Growing Tobacco

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Growing Tobacco

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2023 Aug 19, 4:08pm 1,609 views 46 comments

I'm not a smoker, but I've seen tobacco plants in front yards around here, and yesterday I saw one which had gone to seed. The plant was conveniently located right on the street, so I collected some of the copious and very tiny seeds. There were many pods open to the top, and when you tip them, tiny seeds spill out. They are much smaller than poppy seeds.

My hands were sticky after touching the plant, and smelled good, kind of floral. I didn't notice any nicotine effect from that, though I've read it can happen. Today I learned a bit about planting them. I don't have any potting soil, but maybe they will do OK in the shit soil we have around here. Tobacco is said to be a very tough plant which can handle different soils.

I sprinkled seeds in each compartment, watered them a bit, and put some water in the container below as recommended. I then lightly covered that with a plastic bag, leaving some room for air because I read that mold can kill them otherwise.

They should germinate in 7 to 10 days. I plan to keep this thread updated with progress.

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41 🎂

stereotomy 2024 Oct 9, 4:59pm

You just have to plant a shit ton. Natural selection will choose the one or two that can survive in the designated environment. After that, it's just patience - collect the seeds, reseed, further optimize for location. Pretty soon, it's bursting out everywhere.

42 🎂

stereotomy 2024 Oct 9, 5:03pm

This works also with animals. In TX, we were besieged by fire ants. I found out about parasitic nematodes that preyed on insects. I had to spread eggs and keep the lawn moist for the first 2 years - I think I bought about 200,000,000 eggs (they're relatively cheap, unlike mantises). Finally, a portion learned how to survive in the lawn. I was ant-free from then on.

This only works down south, where there's little to no freezing. It's not practical anywhere else.

Patrick 2024 Oct 9, 6:06pm

I also stole two leaves from the mother plant nearby after gardeners had whacked it. I figured they weren't worried about losing a few leaves if they already threw away half the plant. Then I dried the two leaves by hanging them from clothespins.

I burned a bit of one leaf yesterday, and it did indeed smell like tobacco, even though it's an ornamental variety and not the normal cigarette variety.

Maga_Chaos_Monkey 2024 Oct 9, 7:26pm

stereotomy says

This works also with animals. In TX, we were besieged by fire ants. I found out about parasitic nematodes that preyed on insects. I had to spread eggs and keep the lawn moist for the first 2 years - I think I bought about 200,000,000 eggs (they're relatively cheap, unlike mantises). Finally, a portion learned how to survive in the lawn. I was ant-free from then on.

This only works down south, where there's little to no freezing. It's not practical anywhere else.

I wanted to do the same for snails but the one company that markets the correct nematodes didn't have any this past year.

45 🎂

stereotomy 2024 Oct 10, 6:39pm

SoTex says

I wanted to do the same for snails but the one company that markets the correct nematodes didn't have any this past year.

You probably use the same place I did for the nematodes.

Maga_Chaos_Monkey 2024 Oct 11, 8:53am

I moved and don't have the snail problems anymore. Skunks, raccoons, deer, now though. Walked onto my deck last night at 9:10PM and I was about 8ft from a trapped skunk. I backed away slowly.

Four raccoons have been drinking water out of some plant saucers. Good thing I noticed because I'm about to apply a pesticide soil drench. So maybe I'll removed the saucers for now and get the coons a dog bowl or something.

Oh, and a pack of 4 dogs last night in my back yard. This rental just has a short rod iron fence.

I just unpacked and installed some cameras out back this week.

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Growing Tobacco

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