How to grow tobacco plant

Tobacco plant (nicotiana) is a popular summer bedding plant, with long tubular flowers that attract butterflies and moths. Many nicotiana varieties are night-scented and open their flowers only in the evening, making them a great choice for containers near a seating area when it's warm enough to eat outside. Tobacco plants are easy to grow from seed and flower for a long period from July through to September. A wide choice of flower colours includes lime green, white, red, pink, purple or yellow.

Although many nicotiana are short-lived perennials, they're usually grown as annuals because they won't survive a hard frost.

Where to grow tobacco plant

Grow nicotiana in moist, well-drained soil, in full sun to partial shade. Some varieties, such as Nicotiana alata, do best in full sun, while Nicotiana sylvestris needs a spot in partial or dappled shade. Nicotiana will do well planted in a border or in a container as part of a summer display.

When to plant tobacco plant

The best time to sow seed of tobacco plant (nicotiana) is in spring. If you're buying garden-ready plants, they should be planted outdoors once all danger of frost is over, in late May or June.

How to plant tobacco plant

Sow nicotiana seed in early spring under cover in trays or small pots . The seeds should be sown on the surface of the compost or lightly covered with vermiculate. Water and place on a warm windowsill. Once the seedlings have two pairs of leaves, gently prick them out and pot on into individual 7cm pots. Grow on indoors and once the danger of frost is over, harden off seedlings, moving them into a cold frame during the day and bringing them under cover at night for around a week.

Plant either in borders or containers, in a warm, sunny area. In borders, plant so that the top of the rootball is level with the surrounding soil. Firm in and water well. Fill containers with multi-purpose compost, leaving a gap at the top to allow for watering. As with planting in borders, plant so that the top of the rootball is level with the surrounding compost, firm in and water well.

How to care for tobacco plant

Plant in a sheltered area to avoid wind damage and stake taller varieties, which can reach 1.5m tall.

Deadhead spent blooms regularly to prolong the flowering season. Species nicotianas will self-seed if left.

Water regularly, especially if growing in containers. Feed with a general fertiliser every 14 days.

Grown as tender perennials, nicotiana can be overwintered outdoors in sheltered gardens, where the temperature doesn't drop regularly below -5ºC. Cut back in autumn and lay a thick layer of dry mulch around the base of the plant for the best chances of regrowth the following spring.

Pests and diseases

Nicotiana is easy to grow but can be prone to slug and snail damage. Protect young plants by making beer traps near your plants or going out in the evening to remove any slugs on the plants. Tobacco plants can also be susceptible to aphids, thrips, whitefly and glasshouse leafhopper. Ensure there is good ventilation around plants in the greenhouse and keep surfaces clean to prevent pests. Outdoors, encourage wildlife such as birds.

Tobacco plants can also be damaged by viruses. The most common are grey moulds, powdery mildew and tobacco mosaic disease. To prevent powdery mildew, keep up a regular watering regime so that plants are not in soil that is too dry.

Tobacco mosaic virus can infect tobacco plants, tomatoes and peppers. Symptoms include a light green mosaic pattern or mottling on the leaves, or curling leaves. There isn't a cure so it's best to remove and destroy any plants with the virus to prevent it spreading.

How to propagate tobacco plant

Many nicotiana plants can be left to self seed. Either leave them to drop their seeds naturally or let the seedheads develop and cut these off when the seedpods have turned brown. Spread out the seeds on a piece of paper to dry for a couple of days and then store them in an envelope. Sow the seed in spring.

Tobacco plant varieties to grow

Nicotiana sylvestris is a tall tobacco plant with long white flowers and a strong fragrance. Height x Spread: 1.5m x 60cm

• Buy Nicotiana sylvestris from Crocus

Nicotiana alata 'Lime Green' has vibrant green flowers that have made it a popular both as a summer container plant and cut flower. H x S: 60cm x 30cm

• Buy Nicotiana alata 'Lime Green' from Sarah Raven

Nicotiana langsdorfii is another tall variety reaching from 90cm to 1.5m tall making it a good plant for filling gaps at the back of a border. It has long, bell-shaped light green flowers and large sticky leaves. H x S: 1.5m x

• Buy Nicotiana langsdorfii from Thompson & Morgan

Nicotiana x hybrida 'Whisper Mixed' is a long flowering mix, blooming from May through to October. It has masses of small dark pink flowers that fade to a lighter pink, then white. H x S: 90cm x 45cm

• Buy Nicotiana x hybrida 'Whisper Mixed' from Crocus

Nicotiana 'Tinkerbell' has pretty flowers with crimson insides and green outer petals. H x S: 75cm x 45cm

• Buy Nicotiana mutabalis 'Tinkerbell' from Sarah Raven

Frequently asked questions

Does tobacco plant come back every year?

Many types of tobacco plant are grown as annuals as they're not frost hardy. However, there are some types which are short-lived perennials and may come back in the spring for a few years in mild regions.

How toxic is tobacco plant?

Tobacco plant is harmful to humans if eaten and it's advisable to avoid skin contact. It's also toxic to cats, dogs and horses.

Can you smoke tobacco straight from the plant?

Only a few species of nicotiana, or tobacco plant, have leaves that are used to make tobacco. These include Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rustica. The leaves can't be smoked straight from the plant as they would be too wet. Tobacco leaves need to be dried and cured before they can be used as tobacco.

Leaves of other nicotiana plants do contain nicotine, but bear in mind that they may also contain other compounds, such as anabasine, which is highly toxic to humans and animals. Remember that plants in the Nicotiana genus are in the Solanum family, and that all members of this family have some degree of toxicity, so it's best not to experiment with smoking or otherwise ingesting those that haven't been marked as safe to consume.