FROM SEED TO BARN The lot of any farmer, challenged by weather, disease, pests and the demands of his crop is always hard. But never harder than it is for the Cuban Veguero here in the heart of the Vuelta Abajo. For him there can never be an idle moment. His fields may rest for much of the year in preparation for the six months of frenzied activity during the growing and harvesting seasons, but he cannot relax as the soil must be tilled and nurtured to be ready for the onslaught. He will have charge of half a million tobacco plants or more. To be sure of success, each individual plant must be visited over 150 times. PREPARING THE LAND: The roots of tobacco plants are delicate and demand the loosest possible soil if they are to thrive. So, during the burning heat of summer, the Veguero must plough his fields several times. This also helps to convert the wild vegetation into natural soil nutrients. SEEDS TO SEEDLINGS: To ensure the best start for the crop, seeds are provided free of charge by Tobacco Research Stations to the Vaqueros, many of whom own their land. Forty five days after planting, when the seedlings reach a height of 15-20 centimeters they are ready to be planted out. GROWING THE TOBACCO: Planting out is phased from October onwards to spread the supreme effort demanding by the crop and, above all, the harvest. During the 45 to 50 days it takes for the plants to reach full maturity each must be visited regularly for weeding, pest to have their buds and side shoots removed. TENDING COROJO: Corojo plants for the all important wrappers require a very special treatment. They must be protected from direct sunlight by muslin cloth to retain a smooth, silken, even texture and appearance. TENDING CRIOLLO: By contrast, Criollo plants are exposed to the sun to produce the wider variety and greater intensity of flavours for the different blends of tobacco required for the Havana marques. HARVESTING: 50 days after planting out, the harvest can begin. Harvesting tobacco is a Herculean task not only because each leaf must be picked by hand one by one but also because only two or three leaves can be taken at a time. HARVESTING COROJO: There are eight or nine pairs of leaves on a Corojo plant. Each level on the plant has its own name. Leaves from these levels are picked separately, as they reach maturity, at intervals of six or seven days. HARVESTING CRIOLLO: Criollo plants bear six or seven pairs of leaves, classified generally into Ligero, Seco, Volado and Capote. The leaves at the foot of the plant offer the least flavour, being the oldest and most shaded. Further up the plant the younger leaves are exposed to the sun and therefore have a greater intensity of flavour. The harvested Corojo and Criollo leaves are taken to large Casas del Tobacco, or curing barns, for air curing, prior to fermentation. return to Cuban Cigars home page |
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