Grow Your Own Tobacco

We all are familiar with tobacco, which has been used commonly, as a recreational drug, for a very long time. Derived through processing of the leaves of the plants in the genus Nicotiana, it is mainly used for smoking. Chewing tobacco, snuffing, or dipping tobacco, sniff or snus is popular among the masses. It is also used in some drugs as well as in the form of pesticide. Different species of tobacco plants belong to the family Solanaceae, which includes tomatoes, potatoes, chili peppers, etc. While, they are commercially cultivated in many parts of the world, some people grow them at home, either for personal use or as an ornamental plant. If you want to grow your own tobacco, then, here are some tips and guidelines for the same.

How to Grow Your Own Tobacco

Growing tobacco is not a difficult task, if you have a basic know how about the right techniques. These plants have green foliage and produce attractive flowers and so, can be a good for gardening. Another advantage is that they can grow in a wide range of soil types, but, the nature of foliage may vary with plants growing in different types of soil. However, little bit of care is required in germinating the seeds, transplanting them and protecting the plants from diseases. Let us take a look at the various aspects about how to grow your own tobacco at home.

    * First of all, you have to obtain seeds or young plants. This will be easy for you, if you have access to tobacco farmers. Otherwise, you can order the seeds through mail or online. For ornamental purposes, jasmine tobacco or rose tobacco are more suitable, as they produce attractive flowers.
    * Tobacco seeds being tiny in nature, you have to keep them indoors in a covered container. Sowing of these seeds is usually done, before a month from the last frost.
    * Take a seed tray and fill it with a potting mix made from equal amounts of potting soil and humus. Sprinkle some water over the soil and spread the seeds over it.
    * Once you are done with sowing, keep the tray in a propagator for a few days. Otherwise, place the tray in a cupboard with a temperature of 70 to 80 degrees.
    * Seedlings will appear within eight to ten days and from this stage, you have to keep them in a location with a lower temperature of around 55 degrees.
    * After a few weeks, you can plant them outdoors. You may also plant them in containers and grow your own tobacco indoors, but, these plants may not grow as healthy as the outdoor ones.
    * In order to grow tobacco outdoors, you have to till the soil and fertilize it, before planting them. Tobacco plants love bright sunlight and so, prefer locations that fulfill this requirement. Cold climates are not suitable for tobacco plants.
    * Plant them at a distance of around two feet. Regular watering is also a must for tobacco plants. Fertilizers for tobacco must be rich in nitrogen and potash. You may also replace such fertilizers with wood ash.
    * Another important part of tobacco growing is the timely removal of suckers (buds that arise from the base of leaves) and terminal bud, so that the leaves grow big and healthy. This is applicable for those who grow this plant for personal use and not for ornamental purposes.
    * If you want to grow your own tobacco, then, you must be aware of the pests and diseases that can affect this plant. While, diseases, like, root rot and mosaic disease may occur in these plants, it is the pest called hawk moth that can cause harm to the plant. Its caterpillar can cause immense damage to the plant and so, this pest should be controlled.
    * After a growth of three to four months, when the leaves get big enough for harvest, you can remove the leaves from the plants and dry them for further use.

The above said is only a brief overview about how to grow your own tobacco. As of now, in most places, buying and selling of tobacco seeds and growing tobacco plants (for personal use) is not illegal. However, make sure that growing tobacco at home is not illegal, as per the local laws. If you are interested in growing tobacco for personal use, watch out for the latest tobacco news, so that you are aware of the rules and regulations regarding tobacco and tobacco products. Buying or selling products made from your plants may land in you in legal trouble (mainly taxation).