Tobacco

[FL.Boy]

Does anyone grow tobacco? What do you grow it for smoking or just for fun? Do you start seeds in peat pots or in the ground?

[Nette]

Wife and daughter of tobacco farmers here. We used to sow it in "plant beds" in the ground, and later moved to greenhouses. The seeds are ultra-tiny, so to just grow it as a hobby, I would think peat pots would be better. Or, maybe you could find the coated seeds on the internet? They would be easier to sow any way you did it.

Edited to add--Here's a site with heirloom varieties:
http://www.victoryseeds.com/tobacco/index.html

[uncle Will in In.]

Fl Boy, I understand that the home grown organic tabacker is the more healthy way to go.

[homesteadforty]

I grow my own for smoking and chewing. I make a little snuff for myself too.

I start my seeds in peat pots... as a matter of fact I'm just getting sprouts in about half my pots and should have a full (personal use) crop going in six weeks or so.

I grow heirloom orinoco and another original variety that I can't think of the name of right now. I also grow a little bit of nicotina rustica (wild or indian tobacco) which is some really strong stuff. I got my seeds from a well known historic site but you can get a number of varieties on-line at http://www.newhopeseed.com/tobacco/ or http://www.organicaseedco.com/tobaccoseeds.html

I'm sure a google search for tobacco seed or heirloom tobacco seed will turn up other sites. You have to be careful with the law... I believe you are allowed 100 plants for personal use. You can't sell it at all or even trade it without certification, taxation and other guberment intrutions.

If I knew how to post pictures on here I have a couple of really nice ones (tobacco posies are really great flowers).

[Quint]

I plant it every once in a while just to watch it grow. I've got a jar of seeds my grandfather planted. When I feel nostalgic or just get tired of the whining about tobacco I plant some. I think it is a neat looking plant too.

Like I said I don't smoke or chew I just grow it for kicks. Also having the ability to grow it might come in handy for barter if things ever got bad.

[Tracy Rimmer]

I grow nicotiana in my flower beds. It's got beautiful flowers

[Oldcountryboy]

I'd like to grow some for ornamental purposes. I remember my Aunt had one in her garden. It was a very unique looking plant that stood out and was the conversation anytime someone came over to visit her. I would also like to grow some cotton plants too. Again for ornamental purposes.

[sueacurrin]

The last crop I was involved with was 55 acres. Like Nette I grew up on backa, We always started it in plant beds. Miss the crop and the money it use to bring, If I could get a plant to grow here I would. My family starts it in floating styrofoam floats in a greenhouse now. I always liked "Copeia 360" It was called a barn buster back in the day. Flue-cure is alot of work. I can still smell the crop curing in the barns, and remember the good times, slow talk, and cokes with peanuts in it while packing it up in berlap sheets on foggy mornings up in the packhouse. I can also remember the back braking work of priming the brode leaf under a hot Carolina sun with red clay clinging to heavy feet.

[Nette]

Originally Posted by sueacurrin

... I can also remember the back braking work of priming the brode leaf under a hot Carolina sun with red clay clinging to heavy feet.

Me, too! And I can remember puking my guts out almost every night after I had to "prime." My sister and I primed left-handed, and if one of the regular primers laid out one day, Daddy would get us to prime the left-hand row by the slide. Together, we could keep up with the men.