Tobacco Plants, Nicotiana tabacum

I sowed some Nicotiana tabacum seeds that I brought from trademe. The seeds were organically grown in NZ so they are acclimatised to this environment. This could account for the success of the germination rate! As with the poppies I have had a massive surplus of plants & therefore I have chosen the most successful plants to be planted out.

I greatly underestimated the size of the tobacco leaves! I thought that a 10cm soil bag would be enough space for the plants. It is now clearly visible that they are going to become very root bound. However I have no other way to grow them due to the lack of space. I am treating this grow as an experiment. I have no way of harvesting & using the tobacco as this requires a lengthy Curing process. I would need to build a special unit/room for this process. I would love to do this in the future sometime.

Here are some pics of my shabby crops. The tobacco plants are in the black soil bags (with the F-OFF sized leaves):







The leaves have also taken a battering from some bastard caterpillars since I planted them out! I was convinced that the tobacco plant deterred almost all pests! Perhaps that is just with the wild version Nicotiana rustica

Nicotiana Tabacum Seeds

On the 17/02/10 I planted some Nicotiana tabacum Seeds that I brought from Trademe. They were Organically grown in the same Environment (North Island) as I will be growing them so they should be better adapted.

Nicotiana Tabacum is said to be one of the most significant entheogen in human history. Nicotiana Tabacum is originally from South america where is was used ceremonially, for healing purposes and to drive away bad spirits by the Native Tribes. Later it was cultivated and traveled North where it was used by Native americans for similar ceremonial purposes for thousands of years.

I planted the seeds into a special seed propagator, this has 5X4 Individual cells, a bottom tray, and a lid. This allows me to bottom water easily and the lid increases humidity.



Nicotiana Tabacum seedlings must be transplanted early on so as to not damage the tap root (this causes sluggish growth). Therefore they will only be in the propagator for a week at most until I plant them out. I have brought cheap plant bags instead of pots to save money!

Hopefully I will have a good germination rate, although they have been sow late in season.
Some of the seeds seem to have turned a white colour - perhaps the emerging roots?