Many thanks. The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on March 31, 2014: Hi there Blond Logic, Tobacco originated from around your way, and I'm told that all sorts can be found there, so good luck in your quest for seeds. Question: Can you soak tobacco in rum and wine? Canadian Virginian plant, so I've not looked back. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. During the fermentation, there are several aromatic stages: 12.5% cure for between 3 weeks and 11 weeks. 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. Hi - What are your thoughts on smoking unfermented tobacco. I cured a bit with bourbon in the oven and got a nice pipe smoke. But the future looks a lot more brighter. Hang these sticks (or string the lines) somewhere dry, out of the way, and preferably warm. If you want to cure and smoke it, put in at least a dozen plants if possible. Very educational. Here are a couple things to be on the lookout for as your tobacco is curing: The trick for curing is time. 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. If it's too rainy or it gets too much water, the tobacco gets weak and thin. It kind of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick. You'll get better results by leaving those tins be until it's time to smoke the contents. Some say that it should be left hanging for two years, though I've found that two or three months is quite enough. I didn't realize you had all these messages! Give them a dose of general garden fertiliser now and again. Put a fine sieve in the top of a clean, dry bowl, or on a sheet of paper. I'll certainly digg it and individually suggest to my friends. A factory barn with hundreds of thousands of hands fermenting, wellthat would be a whole different level of aroma.Q: Surf Monkey Coconut, your insurance agent called me looking for you. After drying the leaf, should it be re-hydrated or something. Hi how is everyone in this tuff times hope all is ok ive started growing tobacco plant and im wondering do i have to use a cooler fan if curing leaves in a attic, thanks good info no frills- i've got 40 seeds in seedling mix indoors 7 germinated so far. tobacco enthusiast on September 15, 2014: Thanks to this hub I just pulled in my 4th batch of leaves and hung them to dry. This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Temperature range in fermenting. Most of the tobacco that I smoke has been aged 4+ years, but I don't let cannabis sit in a jar beyond six months. dry in shade, this process avoids crumbling product also. Question: What strain of tobacco do you grow? Answer: Dissolve a little honey in alcohol, (Rum, Vodka, Port through preference.) Don't look now, but you've probably already done itwell enough for the average punter, at least. I threw a hand at it but it didnt come out the way I hoped. Leaves that dry too fast may remain green. Answer: From seedling to mature plant (in a temperate climate) in about three months if planted in late Spring - early Summer; longer if planted later. The light was plugged into a ground fault interrupter outlet so that if it overloaded, I would have a small means of safety at very least. You know what to look for.) This is only my opinion, I've read nothing definitive about it either way. When the plants reach maturity, they'll set flower heads at the top. It kind of feels that youre doing any unique trick. I retired about 19 years ago and in 2013 attended a BBQ organised by my wife's Tai Chi Club. 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). So how do you raise the delicate little darlings? I hope that you learned what you wanted from this article. [1] 2 Pick leaves that are a pale-yellow for drying. The same regulations govern brewing, winemaking, and the distilling of alcoholic beverages. I have the space/patience/whole leaf to be able to grow enough each season for a couple of years, and am happy to just store it away for a few years before reaching for it. You need to leave some free space for airflow, so err on the side of under versus over-filling the jars. Smokingpipes is your one stop shop for Tobacco Jars Pipe Accessories and all your tobacco smoking needs. In the cooler situation, I am fighting to keep things moist enoughin your case it looked like it was the opposite effect! Luther, get a plant mister (little pump up spray) for a few dollars at a garden centre or two dollar shop and use it to spray your dry leaves. Anyway, just wanted to say your article has been very helpful not to mention giving me a great laugh here and there. "We are in process of putting up a tobacco barn with latest technology. Treat it as you would tomatoes. Does the Brod and Taylor bread proofing cabinet work good for cureing tobacco? 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. I have been using this for flavouring, this is a half strength as found the full strength to strong. Cheers. chop up the leaves and smoke 'em. If I think the tobacco is drying to quickly I give it a light misting with the distilled water. I got 6 x 1 oz jars sealed up yesterday. Question: I bought some homegrown tobacco but it has a dark greenish look to it. Cigar tobacco producers ferment tobacco naturally by creating huge piles of air cured leaves. Well heres hoping! Also, I know they like sun but as were in the wrong season Ive put them in large pots in the greenhouse. It must work, his mates think the stuffs great. If it looks a bit damp or won't light he sticks it in the warming tray of his oven for a while. Do you think theyll go ok in there until after the last frost of winter? I don't really monitor the humidity too much, I just give it 15-20 distilled water misting on and between the hands about 2-3 times a day, just to keep the leaves semi-moist. Well what an informative article, I tried many years ago to grow tobacco, plants grew fine but mucked up the curing process, I want to flavour the stuff for pipe smoking, I have a very large jar of glycerine in the garage could I use that with port and brandy, spray the leaf, let dry, then press and mature but for how long - best guess for a guide pls, also I want to give some hand rolling tobacco to my colleagues at Christmas, I'm harvesting and curing now,(August) once dried I'm putting it in a plastic air tight box, will that be long enough time for it to mellow/mature. whoever they may be. That being said, lets get started! Question: Once the tobacco is cured and cut, how do you store so it doesnt dry out like tobacco you buy? I did see a fermenter made of ply-wood, and i can tell ya, that one would most definitely off gas formaldehyde and other such chemicals found in the adhesives.Q: So you haven't noticed any sort of ammonia smell coming from the tobacco?A: I really haven't! And how long will this last in this storage method? Set up a dehumidifier if you don't have a dry spot to store the leaves in so they dry faster and don't develop mold. He left the element on about 150 C for a few days. This process takes about 3-4 weeks.2) Fermentation: Sweating out ammonia, and a few other complicated chemical processes. The host saw me wandering around puffing on my pipe and he kindly gave me a tobacco plant in a pot. [4] Flue [ edit] this is a couple of hours later.. its a little sweaty box now, Reply We were told this by an old DSIR nerd, a friend tried it reconds it better than brought menthols. Answer: Most of my friends who grow tobacco just dry it before smoking it, so no, don't bother. Answer: It's fine with light frosts. on Introduction. and still have some tobacco from afew years ago. I spent many years at sea in the MN, as Captain since 1975, so cost wasn't an issue then. On one end you want to keep the leaves from getting soggy to avoid mold and decay, and at the other end you want to keep the leaves from becoming dry and brittle without moisture, fermentation not will occur. Hey thanks for all these follow up posts and pictures! They should still be pliable, not brittle. Once your bud is in the jar drop in the hygrometer and cap it. Is there a big difference in letting the leaves age? -Week 4 the tobacco chamber should have the sweet smell of a walk in humidor. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. This would be those with the traditional mason jar design. This article could not be written any better! Answer: I've never bothered fermenting, and nor have any of my friends. A friend hangs his tobacco for about three months, by which time it has both a nice colour and texture. Awesome article!!! Thank you so much for putting up this site. Start the tobacco seedlings no sooner than 4 weeks before the spring night time temps are 50 degrees or so. Drying tobacco is a kind of curing process that takes between 3 and 8 weeks to properly prepare the tobacco for use. Do not tighten at this point. Hi we live in sunny Bay of Plenty and want to give it a go. Avoid over-watering. Having my first try at it and given I'm in the far north east of Scotland I'm having quite good results so far, that said been an unusually good Sumer. Great sense of humor, and great information - good tips! The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on December 23, 2014: Hi John, I hope that all's well with you now. Answer: Curing tobacco is pretty much just letting it dry until it turns goldish. I'd also suggest that you let the plants flower and save the seed, you'll get enough to plant half of Kansas and be very popular with your smoking friends! He constantly kept preaching about this. Been reading your posts looking to find ways to make what i grow less harsh to smoke. Can we buy seeds direct from you? Curing can last anywhere from two weeks minimum, to up to six months for some strains. Trying to perfect the cutting now but am very happy with my "own grown". He can smoke to his lung's are content. This seems a good place to take you by the hand and walk you through some basic arithmetic if you haven't already done so yourself. Also I wanted to add that the post is great and very easy to follow ..I am in Aus and have been growing now for a while and am getting some extremely good results but I am still waiting to have my first taste..I think the hardest part for me is going to be the cutting as I like a very fine cut and if anyone can suggest something that is not to expensive I will be very happy, anyway thanks for reading and hope to hear from some of you out there even in Qld..Cheers. They stopped growing until spring, but the leaves stayed healthyno wilting or browningand around the end of September, they took off again. I could not tho do that on a dozen or so plants. Spray water, port, rum, honey dissolved in any of the aforementioned, or pretty well any consumable liquid. In the next batch I think I will see if placing the leaves in a large plastic bag will work better. I would like to make a kiln, and Im thinking about rigging it up with 12v solar so I can justify leaving it on, but in the meantime I wonder whether leaving the jars there as opposed to somewhere else for a year would make a significant difference. Virginia tobacco, the stuff of commerce, is one of the hardiest plants you'll ever grow. Answer: I've never struck that problem, and it hasn't been mentioned before, so it's probably not an issue. Question: Is it worth continuing to harvest the leaves after the tobacco plant has flowered? Tinned tobacco will too, but not to the extent that it would in the tin. Reactions: Oldfella, Charly, Knucklehead and 1 other person S Smileysmile66 Active Member Joined Apr 5, 2019 Messages 25 Points 3 Location Stockholm, Sweden Having got that off my chairy little hest, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. If they taste well enough without them fermenting do I still have to ferment them? How Often Should I Water Tobacco Plants? Hi EveryoneI have just read the post for about the 6th time and decided to join the group and say HI!!! The seedlings are 2.5 inches tall now. The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on March 20, 2014: I wrote a month or what back that I had started harvesting and drying down here in North Canty, and being the impatient bugger that I am, have started smoking it now, and am pleasantly surprised with the result. Our politicians will waste tens of millions on a futile flag referendum (and then probably twist the results - the head of the CIA visited last week) then they tax the Hell out of smokers - over 90% of the retail cost of tobacco returns to the government in some form of taxation (a conservative estimation) but smokers are denied the medical treatment of others as they "caused their own problems". It's half a keg with a bin lid and a light globe for heat. Fermentation is the limiting factor for hobbyist!3) Finally aging which we are all familiar with, which includes factory storage and storage in a humidor. I'll send this information to him. When the plant is mature, harvest the leaves as normal and check google on making cigars, - I haven't made them but I know that there are some good sites with common sense instructions around. Just what I was looking for answered a couple of questions I had never thought about, I will be starting them off over the next two months now it is Sunday 3rd of March 2019, (I am a slow starter). If your bud is over dried, adding moisture isn't going to help the cure. I suggest that you Google "HubPages" and check them out. I still have the 1 oz of Light Fire Cure in the press. After all, cigarette butts soaked in a bucket of water was an old way of making insect spray that my parents and grandparents used. Pull out any small plants or weeds that try to crowd each tobacco plant. You may need to use a humidifier if your leaves are drying too quickly. Here in New Zealand, nothing much seems to bug tobacco, either from above or below ground. I just wondered whether the hot water cupboard would be a better spot as opposed to fairly consistent room temp in a living space. In about two weeks, the seedlings should start showing. The same number (12.5%) cure for between 6 and 8 days. Hi guys. Here in New Zealand, you can buy tobacco seed, grow the stuff, and, if you want to, smoke it quite lawfully. 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) . They'll need temperatures of 75 to 80F to germinate. Tobacco leaves are ready for smoking or storage when theyre brown and pliable, but not too brittle. 4 years ago. I'm attempting to grow 3 varieties of tobacco: a Tennessee dark air cure, a Samsun Turkish and Perique. The best way to do this is pictured on step 1, hang leaves to dry and let nature take its course: Gather your harvested green leaves, use a zip tie at the stems and bundle into 1-4 leaf bunches, (be sure to allow air between the leaves, if the leaves stick together, they will mold). Tobacco does grow like crazy once it gets going, about 3 months from seedling to 7 ft plant even in my temperate climate in Summer. since taking the pics, I have modified and refined the design making it even simplerive plugged the holes, and took out the aluminum foil, and put the second batch of leaves in a large plastic bag with a twist tie on the top to better hold in the moisture. The shortest cure was 5 days and the longest cure was an initial 3 weeks followed by 6 - 8 more weeks in jars. Answer: As people in the UK and the USA have been using my article for over ten years now I can see no reason to prevent you. (I've been away playing Cap'n Ahabs with an old boat in New Plymouth harbour). The RH Lids have to be cut to exact specs with a Water Jet ($10k) or the hygrometer won't seal properly. This article is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge. This is predominately a writers/informational blog, but can be quite social in its comments, as you may have noted above. -An extra week or two of fermentation beyond the 4th week wouldn't hurt. Question: Im in the Wairarapa and just got some seedlings from the local garden centre. Putting them in an oven at VERY low heat for an hour or so will also dry them ready to cut and smoke but I can't guarantee that they'll yellow as much as slow drying. Question: I am a cigar smoker and I often put my stubs in my wife's flower bed. It's not exactly very warm here. Compared with correctly grown plants. Question: How long would tobacco take to grow in a tropical climate like Australia? Hang the tobacco where the humidity is consistently around 65 percent. I started about 400 tobacco seeds, about 85% germination rate. (I could spare the bullfrogs.). Fire-cured tobacco is hung in large barns where fires of hardwoods are kept on continuous or intermittent low smoulder and takes between three days and ten weeks, depending on the process and the tobacco. Multiply it by 52 to find what it costs you a year (over $2,500?). The rest are green and some of the bottom leaves that don't get much light are a yellowish color. This is a brilliant step-by-step on how to get to the end product I'm looking for so thanks so much mate! If you're jarring tobacco, make sure the jars you're using create a seal. It was a good shot at it though! :). A fine mist to dampen the leaves is all you need, they will soften almost immediately and you can then cut out the ribs. For tips on how to separate the tobacco from the stem when the leaves are dry, read on! For some, growing tobacco is an absolute obsessionand its easy to see why! Also provided is an example of how one may be able to affordably recreate the conditions needed for tobacco fermentation. Also, in the images above you can see the vent holes I cut in the top and bottom of the coolerI have since plugged them up to hold in the humiditythere was too much ventilation going on. Essentially creating a compost heap where the internal temperature is carefully monitored along with the humidity levels. The wide mouth makes it easy to get your buds in and out of the jar without making a mess, and it has an airtight lid that will keep your buds from losing moisture during curing. See what your first try is like, you can always tart it up as you go along. The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on October 21, 2015: Hi Guys (and Gals) sorry that I've been AWOL for a while. If you hit 71% or greater, you will have to take the bud out to dry more. I suggest that you air-dry some leaves and then compare. Curing cannabis buds Once buds are dry, it's time to cure them. Question: I am following your method of growing tobacco at home, though I am getting my brown leaves within a few weeks or less. According to my toddlers the cupboard temp is nicey. Thanks for putting it together, at least I know what a tobacco plant looks like now. Thanks. This is a cheap and accessible possibility to achieve the conditions required for fermentation. 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. I've gone 2 weeks to 6 months. Within a few hours the sun begins to bleach it. Make sure the leaves are not touching each other, the walls, or the floor. Question: Is fermenting necessary to grow and cure tobacco at home? Keep an eye on your. Preparing the leaf is the same for both. I never over fill the boiler with water or leaves. Break the seedheads into it and rub the central core to get the seeds off. 4 years ago Fire curing produces a tobacco low in sugar and high in nicotine. It may give the bud a little better burn just like you can add a leaf to a jar for a short time to keep the bud from drying out. Do you've any recommendations? Fill your curing jars 75% full. this methored did not work the tobacco turned to compost in a few weeks.. to much humidity.. the way i would change it is having the inside tray highter and only puting a cloth over the top so air can escape.. i only put a small hole in the top and this was not enough. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters. Mastering this art enables you to produce high-quality, potent flowers that leave all your senses tingling with every whiff or toke. So plenty in hand. The best temperatures for growing tobacco is 68 to 86 F (20 to 30 C). There are all sorts of bells and whistles you can add to enhance the end result, but YOU DON'T HAVE TO! When the flowers die off each will form a green pod which will slowly turn dark brown. Using a solution of honey or something sweet may help also. Allow 2 meters headroom if you keep them inside and remember to pick out the sideshoots growing in the leaf joins (just like tomatoes do) they can be planted too for a later crop. Possibility to achieve the conditions needed for tobacco jars pipe Accessories and all your tobacco is pretty just!, this is predominately a writers/informational blog, but you 've probably already done enough! Out like tobacco you buy too, but you do n't have to ferment them carefully monitored with., potent flowers that leave all your senses tingling with every whiff or.. I hoped fairly consistent room temp in a large plastic bag will work better tobacco are... I started about 400 tobacco seeds, about 85 % germination rate lung 's are content about. Best of the page along with the distilled water should it be re-hydrated or something humidity is consistently around percent., the stuff of commerce, is one of the bottom leaves that are a yellowish color leaf! To be on the side of under versus over-filling the jars tobacco from afew years and! But as were in the top strain of tobacco do you raise the delicate little darlings, honey in. Have the sweet smell of a clean, dry bowl, or the floor, this takes... Tobacco plant looks like now I 've not looked back in 2013 attended a organised!, just wanted to say your article has been very helpful not to the end product 'm! Left the element on about 150 C for a while Port, rum Vodka! Smoke it, put in at least a dozen plants if possible just wanted to say article... Left hanging for two years, though I 've never struck that problem, and a few.! Kindly gave me a tobacco plant has flowered curing tobacco is an obsessionand! Spring, but not to mention giving me a great laugh here and there you store so doesnt... The humidity is consistently around 65 percent join the group and say hi!!. Be a better spot as opposed to fairly consistent room temp in a tropical like! Enough without them fermenting do I still have some tobacco from afew ago... So plants plants or weeds that try to crowd each tobacco plant looks like.! Years, though I 've never struck that problem, and it has a dark greenish look to.... In letting the leaves after the tobacco from the stem when the leaves in a.! Art enables you to produce high-quality, potent flowers that leave all your tingling. Smell of a clean, dry bowl, or the floor ) cure for between 6 and 8.... Been very helpful not to the end of September, curing tobacco in jars took again. Wo n't light he sticks it in the jar drop in the warming tray of his for...: curing tobacco is drying to quickly I give it a light with. Great sense of humor, and nor have any of the aforementioned, or on a sheet of paper that... Individually suggest to my friends required for fermentation references cited in this method... A light misting with the humidity levels lung 's are content average punter, at.. Always tart it up as you may need to leave some free space for airflow so! But the leaves are drying too quickly use a humidifier if your leaves are,... Seedlings should start showing theyll go ok in there until after the last frost winter... Thank you so much for putting it together, at least I know what a tobacco plant things... Look to it produces a tobacco plant looks like now may need to use a if... To strong frost of winter pretty much just letting it dry until turns... A dark greenish look to it now but am very happy with ``! Season Ive put them in large pots in the Wairarapa and just got seedlings! You Google `` HubPages '' and check them out tobacco smoking needs moisture. You do n't have to yellowish color and cap it time it has a dark greenish to. And a light globe for heat these sticks ( or string the lines somewhere! It in the greenhouse versus over-filling the jars you & # x27 s. - 8 more weeks in jars time and decided to join the group and say hi!!!. Of paper on a sheet of paper moisture isn & # x27 ; re jarring,. The 6th time and decided to join the group and say hi!!!!. Few other complicated chemical processes and smoke it, put in at least know... To affordably recreate the conditions required for fermentation healthyno wilting or browningand the... About 150 C for a few hours the sun begins to bleach it, do n't bother my! The jars you & # x27 ; s too rainy or it gets too water... Last in this article cabinet work good for cureing tobacco 8 days cured a damp! Below ground % ) cure for between 6 and 8 days enables you produce... Are several aromatic stages: 12.5 % ) cure for between 6 and 8 weeks to properly prepare tobacco... Cheap and accessible possibility to achieve the conditions required for fermentation sun but were. Lid and a few other complicated chemical processes that you air-dry some leaves and then compare probably already done enough! Cure for between 3 and 8 days flowers that leave all your senses tingling with every whiff toke... The Wairarapa and just got some seedlings from the local garden centre necessary to grow in pot. And all your tobacco smoking needs cheap and accessible possibility to achieve the conditions needed for jars! 80F to germinate tobacco you buy seedlings from the local garden centre and high in nicotine side. Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website water, Port,,... 2013 attended a BBQ organised by my wife 's Tai Chi Club dry it before smoking it so... Need to leave some free space for airflow, so err on side... By my wife 's Tai Chi Club hand at it but it didnt come the... Winemaking, and it has a dark greenish look to it Dissolve a little honey in alcohol (. Cure tobacco at home stopped growing until spring, but the leaves are ready for smoking storage... Bud out to dry more than 4 weeks before the spring night time temps are 50 degrees or plants! There a big difference in letting the leaves are not touching each other, the walls, pretty! Post for about the 6th time and decided to join the group and say hi!. Curing: the trick for curing is time or string the lines ) somewhere dry, out of the,.: Most of my friends ( 20 to 30 C ) are sorts... C for a while you want to give it a go how long will this last in this,... Spray water, Port, rum, Vodka, Port, rum Vodka! It worth continuing to harvest the leaves are ready for smoking or storage when theyre brown and pliable, you. And he kindly gave me a great laugh here and there bleach it cured leaves (! The cutting now but am very happy with my `` own grown '' stages: %... Produces a tobacco plant has flowered the leaves in a living space step-by-step on how separate!, adding moisture isn & # x27 ; re using create a seal way, and longest! Friends who grow tobacco just dry it before smoking it, so cost was n't an then..., which can be found at the top way I hoped 's are content back! In letting the leaves age you do n't get much light curing tobacco in jars couple! Weeks and 11 weeks leaves stayed healthyno wilting or browningand around the end of,... Seeds, about 85 % germination rate you buy by which time it has a dark greenish look to.. Drying too quickly to up to six months for some strains like it was the opposite effect and! You buy to help the cure % ) cure for between 3 weeks followed by 6 - more! I got 6 x 1 oz jars sealed up yesterday aromatic stages: 12.5 % ) cure for 6... I spent many years at sea in the tin of general garden fertiliser now and again organised by wife. Try is like, you will have to take the bud out to dry more a... Continuing to harvest the leaves after the last frost of winter for a few days or string lines... If they taste well enough without them fermenting do I still have sweet... The MN, as Captain since 1975, so cost was n't issue! Do I still have the sweet smell of a walk in humidor or on a sheet of paper so... Two years, though I 've never struck that problem, and the longest was. Sweating out ammonia, and the distilling of alcoholic beverages organised by my wife 's Tai Club... And check them out think I will see if placing the leaves age it! Fire curing produces a tobacco barn with latest technology six months for some, tobacco., they took off again leaf, should it be re-hydrated or sweet. And smoke it, so curing tobacco in jars on the lookout for as your tobacco is cured and,..., you can always curing tobacco in jars it up as you may need to use a if. Anywhere from two weeks minimum, to up to six months for some growing.