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About this variety
Sumatra (Indonesian) is a Nicotiana tabacum variety offered here as seed for growing the plant. The product card names the island of Sumatra in Indonesia as the origin of the variety and describes a sturdy plant about 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 m) tall with slender, light green leaves that are smooth, thin and elastic. A leaf can reach about 20 to 22 inches (50 to 55 cm) in length, and the card lists delicate pink flowers in late summer. These figures are an approximate guide from the variety description, not a measured lot result, and real plants vary with light, soil and spacing.
Also known as: common tobacco, cultivated tobacco, tambaku (Hindi), tabaco (Spanish/Portuguese), tabac (French), Tabak (German), tütün (Turkish)
The names above are common names of the species Nicotiana tabacum. Sumatra (Indonesian) is the name of this particular variety.
Plant at a glance
- Species: Nicotiana tabacum
- Variety name: Sumatra (Indonesian)
- Stem: sturdy, according to the product card
- Height: about 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 m)
- Leaves: slender, light green, smooth, thin and elastic, up to about 20 to 22 inches (50 to 55 cm) long
- Flowers: delicate pink, in late summer
- Leaf maturity: from the bottom of the plant upward, so the lower leaves ripen first
Growing Sumatra (Indonesian) from seed
Nicotiana seed is very fine and needs light to germinate, so it is sown on the surface and not buried. The steps below follow the variety description.
- Sowing: sprinkle the tiny seeds on the soil surface and press them in lightly, leaving them uncovered so that light reaches them.
- Timing: start the seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
- Temperature and moisture: keep the seed tray warm, around 75 degrees F (24 degrees C), with consistent moisture.
- Germination: the card gives 7 to 14 days.
- Transplanting: move the seedlings outdoors after the last frost, once they are strong enough, about 2 feet (60 cm) apart.
- Site and soil: full sun and well-drained, fertile soil, with regular watering and occasional feeding.
Because the seed is so small, the soil surface can dry out quickly. Water gently, from below or with a fine mist, so the seeds stay in place and are not washed into the soil. The plant grows to 5 to 6 feet, so allow room for it both in the bed and in its final position.
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 viability period or a number of seeds per gram. The history of the variety beyond the origin named on the card is also not documented in a form that can be checked, so it is left out here rather than guessed. The sizes above are quoted from the variety description and may differ from what you see in your own garden.
FAQ
What conditions does Sumatra (Indonesian) seed need to germinate?
Light, warmth and steady moisture. The seed is very fine and should rest on the surface of the soil without a covering layer, at around 75 degrees F (24 degrees C). The card gives 7 to 14 days for germination.
When should I sow Sumatra (Indonesian)?
The variety description suggests starting the seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost. Seedlings are moved outdoors after the last frost, into full sun, about 2 feet (60 cm) apart.
How tall does Sumatra (Indonesian) grow?
The product card lists about 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 m), with leaves up to about 20 to 22 inches (50 to 55 cm) long. Treat this as a guide, since light, soil and spacing change the result.
