Shag Soviet Seeds

Shag Soviet is a Nicotiana rustica variety offered here as seed for growing the plant. The product card describes a medium-sized, compact plant that reaches 1.2 to 1.5 m (about 4 to 5 feet) tall, with sturdy stems, dense foliage and thick, textured, dark green leaves. Nicotiana rustica is a different species from the more widely grown Nicotiana tabacum, and the notes below follow the variety description on the product card.

Also known as: Aztec tobacco, mapacho, wild tobacco

These are common names of the species Nicotiana rustica. Shag Soviet is the name of this particular variety, as it appears in the store catalogue.

Plant at a glance

• Species: Nicotiana rustica
• Variety name: Shag Soviet
• Height: 1.2 to 1.5 m (about 4 to 5 feet), according to the product card
• Habit: medium-sized and compact, with sturdy stems and dense foliage
• Leaves: thick, textured and dark green
• Climate: the card describes the variety as hardy and suited to temperate to cooler climates
• Site: full sun

Growing Shag Soviet from seed

The figures below come from the variety description on the card. They are approximate guides, not results measured on a specific seed lot.

• Sowing: press the seeds lightly onto the soil surface and do not cover them, so that they get light.
• Timing: start the seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost.
• Soil: well-drained, nutrient-rich soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH of 6.0 to 7.0, enriched with compost or other organic matter.
• Water: keep the soil consistently moist, but avoid overwatering, which can cause root problems.
• Light: full sun once the plants are outdoors.

Because the seeds stay uncovered on the surface, the top layer of soil can dry out quickly. Water gently, from below or with a fine mist, so the seeds stay where they were placed instead of washing together. Once seedlings have their first true leaves, thinning them gives each plant room before it goes outdoors.

Space and site planning

A plant that can reach 1.5 m with dense foliage needs room for air to move around it. The card does not give a planting distance, so leave generous space between plants and choose a sunny bed with free-draining soil. The card also describes the variety as strongly resistant to frost, drought and pests. Treat that as the description of the variety, not a tested guarantee, and still wait until the last frost has passed before moving seedlings outside.

What is not yet recorded

No seed specifications have been saved for this variety yet. For that reason this page does not state a germination percentage, a germination temperature, a number of days to emerge, a viability period or a seed size. The flower colour, the days to flowering and the origin of the variety are also not documented on the product card, so they are left out here rather than guessed. The photographs in the gallery have not all been reviewed against this variety, so this text makes no claims about what the plants in them look like beyond the card.

FAQ

How do I sow Shag Soviet seeds?

Press them lightly onto the surface of moist, well-drained soil and leave them uncovered, because the card says the seeds need light exposure to germinate. The card gives a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0 and recommends compost or organic matter in the soil.

When should I sow Shag Soviet?

The variety description recommends sowing indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost in your area. Seedlings go outdoors after the last frost. The card gives no germination time, so check the tray regularly instead of judging it on a fixed date.

How tall does Shag Soviet grow?

The product card gives a height of 1.2 to 1.5 m (about 4 to 5 feet) for a compact plant with sturdy stems, dense foliage and dark green leaves. Treat these as approximate figures, since light, soil and spacing change the final size.