The most popular variety of Virginia tobacco for growing on site and at home

Virginia tobacco is a popular variety, accounting for 70% of the total volume cultivated tobacco... He found application in all tobacco blends, including hookah. Any gardener who follows the recommendations of experts can grow a plant.

What kind of tobacco

The variety is considered sweet, since it contains 20% sugar. This indicator allows tobacco to be stored for a long time in mixtures. After a few years, its taste will only improve.

Description and characteristics

This plant is tall, reaches 2 m... The resulting raw material is capable of absorbing aromatic additives. He has a simple process of technological processing, and most often they use steam for this. Tobacco that has undergone this treatment is used in all pipe mixes.

Taste and aroma qualities

The Virginia variety has a unique sweetish taste with a pronounced fruity note. Cigarette smoke has a delicate and aromatic taste. The strength of the tobacco can be soft or medium. The nicotine content is relatively low at 1-3%, which makes this grade extremely demanded.

Kinds

There are several varieties of Virginia, or Virginia, tobacco. They differ in color and aroma. In the tobacco industry, they are used as additives or in pure form.

1. GoldVirginia. It is distinguished by a sweetish taste. Often used in combination with Cavendish tobacco.
2. RedVirginia... It differs in a small amount of sugar in the composition. Its aroma is similar to that of baked goods. One of the best tobaccos of this variety is produced in Africa. Produced primarily with natural unsweetened tobacco blends such as PetersonSherlockHolmes.
3. MaturedVirginia. Exposed to long exposure. The main characteristic is a spicy taste with fruity notes.
4. StovedVirginia. The tobacco leaves turn black after special roasting. This subspecies has a chocolate aroma and a dried fruit flavor.

Advantages and disadvantages

Virginia is considered one of the best cigar tobaccos in its category. It is characterized by a specific aroma. The presence of this high-quality component in the composition is the key to obtaining a decent smoking mixture.

Excellent yields are achieved even in unstable climates. The variety is resistant to pests and diseases. The harvest is stored for a long period.

Growing regions

Virginia tobacco grows in North America, Brazil, India. Also plantations are located on the African continent in Zimbabwe. In Russia, they hardly grow for industrial purposes, but in private farms it is successfully done by farmers in the southern regions.

Growing and care

Plants of this variety are grown on the site in seedlings. There are a few things to consider.

Location on

Seeds are sown in moist soil in large enough containers. The plantings are covered with film or glass, maintaining the temperature + 28 ° C. After emergence, the temperature is reduced to 25 ° C. Water the culture as needed, remove weeds and ventilate the room with seedlings daily. Top dressing is done 2-3 times with organic and mineral fertilizers, for example, chicken droppings.

Transplanting seedlings into the ground is performed at about the age of 45 days, when there are five leaves on the stem and the root system gets stronger. By this time, the soil should warm up to + 10 ° C, if it is colder, you will have to wait with planting.

Before transplanting, the plants are watered. The interval between the pits is 1 m.

At the time of foliage formation, make sure that the plant receives enough moisture. In addition, watering is carried out several days before the collection of the leaves. The plant needs lighting, then the quality of the leaf will be the highest. No need for steaming tobacco. Leaves grow together, which allows collect them at the same time.

Growing at home

Before planting, dry seeds are wrapped for a day in a cloth moistened with water mixed with tartaric acid or potassium nitrate (in a 1: 1 ratio). This will increase seed germination by 20%. After the seeds are washed, wrapped again in a cloth, placed in an enamel bowl and placed in a warm place. Occasionally, matter is moistened with a solution of water and tartaric acid or potassium nitrate. Sprouted seeds are mixed with 100-200 g of sand.

Tobacco is planted in late February or early March. They take small individual containers (small boxes, cups) with holes in the bottom, fill them with soil for planting a culture (three parts of humus and one part of sand). After the seeds are planted, they are sprinkled on top with a 10 mm layer of the same substrate.

After sowing the seeds, the soil is watered through a strainer so as not to erode the topsoil. The container is covered with a thin film and placed in a bright place, but without direct sunlight.

The container with seeds is kept at a temperature of + 23… + 28ºC. The seedlings are watered daily and must be ventilated twice a day. When the leaves of the seedlings hatch, the temperature is lowered to + 20ºC, and watering is done twice a day. When 3-4 leaves appear, the seedlings dive into a large container. Further, fertile soil is poured under the seedlings twice.

When inflorescences appear, the culture is treated with an infusion prepared on the basis of garlic and onion husks. This procedure is performed three times with a break a week. Fertilizers are also applied with nitrogen and potassium, which will protect the plant from diseases.

The leaves are harvested in August. If you follow all the recommendations, the tobacco will be of the highest quality.

Processing features

Ripe leaves are collected, strung on a cord and sent to the barn to dry. It includes two stages: languor and fixation. They use a drying shed for languishing. The room temperature is maintained from + 26 ° С to + 30 ° С.

At this stage, as a result of a number of biochemical processes, the nicotine content decreases, and the proportion of aromatic compounds increases. This improves the characteristics of the tobacco leaf.

The last stage of drying - fixation - takes place under the sun and takes twenty days... This process allows the leaves to acquire the desired characteristics and become suitable for processing.

Fermentation

The process involves a change in physical characteristics that occur as a result of biological or chemical influences. Natural fermentation of plant leaves is ensured by their long-term storage. If you use an artificial way, fermentation significantly accelerates.

Experts suggest fermenting tobacco at home following a specific algorithm. They also advise, when carrying out the procedure on the street, to ensure that no precipitation falls on the leaves.

First of all, dry leaves, on which there are no traces of greenery, must be moistened on both sides with a spray bottle. They are stacked and covered with polyethylene. A day later, the midrib is removed from the leaves. Be sure to pay attention to their moisture level. This is important because it determines the quality of the process. A dry and elastic sheet is suitable for processing.

The leaves are cut into strips. The prepared tobacco is placed in glass jars. They are filled to two-thirds, which will allow the contents to be further mixed by shaking. The jars are closed with lids and placed in the oven, in which the temperature is + 50 ° C. The process lasts five days.

The contents in the jars are shaken periodically. Make sure that there is no condensation on the walls of the containers. If it appears, the contents are poured out and dried again. Then the process is resumed. It is not difficult to understand that everything is going right by the presence of the aroma of honey on the second or third day.

Prepared tobacco is poured onto a flat surface and dried. As a result, the strength, the content of dangerous tar and nicotine is significantly reduced, and the tobacco taste is improved. Store tobacco in a hermetically sealed container.

Reviews

Experienced tobacco workers share their impressions of sort.

Vladimir Alexandrovich, 50 years old: «I grow Virginia myself, at home for myself. The main thing is a light windowsill, watering and feeding. And a small kitchen planting will give a good harvest. I think homemade cigars are safer. Virginia combines well with other varieties, but this is not for everybody. "

Gleb, 29 years old: “I think the most difficult moment is the drying of tobacco and the process of its fermentation. This is the most crucial stage, on which taste depends. The experience of a tobacco grower is not easy, it requires patience. I am convinced that even the simplest makhorka grown on its own will greatly surpass purchased cigarettes in terms of taste. I ferment tobacco with cherry, cognac, vanilla flavors. Everything turns out, the main thing is desire. "

Conclusion

Virginia is the best proven tobacco for hand-made cigarettes. Its trademark is its sweetish taste. This variety has several subspecies, each of them contains nicotine from 1% to 3%. The variety is grown in seedlings, requires special conditions of maintenance and care.