Virginia tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) approx. 20 seeds

Virginia Tobacco - Nicotiana tabacum

There are approximately 65 species of tobacco growing worldwide, mostly in subtropical America, Australia and the Pacific. Two species are most commonly used for smoking: Virginia tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and Aztec tobacco (Nicotiana rustica).

These seeds are intended for collection purposes only, as a collector's souvenir.

• Tobacco requires a sunny location and regular watering. It does not tolerate waterlogging but can withstand drought. During the growing season, weed around the plants and loosen the soil. It is necessary to remove side root shoots and lower leaves. For Virginia Tobacco, it is recommended to pinch off emerging flowers or cut off entire flower heads. Keep tobacco leaves clean.

• In autumn, it is advisable to dig the soil to a depth of 25-30 cm, and add farmyard manure or compost if the soil is poor in nutrients. In spring, the soil should only be lightly dug, just loosened.

  Sowing is carried out from March to May. For Virginia Tobacco, May is already too late as the plant will not have time to flower. It is advisable to use special sowing substrate. Sow seeds on the surface of the substrate, sparsely, so that the space between individual seeds is at least 2 cm, and moisten the surface gently with a spray bottle. Dust the seeds lightly with substrate, spray again with water and cover the container with moistened plastic film, transparent bag or glass to create a humid microclimate. The film should be as clear as possible to let through maximum light and should be stretched tight on the surface. Cut small holes in the film to allow air to reach the seeds. After 3-4 days the seeds will germinate and after another 10 days they will grow to a height of 1 cm. Remove the covering material when the plants reach it. Plant them in their final location only after the last frost. The spacing between plants should be at least 70 cm, optimally 1 meter.

• A location with rather light soil is suitable, ideally loamy-sandy, rich in humus and with higher potassium content. Soil pH should be between pH 5.5-6.5 (max. 7).

• Tobacco requires plenty of humus, so it is advisable to fertilize the planting site well in autumn with compost or well-decomposed farmyard manure. Tobacco is sensitive to chlorine, so avoid inorganic fertilizers containing chlorine.

• Plants are attacked by aphids and slugs. Never use chemical products!!! Suitable remedies are nettle tea, hand collection or tobacco decoction, which is used for fumigating greenhouses or from cigarette butts.

• Harvest mature leaves just before flowering, when they lose their green color and begin to yellow, or light brown spots appear on them. Harvest in dry weather, preferably at noon or in the afternoon. Break off leaves from top to bottom. Virginia tobacco must be harvested within three weeks after removing the inflorescence.

• Tie the leaves into loose bundles and dry them in a dark, ventilated room for at least two to three months.