Growing Tobacco

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Growing Tobacco

2023 Aug 19, 4:08pm 2,192 views 52 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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Tenpoundbass @ 2023 Aug 20, 6:30am

Cool I always wondered if the seeds were controlled or illegal to privately possess and grow.

RC2006 @ 2023 Aug 20, 8:15am

When I use to go out with my archeology class I I would see them growing wild all over out in the desert. They must be very drought tolerant.

Patrick @ 2023 Aug 20, 8:30am

I looked it up, and the seeds and plants are legal. You're just not allowed to sell it, or even barter it in some places.

Maga_Chaos_Monkey @ 2023 Aug 20, 10:33am

Because tobacco grows and seeds so quickly and prolifically it's one of the main plants used for genetic experimentation.

Patrick @ 2023 Aug 20, 10:41am

I'm interested to see if chewing the green leaves will do anything.

I've read that they won't, but I've also read that people get a buzz just from touching the leaves for too long. That seems contradictory.

richwicks @ 2023 Aug 20, 10:52am

Patrick says

I'm interested to see if chewing the green leaves will do anything.

I've read that they won't, but I've also read that people get a buzz just from touching the leaves for too long. That seems contradictory.

You might want to be careful. Small children have literally died from eating cigarettes.

WookieMan @ 2023 Aug 20, 11:16am

If it's a cool looking plant then fine, but I wouldn't consume any of it in any form. I smoked cigarettes on and off till I was 32(ish). I don't want anything tobacco related in my life again. I know that was processed with other crap, but I just don't think it's a path worth going down. Anything that gives you a buzz opens the gate to addiction, even just chewing on a leaf.

Tobacco is the main reason I never have tried cocaine. I also know a few people personally that have died from it. Some was probably laced with something else. It's also the reason I don't take pain pills. Doctors are the biggest drug dealers on the planet.

Have fun with it, but I'd avoid consumption.

Maga_Chaos_Monkey @ 2023 Aug 20, 11:21am

just_passing_through says

Because tobacco grows and seeds so quickly and prolifically it's one of the main plants used for genetic experimentation.

I think mustard is another if I recall.

9 mell @ 2023 Aug 20, 12:05pm

just_passing_through says

just_passing_through says

Because tobacco grows and seeds so quickly and prolifically it's one of the main plants used for genetic experimentation.

I think mustard is another if I recall.

Yep grows everywhere and has quite pretty yellow flowers

Patrick @ 2023 Aug 20, 1:47pm

WookieMan says

Doctors are the biggest drug dealers on the planet.

This is clearly true. They get paid kickbacks to push various drugs.

Patrick @ 2023 Aug 27, 3:19pm

Well, it's been just over a week but I don't see any sprout of any kind. Maybe it's really bad dirt. Or maybe the tobacco seeds are inactive for some reason.

12 mell @ 2023 Aug 27, 3:51pm

Did they take the covid "vaccine"?

Maga_Chaos_Monkey @ 2023 Aug 27, 7:50pm

It may take longer than two weeks: https://www.trueleafmarket.com/pages/how-to-start-tobacco-seeds

Patrick @ 2023 Aug 27, 7:53pm

Thanks, I see "Days to Germination: 7-14 days"

The previous site I looked at said 7 to 10 days.

If there's nothing in another two weeks, I'll give up.

Maga_Chaos_Monkey @ 2023 Aug 27, 7:56pm

Down lower it says "About 7 to 14 days".

I've had to wait up to a month for small seed plants to sprout.

C'mon Chewie! You! Can! Doit!

richwicks @ 2023 Aug 27, 9:52pm

Patrick says

Thanks, I see "Days to Germination: 7-14 days"

The previous site I looked at said 7 to 10 days.

If there's nothing in another two weeks, I'll give up.

You might just want to write a friendly letter to a tobacco farmer. Seriously.

Patrick @ 2023 Aug 30, 9:01am

Now there are two very tiny sprouts. Not sure they are what I planted, but maybe.

Patrick @ 2023 Sep 1, 3:16pm

It's been almost two weeks since planting, and now I have four sprouts. This is the largest of them:

Since they all look like the same plant, I'm pretty sure they are all tobacco. They seem incredibly tiny and fragile, so I'm not going to put them in direct sun yet. They look like they could get dried out in a few minutes with the sun around here.

Patrick @ 2023 Sep 1, 3:34pm

Ah, I may have the ornamental species Nicotiana sylvestris instead of Nicotiana tabacum, going by flower appearance of the plant where I got the seeds.

Sylvestris flowers: