Tobacco Virginia Hickory Pryor Seeds

Virginia Hickory Pryor is a Nicotiana tabacum variety offered here as seed for growing the plant. The product card describes a tall, sun-loving plant that reaches about 1.5 to 1.8 m (5 to 6 feet), with broad, light green leaves that are smooth and slightly oily, and delicate pink flowers. It is a warm-season plant that does best in a sunny spot with well-drained soil, and the notes below follow the variety description on the card.

Also known as: common tobacco, cultivated tobacco, tambaku (Hindi), tabaco (Spanish/Portuguese), tabac (French), Tabak (German), tütün (Turkish)

These are common names of the species Nicotiana tabacum. Virginia Hickory Pryor is the name of this particular variety, and the store lists it as Tobacco Virginia Hickory Pryor.

Plant at a glance

• Species: Nicotiana tabacum
• Variety name: Virginia Hickory Pryor
• Height: about 1.5 to 1.8 m (5 to 6 feet), according to the product card
• Leaves: broad, light green, smooth and slightly oily
• Flowers: delicate, pink
• Site: full sun, warm climate, well-drained and fertile soil

Growing Virginia Hickory Pryor from seed

Nicotiana seed is very fine and needs light to germinate, so it is pressed onto the surface and never buried. The figures below come from the variety description. They are approximate guides, not results measured on a specific seed lot, and real plants vary with light, temperature and soil.

• Sowing: press the seeds lightly onto the surface of the soil and leave them uncovered, because they need light for germination.
• Timing: start the seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost.
• Temperature: the card suggests keeping the soil at about 24 C (75 F) and moist while the seeds germinate.
• Germination: the card gives 7 to 14 days.
• Transplanting: move seedlings outdoors only after the last frost, spacing plants 60 to 90 cm (2 to 3 feet) apart.
• Site and soil: full sun and well-drained, fertile soil.
• Care: regular watering and occasional fertilization are recommended on the card.

Because the seed is so small, the surface layer can dry out quickly. Water gently, from below or with a fine mist, so the seeds stay in place on the soil instead of washing together into clumps. Once the seedlings have grown 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 to 1.8 m needs room above and around it. Plan the spacing of 60 to 90 cm from the start, choose a spot that gets full sun for most of the day, and avoid low corners where water collects, since the card calls for well-drained soil. Seedlings raised indoors should be moved out gradually and only once frost has passed, because this is a warm-season species.

The broad leaves are the main feature of the plant, and the pink flowers add a decorative note on top of the tall stem. The card does not give a flowering date, a days-to-maturity figure or a seed count per gram, so none is stated here. If you keep notes through the season, record your own sowing date, transplant date and final height, which are the most useful numbers for repeating the crop next year.

FAQ

How do I sow Virginia Hickory Pryor seeds?

Press the seeds onto the surface of moist soil and do not cover them. The seed needs light to germinate. The card suggests about 24 C (75 F) and gives 7 to 14 days for germination.

When should I sow Virginia Hickory Pryor?

The card says to sow indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost and to transplant outdoors after the last frost, with plants 60 to 90 cm (2 to 3 feet) apart.

How tall does Virginia Hickory Pryor grow?

The card describes a plant of about 1.5 to 1.8 m (5 to 6 feet) with broad, light green leaves and pink flowers. Height in your garden depends on light, soil, watering and spacing.