Anyone?

jeff_connors

Anyone of the form regulars grow/dry/cure their own cigar Tobacco?

kuzi16

i may be able to give some info. i dont have room myself but i know some people that know some people that robbed some people.

nightmaremike31

My apologies for not being a frequent BOTL whom posts. I read and absorb as much as possible from here everyday. But I too have often thought about the idea of DIY cigars. There have been a number of illegal (mary jane) plantations that have been discovered and disposed of in my "lovely" state. So it's made me think that legitimate tabacco farming must be possible and profitable, if not at least an enjoyable and rewarding hobby. I'm eagerly anticipating the feedback.

jeff_connors

kuzi16:

i may be able to give some info. i dont have room myself but i know some people that know some people that robbed some people.

robbed some people??
and why is it every time I bring up DYI cigars someone brings up pot? nobody seems to mention it when i bring up DYI tomato sauce.....

kuzi16

ok ....
no robbing...


but what kind of questions do you have?
ill see what i can do.

cabinetmaker

jeff_connors:

kuzi16:

i may be able to give some info. i dont have room myself but i know some people that know some people that robbed some people.

robbed some people??
and why is it every time I bring up DYI cigars someone brings up pot? nobody seems to mention it when i bring up DYI tomato sauce.....

You say Tomato, I say Mary Jane...If you can grow one, you can grow the other, wink wink...

j0z3r

cabinetmaker:

jeff_connors:

kuzi16:

i may be able to give some info. i dont have room myself but i know some people that know some people that robbed some people.

robbed some people??
and why is it every time I bring up DYI cigars someone brings up pot? nobody seems to mention it when i bring up DYI tomato sauce.....

You say Tomato, I say Mary Jane...If you can grow one, you can grow the other, wink wink...

I don't know about mara-joo-wanna, but tomatoes practically grow themselves in my experience, a little starter help and some water along the way and they're set.

kuzi16

tobacco cultivation is a bit more difficult than a tomato plant.


...not as hard as growing the other stuff...



if you were thinking of growing it this year you may have missed your opportunity already.... unless you are doing it 100% indoors.

Jdorais

mary-joo-wanna is bad mmmmmmmmkay.

gmill880

kuzi16:

tobacco cultivation is a bit more difficult than a tomato plant.


...not as hard as growing the other stuff...



if you were thinking of growing it this year you may have missed your opportunity already.... unless you are doing it 100% indoors.

My family raised tobacco for many years until the Govt decided to pay them not to grow it ...not sure how that would compare to cigar tobacco ...

Goldy

I am growing 4 different types of tobacco right now for the first time. I started the seeds indoors in March and just transplanted them near the end of May because we have had some strangely cold weather in MN. Right now they are a foot tall but they should start growing pretty fast now that the heat is here. I haven't quite figured out how to cure the leaves yet, maybe the attic. I think this project is going to give me a greater appreciation for good cigars.

kuzi16

build a curing chamber. you can probably build one for under $200

jeff_connors

kuzi16:

build a curing chamber. you can probably build one for under $200

I though I saw you on that form! Ha that where I'm stuck too, I can get all the materials I'm just worried about the thing bursting into flames while i'm at work...

kuzi16

fear not!! tobacco does not know how to light itself.




HA!!

maybe if you switch to an electric heater you will feel better. In fact I know I would.


another thought is that tobacco (even dry tobacco) needs much more than 130* to fire up. as long as you put the damn thing together right you should be gold.

jeff_connors

any good recommendations ? I was thinking bout picking up an oil fueled rad tomorrow...I already have a halogen heater but id be scared to death leaving that thing in a poly insulated chamber with dry leaves....

jeff_connors

There She Grows!

gmill880

Beautifulmus !!!

kuzi16

jeff_connors:

any good recommendations ? I was thinking bout picking up an oil fueled rad tomorrow...I already have a halogen heater but id be scared to death leaving that thing in a poly insulated chamber with dry leaves....

no. i cant recommend anything. since i have no room in my yard/house to grow any of my own (let alone the skills to make into a cigar good enough to smoke) i havent even looked at what heater would be best.

the only thing about oil heaters is that they burn a fuel
this is much like a zippo lighter. wouldnt the fumes contaminate the tobacco? maybe an electric heater would be best. im not sure beyond that.


those are some healthy lookin plants you have there. how many plants do you have total ?
and
do you plan on harvesting by priming?

jeff_connors

Whats this priming you speak of? Is this taking of the lower leafs as they start to yellow a little? ohh i have about 35+ in the garden,
I planted 100 Havana seeds and did they a lot better then I expected!!! I ran out of room. Now the little guys ,not in the garden are starting to get root bound in the small seed germanators I had started them in and i have no room so now i am forced to let about 15+ die off ...:-(..ii am slowly collecting large buckets to put them in , with any luck I will save the lot!
and the oil heater i'm talking about heats the oil electrically and then circulates the hot oil through radiators i think it will do the trick.
I also dont think i have the skill or climate to make a fine cigar but i thought I would give it a shot, its filling up my spare time nicely

kuzi16

as the plant matures and reaches full maturity you will have about 6 to 9 pairs of leaves. the bottom leaves are the first ones to come out. in most cigar tobacco fields the leaves are removed in stages. 45 days into the growth in the fields, the leaves are pruned from bottom, to the top. First, the three leaves that are closest to the ground, which are classified as the libre de pie are removed. Then, during the second week of the process, the next three leaves, called the uno y medio are removed. In the third week of the harvest, the three leaves comprising the 1st centro ligero are removed. During the fourth week, the next two leaves, the 2nd centro liegero are removed. In the fourth week, the two leaves of the centro fino are plucked from the plant. The leaves that remain absorb all the nutrients that would otherwise go to the other leaves, become much richer in body, and become thicker. The following week, the two leaves fifth stage, called the centro gordo are removed. Finally, during the sixth week, the remaining two leaves, the coronas, also known as "crowns," are removed, and the stalk is cut down. Only the extremely veiny libre de pie cannot be used for wrappers. Ideally, the plant could provide enough leaves for 32 cigar wrappers, but usually only six or seven are good enough for wrappers. The best wrappers come from the middle part of the plant, however maduro wrappers often come from the coronas, as the leaves, after fermentation produce dark, oily and thick wrappers.

from my "blending 101" thread:
This brings up the tangent of Oscuro vs. maduro. Maduro has more to do with the fermentation where as Oscuro wrapper leaves are taken from the top priming or medio tiempo (literally “half time,” meaning they’ve been left on the plant 50% longer). Since these leaves have been exposed to a maximum amount of sunlight, they begin to cure on the plant. You end up with a darker, thicker, richer and more flavorful leaf than that of a pure maduro.

nightmaremike31

kuzi16:

You end up with a darker, thicker, richer and more flavorful leaf than that of a pure maduro.

... Mr. Kuzi, are you saying that an Oscuro leaf cigar would be similar to a "dark chocolate" of cigars?

kuzi16

nightmaremike31:

kuzi16:

You end up with a darker, thicker, richer and more flavorful leaf than that of a pure maduro.

... Mr. Kuzi, are you saying that an Oscuro leaf cigar would be similar to a "dark chocolate" of cigars?

maybe. i dont know why i never associated that like you did. I should have being that my wife and i own a chocolate company.

in my head it was the "double brewed coffee" of cigars. unlike a true maduro, an Oscuro does not lose much power while gaining the color its getting. this is because it is still getting the nutrients from the plant.

nightmaremike31

kuzi16:

in my head it was the "double brewed coffee" of cigars.

Mmmmm double brewed coffee. I'm going to have to gather some Oscuro wrapper cigars.

kuzi16:

I should have being that my wife and i own a chocolate company.

I'll admit it, I'm a chocoholic. I am most evious of your ownership of a chocolate company. AND you are very astute about cigars... You're like the Willy Wonka of cigars and chocolate... Do you need an apprentice?
My dad and his side of the family all came from Ohio, Akron to be exact... Are we related?
Does your chocolate company have a website?

bbc020

nightmaremike31:

Does your chocolate company have a website?

I've been waiting to see one. His chocolate is great.

kuzi16

bbc020:

nightmaremike31:

Does your chocolate company have a website?

I've been waiting to see one. His chocolate is great.

thank you.

The Chocolate Piggy


its a work in progress...

kuzi16

nightmaremike31:

My dad and his side of the family all came from Ohio, Akron to be exact... Are we related?

i grew up in cincinnati and my wife in cleveland. We met at Kent State University. we both work in Akron. We live in Cuyahoga Falls.

nightmaremike31

kuzi16:

i grew up in cincinnati and my wife in cleveland. We met at Kent State University. we both work in Akron. We live in Cuyahoga Falls.

Damn, I had my fingers crossed. I woud ask you about my mothers side, but they're all from England. I was hoping I was related to you, you're a killer guy, with killer taste, and not just in cigars.

kuzi16

nightmaremike31:

kuzi16:

i grew up in cincinnati and my wife in cleveland. We met at Kent State University. we both work in Akron. We live in Cuyahoga Falls.

Damn, I had my fingers crossed. I woud ask you about my mothers side, but they're all from England. I was hoping I was related to you, you're a killer guy, with killer taste, and not just in cigars.

why thank you.

we are related.

Brother Of The Leaf.

nightmaremike31

kuzi16:

nightmaremike31:

kuzi16:

i grew up in cincinnati and my wife in cleveland. We met at Kent State University. we both work in Akron. We live in Cuyahoga Falls.

Damn, I had my fingers crossed. I woud ask you about my mothers side, but they're all from England. I was hoping I was related to you, you're a killer guy, with killer taste, and not just in cigars.

why thank you.

we are related.

Brother Of The Leaf.

So true. They say that blood is thicker than water, but smoke is thicker than blood. Do the BOTL have a crest or insignia? If not, then we need to design one.

jeff_connors

The Harvest Has Started !!!!

Theedge

Speaking of Mary Jane and tomatoes, cough cough. I don't partake in that but did see a plant once that had 3 leaves instead of 5 - they had designed it to look more like a tomato plant. I was impressed.