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Please note: Seeds are packaged by weight, all seed counts should be considered estimates. 1 gram of nicotiana seeds is approximately 10,000 seeds. This listing is for 100 milligrams of seeds which is approximately 1,000 seeds.
About African Red
African Red is a bright leaf variety with white stemmed light green colored leaves. A vigorous grower reaching 7-8 feet in height at the first crows foot. Plant form is columnar. Average size of 10th leaf at maturity is 28 inches. Leaf width 12". Averages 28 leaves on untopped plants, not including bed leaves. Matures in 80 days. African Red has a high nicotine content, averaging 2.98%. The leaves air cure to a very light reddish brown. The smoke is mild and comparable to Virginia Golds. Original seed donated to the USDA from Transvaal, South Africa in 1975.
How to Grow Tobacco
Growing your own tobacco is so easy and not dissimilar to growing tomatoes. Place commercial seedling compost into a tray and soak the soil with water and allow the excess water to drain off. Sprinkle the tobacco seeds onto the surface of the damp soil. Do not cover the seeds, as they need light for germination. Tobacco seeds are very tiny, so be careful to spread the seeds as evenly as possible. Keep the soil damp being careful not to wash the seeds around when you water; better still water from below or use a mist sprayer.
At a temperature of 75-80 degrees, seeds typically take a matter of days to germinate; though at this stage they are still rather small. At lower temperatures, the germination simply takes a few days longer.
Plantlets are ready to be transplanted into bigger pots, when the leaves are about 1cm in length. Care should be taken not to disturb the roots. Feed should only be given to established and rapidly growing plants after they have been replanted. Tobacco requires a lot of nitrogen and potash, which can be supplied using standard garden fertilizer. You may want to grow your tobacco using only organic fertilizers.
Ideally, space the tobacco plants about 2 ft. apart in rows 3 ft. apart. Transplant outside in the evening or when it is cloudy and overcast to avoid the youngsters from drying out. Water plants thoroughly after transplanting and water daily until plants become established. Like tomato plants, the branches (suckers, offshoots), should be removed to focus the plants energy on the large leaves.
Tobacco plants generally require full to partial sunlight to grow properly. Tobacco is ready to be harvest after 60-90 days after germinating.
