How to grow nicotiana from seed

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Monday, 3 June 2019 at 1:56 pm

Learn how to grow fragrant nicotiana from seed, in our step-by-step guide.

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For the price of a few packets of seed, half-hardy annuals, such as tobacco plant (Nicotiana), can be sown in March ready to flower in summer. Start your half-hardy annuals in the greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill, then acclimatise them to life outdoors before planting out in their final position.

You Will Need

Seed tray or small pots
Seed compost
Vermiculite or fine grit
A propagator or plastic bag
7cm pots
Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
Cold frame

Step 1

Fill a tray with seed compost, then sow a tiny pinch of seeds in each cell. Cover with a vermiculite, water and place the tray in a propagator in a warm spot such as a windowsill.

Step 2

Once seeds have germinated, wait until two pairs of leaves form. Then, holding each seedling by its leaves and not its stem, transplant each one individually into a 7cm pot filled with sieved multipurpose compost.

Step 3

Water seedlings well after transplanting and keep the pots in a warm, bright place. Avoid exposure to bright sunlight, which can scorch the young leaves.