Fragrant tobacco bears little resemblance to its competitor, which has become famous as the main source of bad habits. This plant is also an annual, but this is where the similarity ends. The enchanting, strong aroma of giant lush blooms of scented tobacco can compete in sweetness with a night violet. A pastel palette of clean colors, large sizes and romantic charm of this summer garden will be a decoration of any garden. And the fragrant cloud that descends on the garden in the evenings will fully redeem some of the difficulties of care associated with watering.
Winged tobacco, or fragrant, decorative (Nicotiana alata).
How many tobacco bushes to plant
We offer an approximate calculation that will help determine the number of seedlings.
One cigarette contains 0.5-1 g of tobacco. Accordingly, the pack contains 10-20 g. Let's take the maximum values. A heavy smoker smokes at least 15-20 cigarettes a day. That is, 7-8 kg are consumed per year.
Depending on the variety, one bush is capable of producing 20-30 g of tobacco. Subject to the landing of 5-7 trunks per 1 sq. m, you will need at least 250 bushes and a plot of land of 35-50 sq. m.
Planting rules and combination with other plants
The plant is considered undemanding, but some of the nuances of proper planting should be highlighted.
- In the fall, the place of the planned flower bed needs to be dug up and fertilized - compost, manure.
- When planting seedlings, it is imperative to observe an interval between plants of at least 30 cm.
Advice. If tall varieties are planted, then the distance should be slightly increased. As plants age, they can bend over, resulting in a solid floral carpet.
- The varieties of scented tobacco do not have special requirements for the composition of the soil. But a lot of water evaporates through the large leaves. Accordingly, planting requires a good drainage device, and regular watering maintenance. The soil must be water and air permeable.
- You need to place tobacco in a sunny place on the site. In partial shade, the plant stretches and completely loses its appearance.
Choose a sunny spot for planting scented tobacco
Basically, planting scented tobacco is no different from similar work with other summer people. If seedlings are planted, then the wells are well moistened and the root of the plant is immersed in the resulting mud. A little dry earth is poured on top and the trunk is slightly squeezed. Watering in the early days should be done daily.
When planning the planting of fragrant tobacco in a common flower bed, it is imperative to take into account the features of the selected variety. The combination of low varieties with perennials climbing along a vertical support, located in the middle or behind, looks great. For example, clematis, kampsis. If the plants are tall, then it is better to plant them behind low-growing summer plants: agearums, marigolds, etc.
Which is better: open ground or a greenhouse
In the southern regions, sowing is carried out directly into the open ground. In areas with a continental and temperate continental climate, that is, in a significant part of our country, sowing is first done on seedlings in greenhouses.
The homeland of tobacco is the humid hot tropics. Therefore, in central Russia, it is recommended to breed shag, a type of tobacco that is more resistant to temperature extremes and a lack of moisture. In addition, the complete biological cycle of makhorka is much shorter - 2.5 months.Whereas individual tobacco varieties take 3.5 months to fully mature.
How tobacco differs from makhorka
For all their external similarity, botanists consider makhorka and tobacco to be related, but different flowering plants. The main differences are:
- The size of the seeds - in the shag they are larger.
- The density of the cotyledonous leaf of shag is higher than that of tobacco.
- Raw materials - only the leaves are used for tobacco, while both the branches and the trunk are processed for tobacco crumbs.
- Fortress - the content of nicotine in makhorka is 2 times higher than that of tobacco.
- Ripening period. The growing season of shag is much shorter and is 75-80 days. Tobacco matures in no less than 95-110 days.
Care
Taking care of tobacco is simple, you just need to water it on time, loosen the soil, fertilize it, treat it against diseases and harmful beetles. Pruning of the bushes is carried out periodically.
Watering
Tobacco is a moisture-loving crop. For the successful development of bushes, their flowering, irrigation is carried out 1-2 times a week. You should be guided by the weather conditions. If drought is present, increase the number of irrigations. The ground must be constantly moist. It is advisable to irrigate the soil in the morning or in the evening.
Loosening and weeding
Loosening the soil around the tobacco helps to remove weeds and oxygenate the soil. It is preferable to do the manipulation immediately after watering, this will allow pulling out the weeds with roots. Dry soil will need to be weeded with a hoe. If there was wheatgrass on the plot, you need to dig it up and remove the rhizomes before planting. Loosening is carried out every time after watering the plant.
Top dressing
Tobacco does not need frequent weeding. Fertilizers are applied 2-3 times during the growing season. Use a standard dose of minerals for flowering plants or nitrophosphate.
The replenishment stimulates abundant, lush flowering.
Diseases and harmful beetles
Fragrant tobacco is renowned for its high resistance to diseases and pests. It contains many phytoncides that repel harmful beetles. If there is an invasion of aphids or other insects, the bushes are sprayed with insecticides. For diseases like powdery mildew, fungicides help.
After flowering
The plant does not require pruning, but wilted inflorescences are removed in order to maintain a decorative appearance. The procedure does not affect the abundance of pollen.
Choosing a variety of tobacco
Scientists of the All-Russian Institute of Tobacco have selected 186 varieties of tobacco products intended for the cultivation of smoking tobacco in the difficult climatic conditions of our country. For example, Holly (Soviet large-leaved cultivar) is the leader in tobacco plant growing. For many years it was the main source of raw materials for cigarettes produced by Soviet factories. Currently, there are more than 30 modifications of this unpretentious and high-yielding plant.
Holly 316
Refers to mid-late-ripening varieties with a ripening period of 110 days. A narrow elliptical sheet. The average size of a leaf plate is 45 x 25 cm. One bush gives up to 40 leaves suitable for fermentation.
Samsun 155
An early ripening variety with a ripening period of 91 days. It rarely reaches a height of 1 meter. At the same time, Samsun 155 provides a record number of technical sheets - 50 units from one bush. The area of the leaf blade with good care reaches 530 square meters. cm.
Refectory 15
Another popular domestic tobacco variety. The demand is easily explained by the fast ripening period (90 days from planting to breaking) and taste.
Datura 904
The official name of the Village Makhorka is the most common variety among amateur tobacco growers. An unpretentious plant easily tolerates temperature fluctuations, is resistant to tobacco diseases, and gives a high yield. 100% seed germination is especially noted.
Armenia
The second most popular variety of makhorka.By the way, the unofficial name is Makhorka No. 2. A distinctive feature is high yield and resistance to diseases. Just like "Datura 904", the growing season is no more than 80 days.
General information about the tobacco plant
The homeland of the plant is North and South America. Tobacco was brought to Europe by the French traveler Andre Teve in 1556. The plant was named Nicotiana after the Frenchman Jean Nico, who brought snuff to France. This name is still listed in the botanical classification, hence the name of nicotine. Initially, Europeans cultivated it as an ornamental shrub, but since 1565 the leaves have been smoked. People liked this use of the plant. From the beginning of the 17th century, the fashion for tobacco plantations spread. In the XVIII century. tobacco was already known in Europe, Asia and Africa.
The plant looks like a medium-sized bush. The stem of the tobacco is thick and sturdy. Large leaves are attached to the trunk, slightly pointed at the ends. The root system reaches 2 m. During flowering, a paniculate inflorescence blooms. The fruit of a tobacco bush is a seed capsule that cracks when ripe.
Ordinary tobacco is grown primarily for smoking. On an industrial scale, cigarettes, cigars and cigarettes are made from it. In addition to smoking, there are 3 more types: snuff, chewing and mouth. Using each of them leads to addiction. The reason for this is nicotine, which in a dry leaf contains up to 5% of the total mass.
Leaves are the main value and yield of tobacco plantations. The crop yield is high - 2-3 tons are removed from 1 hectare of plantations.
Did you know? Tobacco smoking is the most common type of smoking. According to the WHO, every third adult man in the world smokes tobacco.
The first stage is growing seedlings
For sowing seeds in open ground, special conditions are not required. The main thing is that the sowing takes place in a sufficiently heated and moist soil at an air temperature of at least 20-25 degrees. The seeds are not buried in the ground, but are scattered over a damp surface.
The situation is different with growing tobacco seedlings. In this case, the stage is divided into a series of sequential actions.
- 3-5 days before sowing, moisten the seeds with a solution of tartaric acid or water with the addition of 1% potassium. This will help shorten the germination period.
- After a day, rinse the seed and spread it in a thin layer (2-3 cm) on the bottom of the enamel container. Cover with a damp cotton towel and store in a well-lit area. The air temperature must be at least 25 °.
- After 3-4 days, immediately after the seeds hatch, dry them slightly and mix with sand, sow in the greenhouse.
Attention! The best time for sowing in a greenhouse is late February / early March. At mid-latitudes, this is the coldest time of the year. Therefore, the greenhouse must be heated.
Before planting seedlings in open ground, the main thing is to ensure that the soil is sufficiently moist.
Features of growing scented tobacco
Scented tobacco is grown through seedlings.
Seeds are planted in a prepared container in the middle of spring.
They are quite small, therefore, they do not need to be deepened, but it is only necessary to press a little into the soil.
For better germination, it is recommended to pre-soak the seeds in a piece of gauze, and plant them only when they swell well, but have not hatched yet.
The land for seedlings is prepared in equal proportions, namely:
- humus;
- peat;
- garden land.
After that, the container with the seeds must be covered with a film, creating greenhouse conditions for future sprouts, which will appear in literally 3 weeks.
As soon as the first shoots appear, the film needs to be slightly opened to ensure the supply of fresh air.
Seedlings should be watered sparingly to prevent waterlogging of the soil.
When the first leaves appear on the shoots, they need to be dived into separate containers.
When the seedlings get a little stronger, they are hardened.
The plant is planted on the flower bed only after the first frosts have passed.
The distance between the seedlings should be within 20 cm of each other.
Read more about how to grow scented tobacco seedlings in this article.
The flower garden must first be dug up, organic fertilizers applied, watered.
Prepare small holes, apply fertilizers, a little soil and transplant tobacco seedlings along with the soil into the prepared holes, tamp and water a little.
The second stage - landing in open ground
Depending on the region, planting of seedlings in soil is carried out from April 20 to the end of May. The main markers in determining the planting date are the absence of frost and the soil warmed up to 10 degrees.
- Until this time, the plant should already have 4-5 leaves and a stem 3-5 mm thick. It is recommended to reduce the number of waterings to a minimum a week before planting. For 2 days, watering is stopped. And immediately before planting, you need to water the sprouts abundantly. This is necessary in order not to damage the root system of a young plant during extraction.
- Planting scheme for large-leaved plants (Holly, Virginia, etc.): 70x30 cm, where 70 cm is the distance between bushes in a row, and 30 cm is the distance between rows. For medium-leaf (Samsun, Trapezond): 60x20 cm.
- The depth of the hole depends on the length of the root. Holes are prepared in advance before the start of work. Each hole is well spilled with water - not less than 0.5 liters.
- After deepening, it is required to slightly squeeze the soil around the stem and sprinkle with dry earth to maintain moisture.
Fragrant tobacco - a description of the plant and the rules for caring for it
Fragrant tobacco is a plant with large inflorescences that emit a unique, enchanting aroma.
Thanks to its original and unique flowering, it can become a real decoration for absolutely any garden.
Fragrant tobacco is a plant resistant to various pests, and a pleasant aroma for humans is completely unpalatable to insects, therefore, it can be planted between vegetable crops to provide protection from pests.
This is a versatile plant that is grown not only for its lush flowering and unique aroma.
There are several varieties of this plant, which is why, on your personal plot, you can arrange many different flowers.
It should be noted that they differ in the length of the stem and the color of the inflorescences.
Plant features
This plant belongs to the nightshade family and is native to America.
The shrub has an erect stem, rather large, drooping leaves and small, star-shaped flowers.
The height of the plant largely depends on the variety and can range from 30 cm to 1 m.
Flowering lasts from June to September.
Flowers mostly open in the evening and have a rather pleasant, enchanting aroma.
This heat-loving plant has many advantages, among which are:
- ease of growing;
- attractive appearance;
- unique aroma.
The hybrids have huge buds that are open throughout the day, while the wild ones only open in the evening.
Note!
Hybrids have almost no scent, and white plants smell best.
What a flower looks like - fragrant tobacco photo
The most popular varieties of scented tobacco
There are many different forms of this amazing flower, which differ in the color of the flowers and the length of the stem.
They are divided into several groups according to plant height, namely:
- undersized;
- medium-sized;
- tall.
Low-growing varieties of scented tobacco
Dwarf varieties reach a maximum length of 30 cm and can be planted near curbs.
Among the most famous varieties are:
- Havana Appleblossom;
- Nicki red;
- Rosa Gnom.
Havana appleblossom
Havana Appleblossom has white, pinkish, reddish flowers.
Nicki red is a lush shrub with fiery red buds.
However, you can find this plant variety with buds of other shades.
The Rosa Gnom variety is one of the smallest plants, since the height of the bush is no more than 25 cm, and its buds are reddish-pink.
Medium-sized varieties of scented tobacco
Medium-sized varieties reach a height of about 70 cm. They can even act as a natural hedge.
Often there are varieties such as:
- Green light;
- Purple Haze;
- Lime Green;
- Night Bonfire;
- A fragrant harbor.
The Lime Green variety is grown as a perennial, and its inflorescences are represented by several shades of buds at once.
The Green Light flower has unique light green buds.
Green light
Lilac Mist has buds of a rich lilac shade of various sizes.
Tall varieties of scented tobacco
Tall plants reach a height of more than 70 cm. They can act as a filling in the background of the lawn, and they are also planted in groups near shrubs.
Among the most popular varieties of this group, it is necessary to highlight:
- Aroma Green;
- Hypnosis;
- Sensation;
- Mazji noir.
The Hypnosis variety differs in that it has exquisite combinations of shades with a very refined aroma.
Variety Mazhi-naur
Sensation is a fragrant variety reaching a height of about 1 m. Flowers open mainly in the evening. The color of the buds is mixed.
The variety Mazhi-naur with an unusually exquisite and luxurious scent of white flowers.
Many of the varieties grow somewhat snuggling to the soil, acting as a natural rug.
Scented tobacco
The third stage is leaving
Within three weeks after planting the seedlings, an intensive growth of the stem and leaves of the plant is observed, and a rosette is formed. Care during this period is reduced to hilling and regular watering.
- Formation of a rosette is the time for the synthesis of nicotine and a signal to increase the number of watering. Agricultural technicians consider the period to be the most important and decisive. The quality of the finished tobacco largely depends on the quality of plant care in this cycle.
- Fertilizers are applied twice throughout the entire growth: a week after planting and after the formation of the rosette.
- Grasshopping (removal of side shoots) is carried out regularly as it grows.
Features of plant care
It can be called a capricious plant when it comes to watering. It is necessary to carry out regular watering of the culture, otherwise it will cause you a lot of trouble and you will not get the desired result. The minimum care consists in organizing watering, and it will be better if you do this often: in the morning and in the evening. Fragrant tobacco grows well and blooms in constantly moist soil.
To achieve abundant flowering, it is necessary to feed the soil when small buds appear, and the second - as soon as the first flowers begin to bloom.
It will be enough for him to irrigate with water with the addition of mineral fertilizers for flowering crops.
The flowering of the shrub is lush, the inflorescences are large, therefore, the fading inflorescences must be removed from the shrub, although their presence does not in any way affect the growth of new buds. This shrub does not suffer from pests and diseases, and even acts as a prophylactic agent for nearby growing plants.
Fourth stage - harvesting
The collection is carried out in early autumn at the stage of yellowing of the foliage. Discard the collected material carefully. Damaged or damp leaves are absolutely not suitable for drying!
- The plucked leaves are folded for a period of 12 hours for drying in a well-ventilated and shaded room in dense layers of 20-30 cm.
- The leaves prepared in this way are strung on a nylon cord and hung until completely dry.
- To speed up the process, you can use an oven or microwave.
The tobacco is ready for use as soon as the leaf is dry and brittle enough to be shredded later.
