Planing for '08

[Alan]

I was re-organizing the seed closet last night and taking note of what tobacco types I have in my collection and have decided that this year I am going to focus on Havana types and Madole (chewing) types and breeding some new family members into these lines. I particularly like the idea of breeding a nice, huge flowering Havana type because I love the big wide leaves and think it would make an absolutely astonishing bedding plant along driveways or south facing walls, with those big wide leaves I think a lot of people would be really attracted to it.

I also like the idea of the madole being a smaller to mid size plant with narrow leaves with a nice clean look and the ever beautiful flowers, we will see what happens with this come spring/summer '08.

[plantsnobin]

Alan, I would like a few plants to put into the garden for ornamentals, do you still have the seeds for the blue flowering? They make very good hummingbird plants. Karen

[Alan]

Hey Karen, Yeah, I've still got the seeds and will dig them out in spring and start some for you, I'll also try to dig out the dark red flowering variety and give you some of those for the garden too. These would be terrific for attracting all kinds of pollinators. A lot of folks don't realize it but tobacco flowers very similar too and functions much like a tall petunia plant.

[plantsnobin]

Nicotiana sylvestris, alata and langsdorfii are great garden plants, but probably not well known by people who don't raise their own plants from seed. They don't make such a good 'pack plant', so Wal-mart is not going to have them. But, I better not get started on Wal-mart, and how stupid the American public in general is becoming. Karen

[Alan]

All of the above are terrific ornamentals. That's why I have such an infatuation with Nicotiana Tobaccum because it is beautiful and mult-useful.

[rodger]

Alan we had talk before about trading some seed at the AHSC, But since the conference was delayed till next year I would still be interested in getting some seed and the blue a red large leaf types isound great. Let me know if we can work something out. rodger

[Alan]

Sure, unfortunately my crop of those this year was prematurley destroyed by an over anxious father with a bushhog, but I do believe I have enough to send you a small sample, i'll dig them out and see what I have and let you know.

[ohiorganic]

I have no idea why I have not looked at this section before. I do smoke tobacco and my husband and I have been interested in growing it for many years. And recently over at Idig and interesting topic on "what would you grow when the end of the world as we know it comes" brought up the idea that if one grew tobacco one could trade it. or in my case, smoke it.

So my question is what are the best smoking varieties for WC Ohio? I think I am a 1/2 zone north of you Alan, maybe a whole zone since there are some nice warm pockets in your area, vs the flat plains in mine.

[Alan]

Just about any Nicotiana Tobaccum should be able to grow, thrive, and mature in your zone.

For ciggarette smoking your going to want either a Burley type or a Virginia gold type. For the best results and for a smooth smoke your going to want to grow two or three different varieties of Burley or Viginia gold.

For cigars you will be looking for a few different types of tobacco. Havan types with wide leaves make the best wrapers. Burleys make good binders, Virginias and some Orinoco's make good fillers. Once again your going to want two or three varieties for filler tobacco for a smooth smoke.

For chew, dip or snuff, Madole, orinoco, and twist bud types are the best to grow, though you will definetly want to add your own flavorings.

For Pipe tobacco just about anything aromatic can be used including Nicotiana Sylvestris, but the high-priced and rare Perique is the truffle of pipe tobaccos.

Hope this helps. If your interested in growing tobacco I could send you a variety or two.

-Alan