Cuba Tobacco & Cigars

Harvesting & Stringing

Harvesting Methods

The harvesting of the tobacco leaves is really a difficult activity, because two concepts are kept in mind, that of physiologic maturity and the technical one being this last one the one that is applied to the different types of tobacco according to the industrial use of the leaves. The moment to harvest tobacco depends on many factors, being some of them the following:

Variety. Age of the leaf starting from the plantation date. Contents of water present in the moment of harvesting. Position of the leaf in the stem. Type of tobacco. Contents of humidity in the soil. Value of the temperature. Presence of dew. Solar radiation.

In dark tobacco according to the aspects stated before the methods for harvesting are classified in the following way:

By stages. As can be appreciated the leaves here are harvested in different moments keeping in mind that the process of maturating in this organ goes from botton to top, this method is the most technical one although it is the most difficult and of low productivity, generally the leaves are collected in pairs. This method is used obligatorily in shade grown tobacco and also in sun grown tobacco (strung), the difference between them is that in the first case are planned from eight to nine moments for harvesting and in the second one from five to six.

In mancuernas (tobacco stem with two leaves). In this case the leaves are collected being united to the stem (see pictures), harvesting is carried out from head to foot and in the same pole are mixed leaves from different parts of the stem; the leaves are not collected in the optimum state of maturity. This method of harvesting is used mainly in sun grown tobacco (en palo); the leaves of the basal area are lost with this method.

Combined. This method as its name indicates combines both, the basal area with approximately four leaves is collected by stages and the rest of the plant in mancuernas; applying this method the yields and quality of tobacco improve, being achieved an appropriate productivity of the work. This way of harvesting tobacco is the most generalized in sun grown tobacco (en palo).

Classification of the leaves according to their position in the stem

Not all the leaves of the plant of the tobacco have the same chemical composition and therefore they respond to the chemical postulate that reads: “The chemical composition of the leaf varies with its position in the stem”, in general the basal leaves (they are the first four leaves) are those of smaller content of nicotine, aroma, nitrogenous substances etc. The most balanced leaves are the ones located in the central part of the stem, while the higher ones (the last four leaves) are those of most chemical composition. Next we offer the nomenclature corresponding to the leaves from the seedbed to the harvest.

• Primordial leaves correspond to the seed-leaves and those lost in the seedbed.
• Mañanitas, are the leaves that due to their reduced size and for being near the soil, are not collected, however in shade grown tobacco they are collected in order to ventilate and to clean up the plantation.
• Libre de pie, they are the first commercial leaves of the plant, they are collected in number of two or three and the process is carried out 45 or 50 days after the sowing.
• Uno y medio, are the leaves that are collected after the previous ones. Around two leaves are collected per plant and it is verified between 50 and 52 days after having planted tobacco.
• Centro ligero, are the leaves located in the central basal area, and they are classified as high quality, two or four leaves are collected, it is verified between 58 and 62 days after the sowing.
• Centro fino, these leaves are in the central part of the plant and they are classified as those of the highest quality, they are collected between two and four leaves, it is carried out between 68 and 72 days after having planted tobacco.
• Centro gordo, are the leaves located in the superior area of the plant, thick, dark, with great development of the nerviations and with very high contents of oils and resins, the number of leaves to collect is of two although there are peasants that in this moment collect all the healthy leaves of the plant, this work is done between 73 and 75 days after having planted tobacco.
• Corona, this name is due to the crown of the kings, this two leaves are the last two leaves developed in the stem of the plant of tobacco and with the harvesting of the them is crowned the effort and sacrifice of the growers when producing the aromatic leaf that after the harvest will become the king of kings that is our genuine Habano. This operation is carried out between 75 and 80 days after having planted tobacco.

Particularities of the harvest in the different types of tobacco

a) Shade grown tobacco
This type of tobacco requires big investments and a great number of works, for what the man in the period of time between the preparation of the land and the conclusion of the curing stage should go to the plantation, to the plant, to the leaf or the curing barn from 120 to 130 times.

Tobacco for wrappers doesn't admit to harvest more than two leaves at the same time and as it is topped at a height of 16 or 18 leaves, then among eight or nine moments of harvesting have to be planned, which receive the following names: mañanita, libre de pie, uno y medio, primer centro ligero, segundo centro ligero, primer centro fino, segundo centro fino, centro gordo and corona.

Lastly and not less important in this type of tobacco is necessary to extreme the measures for taking care of tobacco, so that the leaves don't get dirty or damaged by the ground, or excess of solar radiation or contusions caused due to excessive pressure of the fingers when harvesting, also when transporting and manipulating the leaves.

b) Sun grown Tobacco (strung)
When removing the leaf from the stem, the same as in shade grown tobacco, this is pressed with the forefinger and, carefully, it is removed with a single movement of the hand. The leaves are placed one above the other one, until having twenty or twenty-five.

The harvest of the tobacco for fillers embraces a period that extends between 43 and 75 days starting from the transplant date. The quality and yield of the harvest depend on the quality of the woks carried out during this stage. The table that is shown next shows a clear idea of how harvesting is carried out according to the days of transplant and quantity of leaves per poles.

The harvesting of mañanitas will be done between 37 and 40 days after the transplant for all the varieties, the rest of the harvestings should be carried out in the way that explains the previous table.

The leaves are collected in the morning after the dew dries so that the leaf doesn't arrive wet to the curing barn, and inthe afternoon when the sun is already hidden.

The leaves already collected are taken to the curing barn in different ways, in the arms or in baskets if the curing barn is near the plantation and if it is very far observe the pictures below.

When the leaves are taken far from the plantation, wooden trails are used with animal traction, as shown in the picture.	Plantation where mañanita, libre de pie and uno y medio have already been collected. Observe how the peasant works

c) Sun grown Tobacco (en palo)
Sun grown tobacco (en palo) begins with the harvesting of the first four or five leaves of the inferior third of the plant, 45 or 50 days after the transplant, what contributes to avoid losses in yield and quality, when harvesting leaves with excess of maturity in uno y medio and centro fino, or too much tender in centro gordo and corona. These leaves of the inferior third will be strung with 90 or 100 pairs of leaves per pole.

The harvest of the main cut will be carried out from 60 to 65 days after the transplant, in mancuernas having two or four leaves from head to foot; the mancuernas are placed in an alternating way in the pole

The poles will be placed in wooden racks in the sun during two or three days, until the leaves wither to take them to the curing barn. Only in case of rains and winds, the poles should be taken immediately to the curing barn.

Keeping in mind the particularities and importance of the sun grown tobacco (en palo) of the central provinces is that we offer this information, it also offers information related to the cutting of capadura (leaf of tobacco of the second cutting).

The harvest of sun grown tobacco (en palo) begins with the harvesting and stringing of two or three leaves of the inferiorthird of the plant, 45 or 50 days after the transplant, what contributes to avoid losses in yield and quality, as well as the presence of illnesses

Moment of carrying out the harvest of the main cutting in different varieties of dark tobacco

The cutting begins with the first leaves, in this case coronas, using a special blade for this type of work.

The cutting begins with the first leaves, in this case coronas, using a special blade for this type of work

The leaves are cut in mancuernas of two or four leaves and they are placed on the arm.

The pairs of leaves with the stems up are placed in the arm.

Then they are placed in the wooden rack in the sun during three or four days.

After the main cutting, the field should be cleaned (without capons) to accelerate the development of the buds. In the case of the variety `Habana 92 ' the cutting of the stem should be carried out at an approximate height from the ground of ten centimeters to shorten the time of appearing the buds and to obtain better capadura.

In the central provinces and in some areas of the province of Pinar del Rio is carried out the cutting of the buds known as cutting of capaduras, here are some elements about it. Only one or two buds per plant will be left. Preferably one and always the one that is next to the ground.

The quality and production of capaduras can diminish mainly if more than one or two buds are left per plant, backwardness in the main cutting, incorrect topped, late sowing, bad phytosanitary control, very rainy years or excess of waterings.

Under normal conditions, the poles should not remain more than two or three days in the sun.

Demolition of residuals of the harvest

Independently of the type of tobacco, after having made the harvest the demolition of residuals comes, of course that sun grown tobacco (en palo) is the one that provides the smallest quantity in biomass. This work is of great importance and it is necessary to carry out it as soon as possible after the harvest.

The objectives of the demolition of residuals are the following:

• To eliminate residuals that can develop plagues and harmful illnesses.
• To incorporate residuals that contribute to enrich the soil mainly in potassium.
• To facilitate the decomposition of the residuals.
• To stimulate the buds and ulterior growth of vegetable species that conform the native vegetation.
• To contribute to the leveling of the land.
• To eliminate species of overgrowths very aggressive to the environment

For the elimination of residuals are used different techniques, among them the most frequent is the cutting with a machete, the animal traction is also used by means of the plow and the mechanical traction that carries out a fine work but with some affectations to the environment.

One of the first works carried out in the curing barn, is stringing, when referring to sun and shade grown tobacco (strung). Mainly women carry out this work, develop skills and high productivity.

Factors to keep in mind for carrying out the work of stringing appropriately

• As it was stated in the aspect related to harvesting, the leaves should be free of dew and water.
• The leaves after having collected and before being strung should not be exposed to the direct solar radiation.
• During the transportation process, the placement of the leaves in the platforms and stringing, the leaves should be treated with a lot of fineness and love.
• The platforms and the baskets should be perfectly covered with sackcloth.
• The stringing of the leaves of shade grown tobacco is different from those of other types, medium needles are used. Women in this activity should string the leaves in pairs, that is to say, two leaves at the same time and opposed.
• The quantity of leaves per pole varies according to the type of tobacco and the position of the leaf in the stem, the number of total leaves in shade grown tobacco varies between 120 and 170 leaves.
• The poles should be without bark and free of nodes, they should also have enough strength in order to tolerate the weight of the leaves.
• The poles should not have an excessive elasticity, so that they don’t be curved because of the weight of the leaves.
• The string should have the required quality.
• The workers should not smoke.
• Women should be trained so that they separate the leaves that do not have the requirements according to the type of tobacco.

Particularities of stringing in the different types of tobacco

Shade grown tobacco. It is strung with the sheaf of the leaf pointing out what allows an appropriate and more homogeneous lost of water, the leaves are placed in the needle in pairs and afterwards they are put in the pole. In the case of dark tobacco the leaves reach bigger size and they are also the most delicate, that is why less quantity of pairs are put in the poles, they require the biggest specialization of workers.

Sun grown tobacco (strung). The leaves are placed in the pole with the sheaf pointing inside, this facilitates that the poles can have a considerable number of leaves. Here those leaves affected by plagues, mechanical damages or heatstroke are eliminated. In this type of tobacco the needles that are used are bigger than those used in shade grown tobacco, the leaves are placed until filling the needle to place them later in the pole that in most of the cases include six or seven needles ( 160 or 200 leaves) according to the size and development of leaves.

Sun grown tobacco (en palo). When the combined method of harvesting is used, the basal area of the plant is collected leaf by leaf and strung according to the approaches outlined when referring to sun grown tobacco (strun and en palo).

You can appreciate in these two pictures the initial process of stringing that is in fact to pass a steel needle through the central nerve of the leaf, in one of the ends of the needle the string is strung.

You can appreciate in the above pictures that in this case sun grown tobacco is strung, because the needle is completely full; observe the string and the leaves that are already strung in the pole additionally.

Observe that the woman is placing the leaves in the needle with the sheaf pointing out.

A good stringer completes in a day not less than sixty poles when it is sun grown tobacco.

Links & Sources:

• www.guerrillero.co.cu

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