Growing tobacco at home: the best varieties and plant care rules

Growing smoking tobacco at home is a good way to save money on buying cigarettes. The plant is not whimsical, it can be grown not only on an open plot of land, but even on a windowsill. However, the culture requires the creation of special conditions that will allow it to fully grow and form leaves. And in order for her not to die, she needs the most basic care.

Features of growing tobacco at home

Despite the fact that the cultivation of tobacco for smoking is not difficult, you need to find the best place for it in an apartment or private house.This plant is characterized by thermophilicity, so low air temperature is not suitable for it. It may not die, but the taste of the final product will be far from those that the smoker is used to

The following factors affect the quality of raw materials:

humidity level;
composition of the soil (the concentration of s alts and minerals in it);
Climatic conditions of the region;
ambient air temperature;
lighting.

Therefore, before you start propagating seedlings, think carefully about where to place it. Depending on the climate zone in your area, a place on a balcony or on a windowsill may be a better option than, for example, a greenhouse or an open garden under the windows.

Suitable varieties

Tobacco varieties that can be grown at home are conventionally divided into 3 varieties:

Group	Features	Popular varieties
Oriental	Most varieties of tobacco from this category are considered aromatic. They contain high concentrations of resins and essential oils that enhance the smell of cigarettes made from cultures of this class.	Samsun, Trapezond, American, Dubec, Central Asian.
American or large-leaf	These varieties of tobacco have a high level of strength. Its nicotine percentage is higher than that of aromatics.	Burley, Maryland, Virginia.
Cigar	Elite varieties of tobacco that require special care. At home, they are not grown as often as the two types described above.	Havana, Sumatra.

You can cultivate several varieties of tobacco at once. But try not to sow seeds of different varieties of plants in one pot - prepare a separate container for each of them.

Growing conditions

Tobacco is slow growing. If you plan to grow it indoors, then there are no restrictions on the timing of sowing seeds. If it is planned to further dive into the garden, then sow 2-3 months before planting. And do not forget to provide the culture with the following conditions for growth.

Lighting

The plant should be placed in the brightest corners of the house. Seedlings are placed on the windowsills in the apartment or on the balcony. In the evening, young sprouts are recommended to be illuminated, so they are more likely to grow.

Temperature conditions

Tobacco, as previously noted, is a thermophilic culture, so the air temperature in the room for growing it should be kept at 25-28 °C. A sharp decrease in these indicators will lead to a h alt in plant growth, changes in the quality and taste of raw materials, or the death of bushes.

Advice! If you decide to grow a crop in winter, place the pots near heat sources. But do not put them directly on the fireplace or boiler: excessively high temperatures are just as dangerous for them as low ones.

Capacity

Tobacco requires large pots or long, wide wooden boxes. The plant has spreading leaves, so space is important for them.

You can sow the seeds in plastic cups, and when the seedlings grow a little, transplant them into a larger container or into a garden bed. The crop pot should measure 15-25 centimeters, but it all depends on what variety you are growing.

Soil and fertilizers

Tobacco grows well in sandy loamy soil with sufficient nitrogen and potassium. And since the plant is able to quickly absorb all the nutrients, the land on which it is located must be regularly fertilized. Mullein or bird droppings are suitable for this. If necessary, the soil is mixed with lime to normalize its acidity.

When making your own soil mix, use:

garden soil - 2 parts;
sand - 1 part;
humus - 1 part.

Feeding the plant can be started after sowing seeds for seedlings. A mixture obtained from manure and superphosphate is used. When the first inflorescences appear, it is recommended to treat the plant with a decoction of onion peel.

Plant Formation

Tobacco is formed periodically and as needed. When the culture sprouts and enters the flowering phase, the inflorescences must be removed along with excess side shoots. This will avoid the expenditure of the forces of the bushes to maintain the growth of unnecessary green mass. Additional shaping activities are not required.

Planting and care

The tobacco plant is grown from seeds. This process has the following specifics:

for sowing, choose only strong, intact grains;
after placing the planting material in the soil, do not forget to carry out abundant watering: tobacco loves moisture;
first sprouts appear 3-7 days after sowing the seeds;
so that plants planted in one pot do not interfere with each other, place the seeds at a distance of 5-7 centimeters;
grains after decomposition in the soil, do not sprinkle with earth, but simply cover the container with cling film or disposable plastic cups.

As soon as you notice that the plants have begun to take root and actively grow, remove all small and fragile specimens. Leave 1 of the strongest tobacco plants in the pot.

Advice. If you grow tobacco in a wooden or plastic box, you can leave 2-3 strong plants in each of them.

To grow he althy seedlings, don't forget to water them regularly. To do this, you do not need to wait for the topsoil to dry out. Irrigation should be carried out every 2-3 days, using at least 1-2 liters of water for one bush.

You need to fertilize the plant according to the previously described principle. Additionally, you can wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or lightly spray: this will protect the culture from some phytopathologies.

Growing tobacco at home is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. Provide the bushes with good conditions for development, give proper care - and you can get a good plant crop, saving a lot of money on buying cigarettes.