Family: Solanaceae
Scientific name: Nicotiana tabacum
Common name: Tabacco
Origin: Hispaniola (Haïti and Domincan Republic)
Tabacco from this tabacco species has been cultivated for over hundreds of years. Tabacco has its origins in the Caribbean area, and was used for medical purposes. It also proved to be an effective insecticide at plantations, and was used as a bug repellent. Tabacco was advertised as both a decorative plant and a ‘wonder drug’ in Europe, but already in the 17th century it proved to be less healthy than previously assumed. The medicinal application disappeared, but the use of tabacco kept rising in popularity. The leaves contain 2-8% nicotine, and is therefore very addictive. In the 18th century it became a symbol of status for the rich, who started to smoke tabacco with a pipe. The cigarette was later introduced, and is still very popular. Currently, China is the biggest producer of tabacco.
The plant can be grown in the garden as an annual plant. It is a decorative plant with big leaves (up to 60 cm), and pink flowers. The leaves can be harvested in summer, and can be dried for 6-8 weeks. It is a cultivated species that is probably a hybrid of three wild tabacco species.
Sowing instructions: Sow the small seeds very close to the surface in a sowingmixture, and cover the pot with glas or plastic foil. Germination occurs after a few weeks, keep the soil constantly moist and put the pot in a light area.
Sowing time: February-May
Difficulty: Easy
Minimum temperature: 5 degrees Celsius
