How to Grow Tobacco

For centuries, farmers and gardeners have grown tobacco plants at home for use and sale. Although today a large amount of tobacco is grown and processed by many large companies, you can still grow this plant for your own with just a little know-how and perseverance. Growing tobacco is legal but requires a lot of work, so follow the steps below to grow tobacco at home.

Table of Contents

Understanding Soil Conditions and Climate

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Tobacco leaves will grow in all types of soil. Tobacco is an extremely easy plant to grow. The plant is grown in many places and even in the place of other crops, although, as a rule of thumb, tobacco will grow better in dry soil conditions. It is important to note that tobacco is susceptible to each type of soil; Lighter soils will give tobacco with a lighter color, darker soils will give tobacco with a darker color.

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For best results, plant tobacco in a warm, dry climate. This plant requires a frost-free period of about 3 to 4 months between transplanting and harvesting. ^{[1] X Trusted Source Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations Go to source} For best results, tobacco plants should be at the correct maturity when there is no heavy rainfall; Excess water will make the plant fragile and weak. The ideal temperature for growing plants is between 20° and 30°C.

Planting and Transplanting Tobacco

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Sprinkle tobacco seeds on top of the seedling mix and water a little. Make sure you have placed the seed mixture in the flower pot, and that there should be a few small holes in the bottom of the pot. Seeds should be potted for about 4-6 weeks. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Seed soil mix includes compost and many other nutrients to help seeds grow healthy. They are readily available in most home garden supply stores.
Tobacco seeds are very small (no bigger than the tip of a pin), so be sure not to plant them too thickly to create enough space between the seeds to avoid crowding.
Because tobacco seeds are so small, we should not sow them outside when we first start planting. In addition, their nutrient requirements are different from many plants, so it is better to add gravel or a special fertilizer for tobacco plants.
The ideal temperature for tobacco seeds to germinate is between 24-27°C. If you are not growing in a greenhouse, make sure the area inside your home meets the above temperature requirements.
Do not cover the seeds in soil because they need light to germinate; Seed filling can slow or prevent germination. Seeds will begin to germinate in about 7-10 days. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Water regularly to keep the seeds moist, but don’t over-water them. Also don’t let the soil dry out completely.

Be very careful when watering because the amount of water can cause the newly grown seedlings to uproot and die. ^{[4] X Research Sources}
If possible, water the seedlings from the bottom of the pot. If you are using a flower pot with holes in the bottom, place the pot on top of the water tray. Allow a few seconds for the water to soak into the soil. This will help water the seedlings without wetting the leaves.

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After 3 weeks, transplant the seedlings to a larger pot. At this point, the seedlings will be large enough for transplanting if you have watered and cared for them properly.

Transplanting seedlings to large pots will help their root systems develop healthy.
To see if the seedlings are large enough, try grabbing them. If you can easily grasp between your thumb and index finger, they are ready to be implanted. If they are too young, let them continue the germination process until they are large enough.
Transplanting bare root (no soil) tobacco plants directly from the seedling pot into the garden is an easier method as only one transplant is required. However, once planted in the garden, bare root plants can experience “transplant shock” that causes most of their largest leaves to turn yellow and droop. After a week, the tobacco plants begin to grow again, but generally avoiding transplant shock will save you a week of waiting as potted plants can begin to grow as soon as they are transplanted.

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Watering seedlings with a solution of plant fertilizer or milky seaweed/sea fish fertilizer is considered a miracle in cultivation. This will provide enough nutrients for the plants until they are ready to be planted in the garden in about 3-4 weeks.

If the plant is starting to yellow and look stunted, it may need a different dose of fertilizer. Save it anyway, too much nutrients in the pot can burn the roots or lead to overgrown and slender plants. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Prepare garden soil for transplanting larger plants. Make sure that the area in which you grow tobacco plants is exposed to constant sun, is well-drained, and has been cultivated.

Lack of sun will make the plant slender, underdeveloped, and fragile leaves. This may not be an issue if you want to grow tobacco to make cigar leaves, as growing in shade can create the striking leaf character you want. ^{[6] X Research Sources}
Also, check the pH in your garden. Tobacco plants need to be grown in soil with a moderate concentration of acidity, otherwise they will not grow. The soil should have a pH of 5.8. Poor growth or developmental disorders can occur if the soil pH is 6.5 or higher. ^{[7] X Research Sources}
Avoid using infected soil and roundworms. Roundworms are parasites that will feed on tobacco and are extremely difficult to eradicate once they are infested.

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Transfer tobacco plants to garden soil when the seedlings are 15-20 cm tall. The minimum distance between plants in a row is 0.6-1 m. The distance between rows is 1-1.2 m.

Tobacco plants are “heavy eaters,” meaning they will suck up nutrients from the soil in about two years. To prevent this, take advantage of a 2-year crop rotation on existing land by growing tobacco for 2 years on another site and wait 1 year before replanting in the same location. ^{[8] X Research Sources}
Instead of leaving your garden bare, you can replace your tobacco with plants that are less susceptible to common soil pests like corn or soybeans. ^{[9] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

Tobacco Plant Care

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Water regularly every evening for a few days when the plant has settled. Once the plants have adapted better, you can water less to avoid waterlogging.

Keep the plant well-hydrated but do not overwater the soil. If your garden soil is too dry, consider installing an irrigation system. This will prevent the soil from draining as lack of water can inhibit plant growth. ^{[10] X Research Source}
If there are a few days of drizzle or light rain, you can water the plants less often. The structure of tobacco leaves allows them to absorb and let water run down to the base. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Use a fertilizer with a low chlorine concentration and only nitrogen in the nitrate form. You can also use a fertilizer used for tomatoes, sweet peppers, and potatoes. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Too much fertilizer will become a serious problem, as this will cause salt accumulation which is harmful to the plants. The amount supplied is highly dependent on the type of fertilizer, the fertility of the soil, the loss of nutrients by leaching, and other issues. Refer to the manual for the most effective use of fertilizer.
You are advised to use the fertilizer several times. Once the tobacco plant starts to flower, you don’t need to use any more.

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Press the top of the tobacco as soon as the plant begins to flower. Pruning is the removal of young (middle) shoots and this will make the upper leaves larger and thicker than if not cutting the tops off. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Young shoots usually protrude the highest and at the top of the stem. ^{[14] X Source of Research} Young shoots can be removed simply by breaking or cutting before the plants flower.
As soon as the shoots are removed, axillary buds and suckers will develop at each leaf. Remove them all by hand, otherwise they will reduce the yield and quality of tobacco.

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Dig gently around the tobacco plants so the weeds don’t overwhelm them. You can pull soil around the base to help strengthen the plant. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Tobacco roots grow very quickly and the root structure is quite large with thousands of hair-like roots growing near the ground. Be careful when cultivating or plowing the soil, as digging too deep can hit the roots.
After 3-4 weeks of planting, intense tilling should stop, and you should only shave lightly to control weeds.

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Spray insecticides with tobacco products if you see pests or rotting plants. Common pests include shootworms, hornworms, and other pathogens.

Tobacco is subject to attack by many different pests and diseases. Crop rotation will reduce the likelihood of pest invasion, but it is also uncertain.
If you find your tobacco is still infected, many garden supply stores sell specialized insecticides. Remember that some insecticides are very effective at controlling specific insects on seedlings while others may only kill fungi. Find the type that best suits your situation. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Harvesting and Drying Tobacco

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Cut the tobacco stalks while keeping the leaves on the stalk. Another way of harvesting is that you can cut the leaves off the stalks. The time to be ready for harvesting is about 3 months after planting.

Petiole should be cut 3-4 weeks after pruning. Lower leaves may deteriorate at this time. If you remove them there will be 4 or 5 harvests in about 1-2 weeks, starting with the lower leaves. The first crop begins immediately after pruning and when the leaves turn yellow.
Flowers will inhibit leaf growth and compete for sunlight; So removing them helps the leaves grow as large as possible.
You need to keep the leaves intact because they will hang during the drying process. Drying is necessary as it prepares the leaves for consumption; This process can produce different compounds in the leaves that give the dried tobacco a hay, tea, rose oil, or fruity flavor. Drying also contributes to the “smooth” tobacco when used.

Advice

Fertilizer type and quality, watering frequency, and pest control will vary slightly with climate and planting site. Consult a variety of local sources for advice on growing tobacco in your area.
Some people harvest tobacco several times during the growing season, to remove the layer of leaves when they reach a certain height. Experience will only tell you whether plants should be harvested from leaves or stalks.

Warning

Pests that infect tobacco are different from those that infect other plants, so make sure the methods you use to protect tobacco plants don’t harm other crops.
Wait 4 or 5 years before replanting the tobacco plant twice in the same location. This will help the soil regain the nutrients it needs for the tobacco plants.

Things you need

Tobacco plant seeds
spade
Flower pot
Garden soil
Fertilizer
Warm dry room and good air circulation

Steps