Ornamental tobacco

Flowering tobacco is not hardy in Central Europe and dies after the first frost. Grow it as an annual and sow anew the following year, or let it self-seed. A particularly lovely plant can be dug up before the frost, potted and overwintered bright, cool and frost-free, watering sparingly.

Flowering tobacco is propagated exclusively by sowing. The seeds are light germinators, so lay them only on the surface of the moist seed compost and press them down lightly without covering them. Start sowing from February/March on a bright windowsill or in a greenhouse at 20 to 25 °C. Cover the tray loosely with clear film and ventilate it briefly every day so that no mould develops. Always water from below, so that the tiny seeds are not washed away. Be a little patient: with good warmth, the first seed leaves usually appear after one to three weeks. Once the seedlings are strong enough, prick them out singly into small pots. From mid-May, after the Ice Saints, you can plant the frost-tender young plants outdoors. Under favourable conditions Nicotiana alata also sows itself, so that the following year you often find new plants without any further effort.