The early maturity hybrids developed by ProfiGen are characterized by their fast leaf ripening. The time required for seedling production and the period from the transplanting to flowering is similar to traditional cultivars. The fast ripening characteristic can be noticed after flowering. At this stage, the first leaves (primings) will be mature and ripe. The ripening process for all the other up-stalk leaves is also faster. This allows the picking of a higher number of leaves per harvest. In general, when transplanted on the same day as traditional cultivars, the harvest of these hybrids is finished around three weeks earlier than normal cultivars. 

The fertilization required by the fast ripening hybrids is the same as that needed for traditional cultivars. This allows good development of the plant and the leaves thereby generating the best results in terms of quality and yield. Side dressing fertilizer rates and timing must consider the type of soil and the amount of rainfall and leaching that has occurred. Excess fertilization can delay leaf maturity and late fertilizer applications should be avoided. Therefore, the timing of fertilizer side dressing would need to be considered due to a shorter field cycle for these hybrids. 

Primings and lugs can be harvested before topping after observing the ripeness of the leaves. Harvesting is advisable when leaves are ripe and mature. Nevertheless, leaves of early maturing hybrids yellow easily in the barn and this characteristic permits the leaves to be harvested at a little earlier stage. The same does not apply when the leaves become overripe. If allowed to become overripe before harvest, cured leaves tend to become pale and whitish (bleached) in color (Subtype “K”). So, it is preferable to harvest at or before the maturity point, rather than after it. 

The ripe leaves of these hybrids may not hold as well in the field as traditional cultivars and delayed harvesting may mean yield and quality losses. Normally only 3 to 4 primings are needed, picking 5 to 6 leaves per harvest. In regions with longer growing seasons where an optimization of curing barns is required, the early maturity hybrids could be transplanted approximately two weeks before the transplanting of a normal cycle variety, but always at the normal transplanting period for the region. By using this technique, it´s expected that the harvest of the fast ripening hybrid would be finished at the time of the second or third harvest of a traditional, normal variety. 

In general, the yellowing of these hybrids is very easy and fast, but this does not mean that this stage of curing can be reduced by raising barn temperatures earlier. Hence, the total curing period is the same as that of traditional cultivars and usually requires approximately 7 days to cover all the curing stages.