dharbolt wrote:Sure you could grow it no problem. Curing/fermentation would be your biggest challenge
Just one of 'em. You will have to grow enough to make a decent sized "pilone" just to get the fermentation right. AND then re-stack it every time the temp hits a certain degree.
It can/is/has been grown hydroponically for years, there are even special preferred nutrients, but that is amost entirely for air/flue cure to either use for cigarette rolling or sacred use, and tends to be the Burley or older types, not Connecticut.
I've grown both types, there are old pics on here, I will hunt and top a few.
It can be a fun project, but don't expect to get any quality for cigars from the soil in our area. Stick to cotton, hehe.
The only commercially grown baccy in TN is dark fired, Burley typically for chewing, pipe, and snuff, but it's also part of the KFC's that are out now, although it was grown just across the TN line in West KY. There are MANY fields just SE of Ft. Campbell, we should send Gae9 over late this fall to try and talk them out of some, hehe.
I think there is still a stalk or two in my shed.