Monday 14 October 2013

Tobacco plantation



I've tried to grow tobacco plants
(nicotiana) from seed but without success.
This one seeded itself in a very unpromising spot
and has flourished.

I keep cutting the sticky stems
to bring inside where they release 
their sweet perfume in the evenings.

When they are finally over I will
scatter their seeds negligently
about the place
and hope to replicate the effect
that Nature has achieved.

Meanwhile on the bulb front
I am holding back on tulip planting until the weather is colder,
and fretting about whether I have planted the others deeply enough.
I read the instructions diligently and then dig every hole
only as deep as my trowel will manage
or until I hit a stone.
I doubt that this is as deep as it should be
to guarantee future years of flowering.


6 comments:

  1. I have similar luck with giant nicotiana sylvestris. Having given up entirely this year, I happily found three plants scattered in the garden late in the season. Two have matured to bloom and I am very thankful for this.

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  2. I tried growing Nicotiana Sylvestris from seed, there seemed to be millions of the tiny little things but only one plant grew. I hope that you have good luck with your boradcaast sowing. The perfume from all Nicotiana is gorgeous.

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  3. I have never had much with nicotiana plants either but I do love their fragrance - as for bulb planting, snap.

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  4. I never plant them as deep as the packet says either but they come up fine. Lovelylovelylovely bulbs, so cheering in the spring.

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  5. Looking forward to your spring beauty.

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  6. Well, Monty Don is a trifle discouraging about anyone's chances of repeat flowering (tulips, at any rate), so I wouldn't fret too much. What I've found is that whatever is in the wrong place or clashing horribly with its neighbours is likely to thrive!

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