Green colors in air-cured tobacco can occur for several reasons.  The leaves in these pictures are green because the air temperature remained below 50 degrees F for an extended period of time during the early stages of curing. Air-cured tobaccos cure best when the average daily temperatures are between 60 and 90 degrees F.  For more information on management to avoid green tobacco please see AGR-177.

Tobacco that was sunburned or handled roughly at harvest times can also cure with green colors.  If the green color is a result of damage at harvest the green will be limited to only certain areas of the leaf and plant.