Tobacco Turkish Trapezond Seeds

Trapezond Turkish is the catalogue name of a Nicotiana tabacum variety, offered here as seed for growing the plant. Nicotiana tabacum is a tall, broad-leaved annual in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). The product card for this item does not yet record variety details such as height, leaf shape or flower colour, so this page sticks to what is known about the species and says so wherever a figure is a species range.

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. Trapezond Turkish is the name under which this variety is listed in our catalogue; it is not a registered cultivar name that we can document further.

What is known about this item

• Catalogue name: Trapezond Turkish.
• Species: Nicotiana tabacum.
• Form: seed, grown as a warm-season annual.
• Seed specifications: none saved yet, so no germination percentage, viability period or seed size is stated.
• Photographs: seven images are attached to the listing, but they have not been individually matched to this variety, so this text makes no claims about what the plants look like.

Species traits worth planning for

Plants of Nicotiana tabacum are usually upright with a thick, little-branched stem and large, soft, slightly sticky leaves. Height varies widely between varieties and growing conditions, commonly from about one metre to well over two metres. Late in the season the stem ends in a branched cluster of tubular flowers, and the pollinated flowers form small capsules full of minute seeds. Because mature plants can be large, plan a sunny, sheltered bed with room around each plant. These are species ranges, not measurements of this variety.

Growing from seed

The seed is dust-fine and holds very little reserve, so it needs light to germinate and must never be buried. Scatter it thinly on the surface of moist, firm, fine seed mix and leave it uncovered.

• Sowing: sprinkle thinly on the surface and press lightly for contact; do not cover.
• Light: required for germination.
• Temperature: a steady 21 to 24 C (70 to 75 F) is the usual guide for the species.
• Emergence: roughly 7 to 14 days at those temperatures, sometimes longer when the tray is cool.
• Moisture: keep the surface evenly damp; water gently from below or with a fine mist so the seed is not washed into clumps.
• Seedlings: thin or prick out once the first true leaves have formed, and harden them off before they go outdoors.
• Planting out: move seedlings to a sunny position only after the weather has warmed, because the species is frost-tender.

The surface layer of a tray dries quickly, and a dried layer is the usual reason sown seed fails to appear. A clear lid or a sheet of glass over the tray helps hold humidity, as long as it is lifted a little each day for air.

Site and spacing

Choose a warm, sunny position with fertile, free-draining soil and shelter from strong wind. Species guidance for spacing is roughly 50 to 90 cm (20 to 36 in) between plants, so that air can move through the foliage. Large leaves lose a lot of water on warm days, so steady watering matters more than heavy feeding.

FAQ

How do I sow Trapezond Turkish seeds?

Place the seed on the surface of moist seed mix and leave it uncovered, because it needs light to germinate. Keep the tray warm, at about 21 to 24 C, and avoid letting the surface dry out.

When should I sow Trapezond Turkish?

The product card gives no calendar date. Because the species is frost-tender and seedlings need several weeks indoors before they are strong enough to move, start the seed early enough that young plants can go outside once nights are warm.

How tall does Trapezond Turkish grow?

No height is recorded for this variety. The species commonly ranges from about one metre to more than two metres, depending on the variety, light, soil and spacing, so leave generous room around each plant.