How to Grow Nicotiana

Hi, this is Yolanda Vanveen. And in this segment we're going to learn all about how to grow Nicotiana or Tobacco plant. Which is a really beautiful plant in itself. So Nicotiana is a tropical plant. It's from Central America all the way into South America and most of the tropical areas which means areas where there's no winter or summer change. It's warm all the time. And so they like really warm tropical climates. And they can only grow outside from zones 9 to 11 which means they don't want any frost at all. So Nicotiana is related to the Night Shade and they're a gorgeous flower too. So the Nicotiana because they are form the tropics they love a warm hot humid conditions. And so they don't like real dry desert conditions and they don't like too wet and freezing conditions. They like something in between. So when you're growing them in the garden make sure and start them by seed after the last chance of frost. And don't even put them outside until it's over sixty degrees at night. So a lot of times it's better to wait till later to put them outside. Because if you put them outside too early then they might just die because it's too cold. Even if it's not freezing they still really like that warm tropical environment. Nicotiana tobacum is the variety that's most used for Tobacco. And it's native to South America and it grows sometimes as a biannual in colder climates because it takes tow years to get blooms. Where as in warmer climates it will bloom the first year. And they have small slightly fragrant greenish white or pinkish red bell shaped flowers that are really really pretty. So you start the Nicotiana in the spring by seed or some varieties you can start by division. Especially if you live in a warmer climate. And they'll bloom all summer long and then they'll die back in the fall. You can collect the seeds and plant them again in the spring or they'll just seed themselves. Or you can buy the seed packets in the spring and plant them. The Tobacco plant has been really important to American history. And although not many people smoke anymore, they still enjoy the Nicotiana in their garden.