Cigar Watch

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Once the tobacco plant is well seated in the field, its drive to reproduce takes over - and that presents a challenge to the growers. The plant wants to produce a mass of sweet pink flowers that will attract pollinating insects and result in a new crop of seeds. But the growers have other ideas. They would rather have all that energy going into making high quality leaves that will go into high quality stogies. Budding and flowering saps energy - so the growers step in to redirect the energy flows.

The trick is to break off the buds at exactly the right time. The plant should rise to its optimal height with a good crop of leaves spreading out along the central stalk. And when the time arrives, down the rows they go - pinching off the buds and smaller top leaves. It is important that the pinching is done correctly and does not tear the central stalk. Such tears are avenues for disease to enter the plant.

Now tobacco plants - like all life - are persistent in their intentions. One pinch is not going to dissuade a tobacco plant from trying. So constant vigilance is necessary to remove new buds and suckers - those pesky new attempts at throwing off new growth. It is important that the plant focus its energy on producing a crop of high quality leaves for harvest.

A field of healthy tobacco plants is a magnet for pests - its an open invitation to dine on succulent and well maintained fare. Beetles line up to get their share and mold is always hanging around looking to get a foothold. Worms like to hide under the leaves and are very hard to get at.

By now there is a real asset out in the field - plants have produced the makings of a high quality harvest - so the battle with pests and fungus is a high-stakes game. In the Caribbean the warm, dry breezes of the growing season help to keep the leaves dry but after each rain the growers have to be very vigilant. In fact, providing moisture via ground level hoses is the preferred way to irrigate. And preventing mold and limiting pests are only two of the reasons. The problem with rain is that droplets produce small lenses that focus sunlight in parts of the leaves - thus damaging them with imperfections. so, after each rain, down the rows they go again - this time shaking the plants to get rid of excess moisture on the leaves.

If the growers are careful, their crop will be ready to harvest in January.

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This entry was posted on Friday, April 11th, 2008 at 3:22 pm and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.