Tobacco: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow flowering tobacco under cover?
Sow flowering tobacco under cover in spring, following the species or selection’s instructions. Starting early lets seedlings develop before outdoor planting. Provide a bright position with stable warmth. Around 18 °C suits Nicotiana sylvestris, for example, but your packet remains the reference for the particular seed lot. A cold greenhouse does not always provide enough heat.
Use clean pots or a tray with drainage holes and fine seed compost. Moisten before sowing. Scatter the tiny seeds thinly on the surface, then press gently for contact. Do not bury them beneath a thick layer: commonly grown ornamental Nicotiana is surface-sown. Mist lightly or water from below to avoid moving the seeds. Label the name and sowing date so that different selections remain identifiable.
Keep the compost evenly moist without standing water. If you use a clear cover, ventilate and remove it after emergence. Provide enough light to prevent weak, elongated growth. Transplant seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle, protecting the roots. A few leaves are not enough for immediate outdoor planting. Grow plants on under cover, then harden them off and wait for frost-free conditions.
How do you sow flowering tobacco outdoors?
When and how do you plant flowering tobacco?
How do you care for flowering tobacco in bloom?
When and how do you harvest tobacco leaves?
