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Tobacco - Aztec
Seed Packet

Tobacco - Aztec

Nicotiana rustica
Aztec tobacco was cultivated and used for ages when Jean Nicot de Villemain introduced tobacco to the French court. Named after the pipe that held the potent plant, it soon attracted the attention of Queen Catherine de Medicis, who popularized it under the name American powder. This potent psychoactive plant is grown in our gardens, not for smoking, but for the large leaves and phosphorescent green bell-shaped flowers.
SKU #S1686
Caution: Poisonous. The purchaser assumes all liability related to the use of this product.
$3.50
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Details
Approximate Seeds Per Packet
460
Lifecycle
Annual
Annual Hardiness
Half Hardy Annual
Mature Size
5' h x 2.5' w
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Soil
Rich, moist, well-drained
Season
Summer to fall
Color
Green
Features
Deer Resistant
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Bees
Attracts Hummingbirds
SOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Depth:
Surface sow; requires light to germinate.
Sprout Time:
10-21 days
Seed To Bloom:
10-12 weeks
Starting Indoors:
Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Keep at 60-75°F. Sprinkle with vermiculite or cover with humidity dome to keep moist.
Starting Outdoors:
Direct sow after last frost.
WHEN TO SET OUTSIDE
After last frost.
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
Flowering tobacco's flowers add a contrasting form to summer's many rounded flower shapes. They grow best in moderate summer areas planted in humus-rich soils well supplied with even water. In scorching hot climates, afternoon shade is beneficial. Regular fertilizer and deadheading will ensure free flowering all season and an abundance of hummingbirds and hawk moths. Self-sows. Caution: all parts of Nicotiana are poisonous.
Final Spacing:
2'
Water Requirements:
Medium Water Use
Watering Details:
Regular, even watering; 1" per week.
Soil pH:
Prefers slightly acidic soil but is tolerant of a wide range of pH levels.
Fertilizer:
Mix in about 2" of compost prior to planting, and use several applications of organic fertilizer during the season.
Diseases & Pests:
Nicotiana can be susceptible to aphids; water sprays or insecticidal soap can safely remedy the issue. Tobacco budworms eat holes in the buds and devour seeds later in the summer. Try to hand pick them at dusk when they come out to feed. In autumn, tilling in annual beds can help destroy pupae and decrease populations the following year. Tobacco hornworm, the caterpillar stage of a hawk moth, also feeds on Nicotiana and can be controlled by handpicking. Look for the black droppings, as the green caterpillars are hard to spot, and remove immediately, as they can ravage the foliage. White eggs attached to them indicate that a predator insect has parasitized them, and the caterpillars should be left alone.