Growing my own tobacco -I've had it with these prices! (A journal)

6-21-5 | RandallFlagg

[RandallFlagg]

Since I have to get to bed, I'm just going to paste what I placed into the coffinnails.com forum. There's relevant questions inclused that I'll place on this thread if they get answered.

Day one -finally got my seeds!

Them things are SMALL! Sheesh! I had to fuzzy up the end of a Q-Tip to place them into the trays. Before I screw things up, there's a few questions I must ask. The 200 seeds I got are Dark Virginia. I'm doing 16 at a time.

Will the unused seeds keep for a while? I'd like to grow 'em in staggered stages. Will regular tap water work, or will I have to use distilled or rainwater? I have to used that kind for my Venus's Flytraps. Flourescent lighting. Will it work well for staggered stage growing year-round? Humidity? Someone told me that nicotine is a natural insect repellant. Is this true? Has anyone here saved the $$$ they expected to save? That's why I'm doing this. What's the best soil to use?

Luckily, there's a big place near my home called Paulino's Gardens, where I can find almost all the accessories I need for this venture of mine. I'll update on this thread as I go along.

OH! First entry: Got seeds three days ago and placed them on top of potting soil in 16-cube icetray container with holes in the bottom. Placed trays in my carnivorous plant terrarium that uses three 15-watt flourescent bulbs on a 18-hour timer. Sprayed and soaked with rainwater. Crossing my fingers.

Last question for the day: How long should it be before something actually grows?

[ex-Texan]

Growig your own sounds good to me . . . People out here even grown their own herbs to smoke.

[Minnesoootan]

Someone told me that nicotine is a natural insect repellant. Is this true?

I've read several reports it's true....I make "butt tea" in a five gallon pail and use it around the foundation of the house,since doing that I have no spiders in the basement or under the eaves of the house...so,try it!

But I think your question is,do you need to treat your plants for tobacco cravers,that I don't know

[adaven]

Be sure to post your experiences of the no-knock warrant process as your local LEO's bust down your door because of your "indoor growing equipment"

Seriously, good luck with your endeavor!

[RandallFlagg]

Last post before bed -I promise!

It's legal to grow up to a tenth of an acre of tobacco for personal use; you can't sell what you grow. It grows in all 50 states.

This forum has a great post from a fella in Alaska growing his own. He has a heck of a setup!

http://www.coffinails.com/forums/?board=4&action=display&num=1112492612


Alaska?! Wow!

[AngryJawa]

Careful, the BATF may just hear about your little project and come kick in your door, shoot your dog, and burn down your house. </F-Troop rant>

[sharktrager]

You know, not to be an ass, but the best places for advice may be pot forums. I would imagine a lot of the same techniques would work.

Damned If I Know

[fireforeffect]

When you transplant it and it grows, DO NOT WORK IN SHORTS OR SHORT SLEVES! Wear gloves too.

Never walk through a field of tobacco in shorts, very unpleasant. The nicotine is secreted by the plant to ward off critters that might eat it, works on unsuspecting humans too.

[kenth]

The mere fact that we try to remember whether or not the fed has outlawed growing a plant shows just how far we've moved from what America is supposed to be.

[eastsider]

I recommend first sprouting the dormant seeds, then planting the sprouts. Begin by soaking the dry seeds in room temperature water overnight (about eight hours). Drain the seeds and place them in a jar with netting or cheesecloth on top so they can breath. Rinse the seeds twice a day and let them drain upside down. When they have sprouted, follow these directions.

[stainlessbanner]

bttt

[christabel]

I can remember riding through South Georgia and seeing a large amount of tobacco on the shoulder of the road where it had blown off wagons taking it to market.

I don't smoke but it occurred to me that if I did, I could stop and pick up enough to last a lifetime. Of course I don't know how to cure it either.

[RandallFlagg]

I really didn't expect this many replies this fast. Thanks for not sending this to "Bloggers," as I thought it should've been there when I started it.

Last post. Seriesly! Gotta get to bed.

[newgeezer]

What? Are you saying it's illegal to grow tobacco?

Could be. Here's the scoop. The case I was thinking of concerned a New Deal farmer growing a crop over his quota and feeding it to his chickens.

[hlmencken3]

http://www.virtualseeds.com/tobacco-main.html

Tobacco used to be widely grown in home gardens, and is still widely grown as an ornamental (Nicotiana).

Unless you live in a rural area, curing it is unlikely to be easy enough to make it worth your time.

Extracted nicotine is a deadly poison, to insects animals and people, and has been illegal for many years I think.

[Think free or die]

If unused tobacco seeds are like typical veggie seeds, they'll keep a while. I keep leftover seeds from veggie and flower packets in a zippered plastic bag in my fridge. Most of the seeds sprout just fine 4-5 years or more after the date stamped on the packet. Just keep them from molding; make sure they're not put away damp.

[biblewonk]

It seems that they have stopped at banning home gardens, solar panels and garage sales and maybe by daughter's babysitting.

[newgeezer]

It seems that they have stopped at banning home gardens, solar panels and garage sales and maybe by daughter's babysitting.

Sure, for the time being. But, the door is wide open.

[Politicalities]

The case I was thinking of concerned a New Deal farmer growing a crop over his quota and feeding it to his chickens.

That would be Wickard v. Filburn, which IMHO marked the death knell of the Tenth Amendment and the end of limitations to federal powers. I had some hope that the current Court was working to roll it back, with rulings like Printz and Morrisson, but Gonzales v. Raich put an end to that. I'm terribly disappointed in Justice Scalia. Justice Thomas is the last true hero on the Court.