Surprisingly,
tobacco is closely related to Tomatoes and Potatoes as they are all
members of the Solanaceae family. Of course tobacco isn't a vegetable,
but in olden days the leaves were processed to make chewing tobacco as
an early alternative to smoking it in the form of cigarettes or
cigars. From a health point of view it is not the Nicotine in tobacco
that is the real problem, (although it is said to be addictive) it is
smoking it and the damage this does to the lungs in one way or
another. If this is true, then those that crave their nicotine buzz
might consider growing their own and going back to chewing it. What
the various government departments would say about growing your own
tobacco I don't know, but it is wholly practical because there are
family tales about how my Grandfather used to grow all his own tobacco
here in the U.K. both before the Second World War and for years
afterwards.
Cultivation
is very straightforward from seed and really just the same as for tomatoes.
However, you will certainly have difficulty obtaining seeds of
Nicotiana Tobacum and do not be confused by the closely related
Nicotiana that is grown as a bedding plant. Seeds need to be raised indoors, as do the plants, or
young plants can be transplanted
outside in a sheltered, warm position, after all risk of frosts has
finished in the
Spring. Plants will reach 4 - 6 feet in height and any developing
flowers removed as should the side shoots. Leaves can be
harvested from August onwards. Processing the resulting tobacco leaves
is no simple affair as they need to be air cured, fermented in kilns
and even flavoured with a sauce before being pressed.
Surprisingly,
tobacco is closely related to Tomatoes and Potatoes as they are all
members of the Solanaceae family. Of course tobacco isn't a vegetable,
but in olden days the leaves were processed to make chewing tobacco as
an early alternative to smoking it in the form of cigarettes or
cigars. From a health point of view it is not the Nicotine in tobacco
that is the real problem, (although it is said to be addictive) it is
smoking it and the damage this does to the lungs in one way or
another. If this is true, then those that crave their nicotine buzz
might consider growing their own and going back to chewing it. What
the various government departments would say about growing your own
tobacco I don't know, but it is wholly practical because there are
family tales about how my Grandfather used to grow all his own tobacco
here in the U.K. both before the Second World War and for years
afterwards.
Cultivation
is very straightforward from seed and really just the same as for tomatoes.
However, you will certainly have difficulty obtaining seeds of
Nicotiana Tobacum and do not be confused by the closely related
Nicotiana that is grown as a bedding plant. Seeds need to be raised indoors, as do the plants, or
young plants can be transplanted
outside in a sheltered, warm position, after all risk of frosts has
finished in the
Spring. Plants will reach 4 - 6 feet in height and any developing
flowers removed as should the side shoots. Leaves can be
harvested from August onwards. Processing the resulting tobacco leaves
is no simple affair as they need to be air cured, fermented in kilns
and even flavoured with a sauce before being pressed.