From Seed to Cigar—Harvesting Tobacco
We’re back with the next Cayman Cigars Seed To Cigar update!
About two months after planting, the tobacco is ready for harvest. The two methods used for cigar tobacco are Stalk priming and Leaf priming. Stock priming is rarely used nowadays and Leaf priming is the preferred method. Leaf priming is used by Beacon Farms for both Wrapper/Binder leaf and Filler leaf.
Filler tobacco leaf is harvested from the bottom-most leaves–the Volado–first.
About two weeks later, the middle leaves–the Seco–are harvested.
Then in two weeks, the next round of leaves are ready to be harvested–the top leaves, called the Ligero.
The amount of sunlight that the leaf absorbs gives each leaf type its own characteristics.
After harvesting, the leaves are threaded on a thin cord that is wrapped around a thin pole. The poles are hung in the drying barn for about 6 to 8 weeks until dried.
Be sure to check back again next month for our next update!
Granger & Scott
To read last month’s update click here.
