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by bob_kemp
on Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:58 pm |
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Hi --
libertarian99, and that's how I started out some months ago when the AP reporter came to www.howtogrowtobacco.com and asked for home tobacco growers to interview. (if you go there, search for "seeking home growers"). If you read my posts there, I was completely against the interviews. I could see no good coming from it and high potential of bad stuff coming.
When Fox News national came there looking for interviews, I was still against it.
But as the AP article came out, and people started volunteering to be interviewed at Fox I realized that the cat was out of the bag (probably repeating myself at this point). It's too late to stay under the radar. Too late to keep our heads ducked down in the foxhole. The cows have left the barn. The chickens have flown the coop. There are probably another 10 farm animal metaphors I could dredge up too (grin).
When the local Fox News reporter sent me mail, I figgered, what the hell, I will milk this for all it's worth (please, I don't really have a farm animal fetish!). I do sell seeds. I am a grower and sell plants from my greenhouse. As long as the free publicity is out there, I'm gonna grab it.
At least the Fox News interview I did was defiant and they didn't spin it in the wrong direction.
Bob |
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by libertarian99
on Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:14 pm |
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bob_kemp wrote: Hi --
libertarian99, and that's how I started out some months ago when the AP reporter came to www.howtogrowtobacco.com and asked for home tobacco growers to interview. (if you go there, search for "seeking home growers"). If you read my posts there, I was completely against the interviews. I could see no good coming from it and high potential of bad stuff coming.
When Fox News national came there looking for interviews, I was still against it.
But as the AP article came out, and people started volunteering to be interviewed at Fox I realized that the cat was out of the bag (probably repeating myself at this point). It's too late to stay under the radar. Too late to keep our heads ducked down in the foxhole. The cows have left the barn. The chickens have flown the coop.
Bob
Did more people order seeds after the segment ran?
We probably don't have too much to worry about as long as the number of home growers stays small. The average smoker will not have the time and patience to keep it up, considering how aggravating it is to fight invading pests in your garden. As long as home growing remains a small niche market, we're probably okay. |
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libertarian99
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by bob_kemp
on Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:02 pm |
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Hi --
Thanks for your kind words! I actually said a few more acidic things on film they edited out!
Yes, I've had a huge bunch of seed sales even though they didn't show my sign very well. Most people did a google for "Bob Kemp Tobacco" no quotes, and my ads popped up. BTW, I'm expecting a shipment of rustica tobacco seeds in a week which is 4-5 times stronger in nicotine than regular tobacco. And I'm hoping one grower will send me some good burley and Turkish.
Bob
GYOtobacco@yahoo.com |
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by libertarian99
on Sun Sep 27, 2009 10:08 pm |
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bob_kemp wrote: BTW, I'm expecting a shipment of rustica tobacco seeds in a week which is 4-5 times stronger in nicotine than regular tobacco. And I'm hoping one grower will send me some good burley and Turkish.
Bob
GYOtobacco@yahoo.com |
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by bob_kemp
on Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:53 am |
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Hi --
libertarian99, the main goal of curing is to remove nitrogen compounds that make the smoke harsh. I.e. to smooth the taste. Also it converts starches to sugars which sweetens the taste. In the process, nicotine is indeed destroyed, but that's a byproduct.
Modern tobacco varieties have been deliberately bred to contain lower nicotine quantities. Furthermore, flue-curing (most of cigarette tobacco is flue-cured) involves high heats (160F for up to two days) which further reduces the nicotine content to the point where they have to add back nicotine to reach their target level. It is also claimed that flue-curing makes new carcinogens due to the high heat.
Since nicotine is what we are addicted to, lower nicotine content causes increased smoking and revenues for the commercial companies, so government regulations limiting nicotine content aren't exactly opposed by Big Tobacco! Also, smoking more is a Bad Thing, since many carcinogens are created in the burning process.
The Silk Leaf I grew this year is an heirloom from the 1930's and 40's which has a higher nicotine content than Virginia Gold and common burley (the typical tobaccos used in modern cigs today) and I'm smoking less than 1/2 the cigs I used to smoke. Also, I have no pesticides or additives in my smoke, except sometimes I spray a 4-1 water/honey solution on it for variety.
Smoking less is a Good Thing, isn't it?
Incidently, Turkish(oriental) tobacco is generally sun-dried and has lower nicotine levels but adds unique flavor. Rustica is usually air-dried and has much higher nicotine levels and is added into blends at a less than 5% mix with other tobacco varieties, usually.
Bob |
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by crackerjack
on Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:17 am |
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I love tobacco....Some like their wine or scotch but to me tobacco is more than just a passive habit I smoke for the love of it. I smoke pipe, cigarettes, Cigars, I stuff, I roll and from time to time I chew.
Man I love tobacco I can talk tobacco all day.
I'm seriously looking to get a plant now. there has to be a nursery here somewhere that I can buy one from. |
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crackerjack
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by bob_kemp
on Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:53 am |
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Hi --
Crackerjack, surely you've been reading my posts. I sell seeds. I mail them to you. You can grow tobacco in the house over winter but you'll either want some very strong lights or a very sunny South window. You will get huge leaves because of the lack of strong light. You will probably want to use Orthene (acephate) on it when it gets aphids (notice, I didn't say IF, it's WHEN, weaker plants WILL get them). They are beautiful houseplants and great to put around a swimming pool in containers in the Summer. Plus, they have a huge array of blooms.
I can also help you start the seeds and grow the plants up. After the first 4 weeks, it's no harder than growing tomatoes. During the first 4 weeks, you will need to give them extra care (mostly misting twice a day and watering the pots from the bottom when they get light (less heavy from water). A heating pad under the germination pots during this cooler weather is a good idea too.
I only charge $4 for 250 seeds of Havana or Virginia Gold plus $4 shipping. Best price anywhere! Grow 4-5 during the winter and have plenty of seed for another crop this year and next! Exclamation point! (grin) PayPal is fine. E-mail me.
Thanks for asking! (note the shameless plug)
Bob Kemp
GYOtobacco@yahoo.com |
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by crackerjack
on Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:17 pm |
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Never did get into paypal.
During winter we get down to 48 - 50 degrees tops and only for a few nights of winter (like 3 nights) even during winter the temperature for the most part is close to 80 degrees.
My question is this. Is there a season for growing tobacco even in South Florida?
It's warm all year long so I was wondering what would happen if I put some plants in pots outside now?
I did actually secure a spot outside for about 6 pot plants and ......there is a closed closet outside the house with a outlet in it that we are not using. It was meant for gardening tools but it's empty so this might make a good place to cure tobacco.
I can see my wife rolling her eyes now but hey behind every great man there is a woman rolling her eyes so it's par for the course. |
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crackerjack
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by bob_kemp
on Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:33 pm |
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Oh man, I didn't know you were in S. Florida! I used to live in Tampa-St. Pete and my brother lives near Jupiter Beach.
I sold some seeds to a guy in Vero Beach and he has a huge crop growing right now! You can get in 5 crops a year there, staggered!
You can absitively grow tobacco in containers outside where you are. You want 4 to 5 gallon containers for the final plants. I put them on a lawn area and push a piece of rebar through the bottom of the pot into the ground to stop the 7-8 foot tall plants from falling over. You want to use a peat based commercial potting soil which will have perlite and be ph neutral. The pots must have excellent drainage holes in the bottom. I usually get mine by raiding the dumpsters of landscaping companies (or just walking in and asking). You can buy bales of Sunshine brand potting soil at any greenhouse supply, try BWI for one if you have a distributor near you. Be sure to break up the bales well as they are compacted for reducing shipping size.
You will get 3 oz. dried, cured tobacco per plant on average. A carton of cigs has about 6 oz. in it. Depending on what you want, cigs, cigars? Pipe? Chew? I have a tobacco for you, or maybe two kinds. E-mail me for a catalog. You can send me a check or money order (if you dno't use PayPal) and I will ship the seeds when it clears my bank.
I also will send you to two websites with great information on how to get the seeds started, how to grow it in containers or in the field, how to harvest and cure it, and process for use.
I'm a one-stop tobacco growing shop! LOL! And I haven't bothered even making a website yet!
E-mail me at GYOtobacco@yahoo.com and I'll send you a catalog and my mailing address
Bob
ps. dang, that was such a great sales pitch, I oughta copy it to a file to use later! ....bk |
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by crackerjack
on Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:48 pm |
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crackerjack
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