco seed, however if you're in NZ Wicked Habits do ( expensive ) or Trade Me often does. What you will need:-Air cured Tobacco leaves, Seeds with growing instructions are available here : Got the seeds in the germinator today , wanting an early jump on the season , great weather this last week and hoping for no frosts.. 11 years ago You'll read a lot of unmitigated drivel about the difficulty of curing tobacco. Built a box frame 2'6" sq. 4 years ago Question: Can I make alcohol from tobacco leaves? What you do with it then is your own damned business. Is there a trick to keeping tobacco alight? The plants grew taller than corn stalks, with leaves as broad as my chest. Fairly certain he's going to have a good read. Isn't it possible to sterilize the pile of tobacco and stop all the fermentation by having temperature too high? [1] 2 Pick leaves that are a pale-yellow for drying. Then, thread a string through the slits. This will keep the leaves moist but reduce the chance of mold developing while theyre in storage. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. That's late summer here in the Southern Hemisphere. Fill your curing jars 75% full. you have done a excellent activity on this matter! A neighbour hangs his leaves in a carport to dry, then presses them in a shallow wooden box with a bit of plank on top and a weight (gallon drum full of water) rolls up the end product and slices thin with a sharp knife. I did miss a stage in my above aromatic observationsbetween the wet grass and raisin stage there was a strong cereal smell..like toasted corn flakes, which probably lasted for the entire 2nd week. You may have had difficulty getting seed in the first place. We would have been umming and ahhhing until the cows came home. I have found your article and follow everything as you recommended but in the end, I am disappointed. 5 Steps to properly drying & curing cannabis Drying Weed (Steps 1-2) Marijuana strain trimming Step 1: Trimming your buds To dry your buds, you first need to trim them. Thank you for posting this. Let them dry out on the plant. Great victory by the AllBlacks! The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on January 21, 2016: Hi Hops, beer and 'baccy go together mate, have a top New Year too. I've been drawing from T.A. The best vessel to use for aging pipe tobacco is the Mason Jar. The following is a helpful "Q and A" following this project. I think I'm going to try to grow some to use for smudging and offerings (Spiritual purposes). Secondly, don't break the law. it was cold and had good air flow. You are so right, they do adapt to the area. Thanks for the nice comments. this is a couple of hours later.. its a little sweaty box now, Reply I suggest that you air-dry some leaves and then compare. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. (It should reach full size without problems.). fcbdadk, Howdy! Hello! Mary Wickison from USA on March 23, 2014: After years of nagging (I mean politely requesting) my husband to stop, now I find your page. This is just 3 hands of tobacco and it does have quite the aroma associated with it! This is an excellent time to test whether you have dried your nugs properly. Question: Do you think putting a few dried mint leaves in with my tobacco leaves will give it a menthol taste? The best time of year to dry outdoors is during the harvest season, end of Summer, before the first frost, humidity is typically perfect in most areas of the USA. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. In the next batch I think I will see if placing the leaves in a large plastic bag will work better. Tinned tobacco will too, but not to the extent that it would in the tin. How do you know your tobacco will be ok for cigarettes, but not for cigars or vice versa? Right now I have a number of shirazi leaves shade curing and I'm using this time to do some research about apothecary jars, but i've got to move fast and get some jars here in order to make sure the leaves don't dry up. at home depot, clamp assembly is not needed)-30W light bulb (heat source)-Aluminum foil-Clean paper towels-Plastic bag-Sterilized spray bottle (use bleach solution to clean, rinse and dry thoroughly)-Distilled water. The same number (12.5%) cure for between 6 and 8 days. Reply The bought stuff has additives to keep it going, such as saltpeter (potassium nitrate, the main ingredient of gunpowder). Ricci Feat Waaka from Tauranga, New Zealand on June 07, 2014: Hi can you please give me some advice on how to grow tobacco under lights,such as how many plants to a 1000 watt or 600 grow light in what size room,am really keen to give it a go. Instead of a timer you could also use an eight dollar dimmer cord found at any hardware store, it will adjust the power and heat output of any bulb. and spray it finely on the dried leaves with a garden mister. I got 6 x 1 oz jars sealed up yesterday. mayb to much nitrogen locked in the leaf what do you think, Reply Thanks again for this information. It seems dry but just doesnt want to stay lit when Ive rolled cigarettes. The best temperatures for growing tobacco is 68 to 86 F (20 to 30 C). Thank you for any other informative site. dry in shade, this process avoids crumbling product also. If it's warmer, that's even better. 7 years ago Basically you need heat (approx 120 degrees) and humidity of about 75%, if this can be sustained for approx 4-6 weeks, fermentation will be complete. Any suggestions? I don't know where I've been Steve, but just come across you site. I have grown some and do not want to ferment it. Make sure kiln has good air circulation and that jars aren't touching walls to prevent condensation in jars. on Introduction. I dip the lid in the boiling water, and making sure the rim of the jar is free of tobacco pieces, place the lid on the jar and lightly set the ring. If you live in a place that's warm enough to grow cabbage, tobacco will thrive. At the worst, the plants will stop growing over Winter and come away again in Spring, and be a bit stunted, but the leaves will still be useable and you'll get plenty of seed for next season. On the plus side: Home grown tobacco contains far less chemicals and no additives when compared to the stuff the tobacco industry produces. Wash off any dirt, though. But they are surely processed differently. I grow tobacco in a tiny area where I live, about 400 feet (120 metres) above sea level, in a moderate, semi-coastal climate. Question: Once the tobacco is cured and cut, how do you store so it doesnt dry out like tobacco you buy? The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on September 21, 2014: Here's some info that i copied and pasted from this hub a couple of years ago. I do not recommend that anyone follow this procedure, please use discretion with the project. I grow over 100 + plants - mainly in pots but some in the ground. The place else may just I get that type of info written in such a perfect way? Keep their soil moist but not soggy when they're young. When using plastic bag style do you move them around and how often do you water with the plastic bag style. Cigar tobacco producers ferment tobacco naturally by creating huge piles of air cured leaves. to cut: take dried leaves cut out stems, dampen dried leaves, put in press to make solid block, cut and re-dry cut tobacco. You can store the leaves in a humidor or even in a plastic bag. Show me tobacco . The results were unbelievable, menthol is one the hardest flavours to crack, no more menthol crysrals and chemistry sets, the e-juice is mostly vegetable glycerine, with no nicotine, and can be added to suit the strength desirable, you can add it to your own liking, strong, medium, weak, doing it this way means the menthol strength hasn't already been decided for you and you don't have to hunt around for a commercial brand to suit your particular tastes. Put seed-growing mix or a mixture of fine soil and sand in a shallow container. Question: Im having a hard time keeping my tobacco burning, could it just need more time? The biggest difference is that the plastic box did too good of a job sealing in the moisture, and perhaps there was too much to begin with. Answer: It's fine with light frosts. You could also string the leaves on a length of wire, or on a cord stretched between two nails use your imagination. Will have to look into this further but this has certainly been of great help to start-off. If you want cheap alcohol dissolve a kilo of sugar in 4 liters of warm water, dump in some yeast, or a handful of raisins/sultanas, cover the container with a tea-towel or similar to keep out the bugs and wild yeasts( or you'll end up with vinegar), leave it until it stops bubbling (probably 2-3 weeks) and you'll end up with alcohol at about 10%. Answer: You keep them, yellowing means that they're partly cured. The dried leaves will be slightly sticky, and theyll have the feeling of very thin leather. 10 years ago It's fine to jar bulk tobacco; it will resume fermentation. During two years in Vanuatu where home-grown tobacco is available in the markets (cured and twisted into braids) I discovered I could make a "brew" just as good as my favourite pipe tobacco "Amphora". (I am, however, all for fermenting sugar in water and putting it through a still, I may be doing that later today). Question: Is planting tobacco summer (start of January) ok? The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on March 06, 2015: I chucked some seeds in the fridge last year; planted them in portable greenhouse in september and have a bumper crop drying in my garage now. Oh yeah, adding flavor.any ideas on flavoring the bacco? For the Jars, the pump alone is $65 for the jars. Take what you pay a week for smoking (probably around $50). 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Vessel to use a humidifier if your leaves are protected from direct sunlight, which may burn them the... Touching walls to prevent condensation in jars you 'll know they 're partly cured 1 oz jars up. Going to try to grow cabbage, tobacco will thrive is $ 65 the! Then is your own damned business EveryoneI have just read the post for the. Protected from direct sunlight, which may burn them cured and cut, do... Price hikes in tobacco, but not for cigars or vice versa &... Like to hear some opinions it is taxing to spray the leaves are ready and. A humidifier if your leaves are drying too quickly summer here in the of... Tobacco and it does have quite the aroma associated with it i must had. It just need more time would i store the leaves at all you register then would... May prolong the burning to cure it the drying of tobacco and it does quite! There a big difference in letting the leaves are in the Eski fermenting do you turn or! Slightly sticky, and theyll have the feeling of very thin leather of gunpowder ) when they 're young the. Often do you store so it doesnt dry out like tobacco you buy mentioned on distilling ca! Join the group and say hi!!!!!!!!. The project complicated chemical processes realize you had all these messages!!!!!!!!... Cured and cut, how do you think, Reply have you tried method! Time being but monitor them and if the leaf what do you water the...