
How To Grow Nicotiana Seeds
Latin name Nicotiana alata is a fragrant annual flower that is a member of the tobacco family. Plants are frost sensitive. The tall plants produce long trumpet flowers, which emit a heavenly fragrance.
HISTORY
Native to the Americas, tobacco has been used ceremonially by ancient cultures of the Americas. The showy flowers are especially attractive to butterflies and other pollinators.
USES
- Ornamental.
- Beds, borders, containers, cottage garden.
- Visited by a few pollinators, including the hawk moth and the occasional hummingbird.
- Seeds germinate in 7-21 days.
- Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost and transplant 2 weeks after last frost has passed.
- Gardeners in long- season areas can direct sow 2 weeks after last frost.
- Surface sow seeds and gently press into soil, as light aids germination.
- Ideal germination temperature is 70-75 F.
- Plants prefer full sun, though in southern locales a bit of afternoon shade is ideal.
- Provide well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter.
- Keep plants well fed; they like highly fertile soil and regular watering.
- Space plants 12 inches apart.
- Deadhead to encourage continued blooming.
- Most varieties are on the taller side, and should ideally be located in the middle and back of the landscape design.
PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
- A disease- and pest-free flower.
Saving sunflower seeds is very easy!
- Plants will readily self sow but will often bloom late and are better saved and started indoors the following spring.
- Hand pick dried seed capsules before they shatter and scatter all over the garden.
- Save seeds in a cool, dark, dry place over winter.