Shag Bessarabian Seeds

Shag Bessarabian is a variety of Nicotiana rustica, an annual plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae). It is listed in our catalogue under Tobacco and Shag Seeds, and the name above is kept exactly as the catalogue has it. The card for this seed records the species and the name only, so there is nothing here about the height, leaf shape or flower colour of this particular variety. What follows covers the species and the sowing of its seed.

Also known as: Aztec tobacco, mapacho, wild tobacco (common names of the species Nicotiana rustica)

About the species

• Nicotiana rustica is a different species from the more widely grown Nicotiana tabacum.
• It belongs to Solanaceae, the family that also holds tomato, pepper and petunia.
• It is grown as an annual, started from seed each season.
• Species description: a branching plant with rounded leaves on short stalks and small, greenish-yellow tubular flowers.
• For this variety no measurements are saved, so a plant in your garden may differ from that general description.

Sowing the seed

Nicotiana seed is very fine, close to dust, and it needs light to germinate. For that reason it goes on top of the growing mix and is not buried.

• Container: a shallow tray or small pots of fine seed-starting mix, levelled, firmed lightly and watered before sowing.
• Spreading: a pinch of dry sand mixed with the seed makes it easier to see where it falls and keeps the sowing thin.
• Contact: press the surface gently with a flat board so the seed touches the mix. Leave it uncovered.
• Moisture: water from below or mist the surface. A heavy pour moves fine seed into clumps. A clear lid helps keep the top layer damp.
• Light and warmth: a bright, warm place. Cool, dim conditions slow Nicotiana seed.

No germination time or sowing temperature is saved for this variety, so none is quoted here. If the tray is slow, check light and warmth first, then surface moisture.

Moving seedlings outside

• Seedlings are tiny and grow slowly at first. Prick them out into individual pots once they are big enough to hold by a leaf, not by the stem.
• Harden them off over several days before they go outdoors.
• Plant out only when frost is no longer expected, in a sunny spot with fertile, well-drained soil.
• Allow room between plants, because the species is described as branching. The card gives no spacing figure for this variety.

What is not recorded yet

This item has no photographs, seed specifications or measurements on its card. For that reason the page gives no seed size, no viability period, no germination percentage and no mature height. They can be added after they have been checked against the seed itself.

FAQ

What sowing conditions does Shag Bessarabian need?

Sow it on the surface of fine, moist mix and leave it uncovered, because the seed needs light. Keep the tray bright, warm and evenly damp until seedlings show.

When should I sow it?

Annual Nicotiana is usually started indoors several weeks before the last expected frost, so the seedlings are sturdy by the time nights stay warm. The card gives no date specific to this variety, so adjust to your own climate.

How tall does it grow?

No height is recorded for this variety. Nicotiana rustica is generally described as a branching plant, and final size depends on light, soil, spacing and the length of the season.