Day 93. Tabaco in the rain.Greetings Friends,
Today marks the 2nd day since we transplanted the tabaco plants to the garden plot in our backyard and the specimens seem to be doing fine so far. Yesterday (Day 93) was a little worrisome since a shower passed through the area and I wasn't sure how the transplants would respond so soon after transfer. In the end, they were fine.
I failed to mention in the last post a little tip regarding the laying of the ground tarp. In order to maximize the use and control of water, I recommend punching a few holes in the "valleys" of the ground tarp. This way the water that is collected from rain is drained and absorbed into the soil which will in turn be absorbed by the tabaco roots. Otherwise the water will just stay, stagnate and create a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
At this stage of tabaco cultivation by the professional commercial growers, it is ideal that the plant does not receive water directly onto the leaves. It is better if the plant absorbs the water from the ground via its roots. Why is that you ask? Water applied onto the leaves can result in water spots and commercial growers try to avoid this since the goal of tabaco cultivation is to have the highest wrapper yield (the most profitable grade due to its high aesthetics). But again, since this experiment is only teaching you how to grow tabaco for your own use, it is entirely up to you how you are to water the plants (as long as they receive some H2O).
Moreover, you want to be sure to not over-water the plants because if they absorb too much, then the leaves can wilt due to the oversaturation. (Again, I suppose if you do not care about wrapper yields, it may not matter if your leaves have some slight damage due to wilting). The commercial growers in Central America call the tabaco plants that have received too much water and result in wilted leaves drunk tabaco. In addition, too much water can also result in mold or fungal growth. Just be sure to monitor the condition of your crop.
Enjoy the pictures as we took some during the shower on Day 93 and the drier aftermath on Day 94.
Day 93. Singin' in the rain.
Day 93. Notice the valley collecting the rainwater.
Day 93. Ah, refreshing.
Day 93. Close-up.
Day 93. Watch the wilting.
Day 93. Drying off.
Day 93. Let the growing commence.
Day 94. Overall crop view. Notice the drainage from the valleys has occurred.
Day 94. Wilting can occur from too much heat or water. Take care!
Day 94. Not bad.
Day 94.
Day 94.
Saludos,
Luis
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