NICOTIANA
Nicotiana Tabacum Varieties:
'SMOKING TOBACCO'. Robust annual or short-lived perennial to 3 - 6 feet or more, with large leaves and beautiful rosy-red trumpet-shaped 2" flowers. Tropical America. Strikingly beautiful, attracts many hummingbirds, and a valuable organic insecticide. They are lovely, useful plants - you don't have to smoke them to like them - few things make me as happy as being next to a blooming tobacco plant!
"You might like to know that tobacco grows very well outdoors in Alaska, reaching 6 feet tall and flowering even in cold wet summers. I just start the plants early, like tomatoes."—V. Robeson, 11/98.
Tobacco packets contain about 1200 to 2200 seed, and they run about 10,000 to 20,000 seeds per gram.
Up until a few years ago, tobacco was an allotment crop in 48 states - you needed Agriculture Department permission to grow more than 1/10 acre. Now you don't need permission, and you can grow as much as you like! Burley types are planted at 6 - 7000 per acre (about 2 1/2 feet apart), the Havanas at 12,000 per acre (about 2 feet apart). For home use space 2 - 4 feet apart. A large plant can yield up to 5 oz. Curing isn't difficult, and good results can be obtained at home. Tobacco prohibition is coming, so learn to grow your own additive-free and tax-free supply.
There are very few sources for unpatented tobacco seed left, and these are all unpatented varieties.
Varieties susceptible to Black Shank should be grown in rotation with other crops.
SEE BOOK SECTION FOR TOBACCO BOOKS.
STANDARD BURLEY VARIETIES:
—Nicotiana Tabacum Burley KY-17. (h) NICO-36KB. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 96% Tested: 10/07, Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00
A standard Kentucky Burley with high quality, good yield, and multiple disease resistance. Certified Kentucky-grown seed.
Disease resistance levels:
Black Shank Race 0: Medium resistance.
Black Shank Race 1: Medium resistance.
Black Root Rot: High resistance.
Fusarium Wilt: Medium-low resistance.
Mosaic: High resistance.
Wildfire: High resistance.
—Nicotiana Tabacum Burley TN-90. (h) NICO-36TB. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 88% Tested: 10/07, Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00
A standard Tennessee Burley with high quality, good yield, and multiple disease resistance. Certified Kentucky-grown seed.
Disease resistance levels:
Black Shank Race 0: Medium resistance.
Black Shank Race 1: Medium resistance.
Black Root Rot: High resistance.
Mosaic: High resistance.
Wildfire: High resistance.
NEW—Nicotiana Tabacum VA 509. (h) NICO-36VB. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00
Medium-early maturing stand-up burley that produces high quality and good yield. Stand-up varieties hold their leaves higher off the ground, keeping them cleaner. Certified Kentucky-grown seed.
Disease resistance levels:
Black Shank Race 0: Medium resistance.
Black Shank Race 1: Medium resistance.
Black Root Rot: Medium low resistance.
Fusarium Wilt: Low resistance.
Wildfire: High resistance.
HAVANA TOBACCO VARIETIES:
These old Cuban varieties have been grown in the U.S. for decades, producing well even in northern states. The Havanas are smaller plants than the burley types, and are highly valued because of the fine flavor - Cuban cigars are renowned throughout the world! The seed is getting scarce.
—Nicotiana Tabacum Havana 142 (h) NICO-36H1. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 94% Tested: 10/07, Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
An excellent Havana tobacco, giving a quick harvest (about 65 days). Good for chew & cigars. Good in the North. Seed grown in Wisconsin.
—Nicotiana Tabacum Havana 608. (h) NICO-36H6. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 90% Tested: 8/07, Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
The best Havana for home use. Fast maturing in 65 days. High yield. Good for cigars and chew. Good in the North. Seed grown in Wisconsin.
RARE PERIQUE TOBACCO
This is the rarest commercial tobacco in North America, and one of the most highly-prized.
NEW—Nicotiana Tabacum Perique. (a!,g) NICO-36PQ. Packet: $2.00 Click for photo »
Germination: 94% GA-3 Tested: 2/08 (Germinates 58% without GA-3), Gram: $8.00, 5 grams: $30.00
'PERIQUE'. The famous and extremely rare Louisiana tobacco. Originally grown by the Indians and fermented and pressed in hollow logs, this is a very potent tobacco. Usually used mixed with milder types. Now grown by only a few families, the leaves are prepared by prolonged pressing and fermenting, into an almost black tobacco which commands high prices. My favorite! Germinates in 2 weeks warm.
DARK TOBACCO VARIETIES:
NEW—Nicotiana Tabacum Green Wood. (h) NICO-36GW. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00
A nice traditional variety that holds itself up well and gives a good yield of high-quality dark tobacco that cures a brown color. Good for chewing or smoking. Certified Kentucky-grown seed.
NEW—Nicotiana Tabacum Little Crittenden. (h) NICO-36LC. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00
A good old-fashioned dark tobacco that holds itself up well, so that the leaves stay cleaner. Good yield and cures well. Makes a good chewing tobacco, as well as for smoking. Certified Kentucky-grown seed.
NEW—Nicotiana Tabacum Little Wood. (h) NICO-36LW. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00
An old-fashioned dark tobacco with a shorter leaf than other types, producing good yields of good quality tobacco. Certified Kentucky-grown seed.
NEW—Nicotiana Tabacum Improved Madole. (h) NICO-36IM. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00
Preferred by many growers for producing well and giving a high-quality dark tobacco leaf. Certified Kentucky-grown seed.
NEW—Nicotiana Tabacum Narrow Leaf Madole. (h) NICO-36NM. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00
An old narrow-leaf variety which cures well and produces a good yield of high quality dark tobacco. Used for cigars and chewing. Certified Kentucky-grown seed.
—Nicotiana Tabacum Tom Ross Madole. (h) NICO-36TR. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 92% Tested: 9/07, Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00
Gives a good yield of high quality dark tobacco which cures well. Preferred by many growers. Certified Kentucky-grown seed. "This tobacco out-performed about 8 varieties in my location 30 miles south of Tulsa, Oklahoma."—Bill Breckinridge, 2/97.
—Nicotiana Tabacum Small Stalk Black Mammoth. (h) NICO-36BM. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 92% Tested: 10/07, Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00
Gives a good weight of fine dark tobacco, and holds itself up well so that the leaves stay cleaner. Certified Kentucky-grown seed. "It is in great demand by some growers because it will produce either a wrapper or a snuff tobacco when allowed to get ripe."—Newton. "We've got leaves 3 1/2 feet long on this! Awesome!"—Bertrand, 8/96.
VIRGINIA TOBACCO VARIETIES:
NEW—Nicotiana Tabacum Brown Leaf. (h) NICO-36BL. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00
An old variety that originated in Kentucky, and much grown by Virginia growers. Has large leaves of medium body, producing a dark tobacco. Fair resistance to Black Root Rot.
NEW—Nicotiana Tabacum Lizard Tail Orinoco. (h) NICO-36LT. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00
Another old variety much grown in Virginia. The medium-sized leaves are closely spaced on the stalk and have a heavy body. Produces a fine dark tobacco.
NEW—Nicotiana Tabacum Lizard Tail Orinoco X Turtle Foot Cross. (h) NICO-36TF. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00
Originated from a cross between Lizard Tail Orinoco and Turtle Foot, producing a dark tobacco of good quality. Produces more weight than most varieties.
NEW—Nicotiana Tabacum Shirey. (h) NICO-36S. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00
Pronounced "Shirley", this is a favorite of many growers, producing a high quality dark tobacco.
NEW—Nicotiana Tabacum VA 309. (h) NICO-36V3. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00
A good selection with high quality and good yields. Certified Kentucky-grown seed.
Disease resistance levels:
Black Shank Race 0: Medium resistance.
Black Shank Race 1: Medium resistance.
Black Root Rot: Medium resistance.
NEW—Nicotiana Tabacum Walker's Broadleaf. (h) NICO-36WB. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $21.00
An old Virginia variety, long grown. Medium-sized wide leaves that are spaced closely on the stalk.