HOW TO GROW TOBACCO PART 2: Starting the seeds indoors

[@DIYmonkey]

Back in the days before highly mechanized farming people would broadcast tobacco seeds over a small area of dirt outdoors and cover the area with a white sheet help protect the seeds and prevent them from washing away. Once they had reached about 2" to 3" tall they would transplant the seedlings into rows in the field. These days even large commercial tobacco farms start the seeds indoors in huge floating beds (Styrofoam seed trays floating on water). You cover them with dirt but only about 1/4"

[@DIYmonkey]

Thank you. I store seeds in zip lock bags. I squeeze most of the air out prior to sealing and store them in a cool place (about 69 degrees or so). Some of the seeds I planted this year were 3 years old and they did just fine. Not sure how long you can make them last but if you grow every year just save seeds about every other year and you will have an endless supply.

[@AAD531]

don't burry the seeds at all just sprinkle them on top and make sure there covered with lots of light. I do this every year and get about a 95% germination rate.

[@zoni36]

Thank you so much! I am starting very, very small. But wanted to express my appreciation for your video. It was very informative and gave me the confidence to plant some of these little guys! Will keep you posted

[@brandondarrin1408]

I was told not to cover them with dirt but to let them germinate on top of the soil.

[@FRISKY_MANDINGO]

lol. I wonder if you could just put the seeds in a salt shaker. perhaps one with an even smaller screen over the cap. I couldn't have the patience to sit there and bother with each cell. with a salt shaker you might waste a little bit, but you're thinning them anyways. Those seeds are damn small. You weren't kidding.

[@DIYmonkey]

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[@thetobaccoguy1751]

My first pot of Samsun seeds just sprouted yesterday! I planted my Virginia Gold and Kentucky Burley in seed trays last night. It's about 60 days till last frost. I hope I didn't start to early, but I was impatient.

[@cortlanddaily726]

Heh, I am a few months out from last frost... but they are looking healthy! :3 Patience... impossible with early Christmas presents such as these!

[@thetobaccoguy1751]

Pompeius Magnus Is this you're first year? My biggest lessons learned, were start you're plants early, but not TOO early. I started mine about 3 months before planting time. I should have cut it to 2 months, tops. My closet looked like a forest, and it actually stunted the plants by getting so big indoors. Also, give them plenty of space in the garden. I did 3 1/2 - 4 feet apart, should have made it at least 5 feet. You can check out a few videos I shot of the garden.

[@cortlanddaily726]

This is more or less my first year-- definitely going to be the first year with applied effort! I was more or less checking germination on my new seeds for this next season... but then temptation took over and I am attempting to grow them 100% indoors; hopefully with good results so I can grow during the winter as well.

[@NENASMOM]

My husband and I are considering growing tobacco. Do you do yours for profit?

[@DIYmonkey]

Actually you can grow tobacco indoors. You just go from these small starter trays and instead of transplanting outside in 6 weeks you transfer your plants into small 8" pots and after about 6 more weeks in those pots you can transfer them into 5 gallon buckets (or the largest pots you can find. The larger the better). BUT the plants grown indoors will only be a little more than half the size of plants grown outside in the proper conditions

[@paddymcmullan]

use a cocktail stick and wet the top , cn pick seeds up one at a time

[@DolittleMccoy]

I tried planting tobacco last year for the first time.. I planted Va' Gold and i used seed pods. But nothing worked out for me.. The info that i read on google said to fill the seed pod tray with water,, Place in a dark room and water twice per day... None of them germinated and was covered in mold... So i'm going to try it again this year.. I'm using regular plant cells filled with potting mix, Along with a heat light and spraying them twice per day... So far it has been 3 days.. I didn't cover my seeds with soil and they arel basically just lying on top of the soil... Should i cover them with soil or Is that a necessary?

[@cortlanddaily726]

Ah, you should never water from the top so early-- could wash them away, and bury them. Tobacco, I have found, is very fragile in the early stages, and is best to be surface sowed (and it is a bit easier). If you keep them somewhere relatively warm (70F+ or so), covered with foil (or plastic wrap), it takes between 3 days and 14 days to germinate (depends on the quality of seeds, and their freshness), they should then be introduced to sunlight. I wouldn't water from the top for awhile still, they are still very fragile, and their roots are very small; they could very easily be broken, shocked, or buried. After they reach the 4" - 6" mark, you should transplant into the final pot/plot, and they should be strong enough to handle nature. After the 1' mark, you can't kill the dang plants (which is a good thing!), but pests would be your next worry :I.

[@johannesluhta3023]

great presentation....well done and informative...thank you

[@sirtom68]

I'm a newb at this, haven't tried it yet, but I have ta say that covering the seeds with soil goes against everything I have been told, or read about germinating tobacco. It works for you apparently. Is this the best way, or just your personal preference? Nice little vid series.

[@187pitboss]

what website would you suggest buying seeds from

[@ustmissouri8029]

".... bag of seeds saved from a couple of years ago." Explain how you store the seeds and an estimate of how many years they will last if stored that way. I currently have twenty eight plants coming along just fine. It is my intention to grow and harvest those plants. When cured I will mix it with some tobacco bought from the internet. Stretches my smoking dollar a little farther :-) Thank You P.S. Looks like you have put together a nice video

[@basseboaa1312]

Nice vid :) I must ask Do you think i can grow tobacco in sweden ??

[@kastrosolomon2204]

How about growing them in the hot climate like Africa.

[@davidroldan711]

Is this good for cigar leafs non cigerrette use?