Habano Canary Island Tobacco is a cigar wrapper tobacco but it can also used as a cigar filler. Wrapper is the term used to describe very high-quality tobacco leaf that is used for the outer layer of a cigar, which is the most visible portion of the cigar. Habano wrappers produce a stronger aroma and intense flavor. Sun grown plants are often used as a binder or filler, whereas plants grown under a shade cloth makes an excellent wrapper. The plant produces very pale pink flowers.
Growing Habano Canary Island Tobacco
Indoor Sowing: Late Winter and Early Spring.
Direct Sowing: Not Recommended.
- Place commercial seedling compost into a tray and soak the soil with water and allow the excess water to drain off.
- Sprinkle the tobacco seeds onto the surface of the damp soil.
- Do not cover the seeds, as they need light for germination.
- Tobacco seeds are very tiny, so be careful to spread the seeds as evenly as possible.
- Keep the soil damp by watering from below or use a mist sprayer.
- Start the seeds 4-6 weeks before the last frost, making sure they are kept warm during this period and not allowed to dry out.
- Germination should take about 7 – 14 days if you start the seeds indoors in warm spot.
- At lower temperatures, the germination takes a few days longer.
- Seedlings are ready to be transplanted into bigger pots, when the leaves are about 1cm in length.
- Plant outside after all danger of frost is past. Care should be taken not to disturb the roots.
- Feed should only be given to established and rapidly growing plants after they have been replanted.
- Tobacco requires a lot of nitrogen and potash, which can be supplied using standard garden fertilizer.
- Ideally, space the tobacco plants about 2 ft. apart in rows 3 ft. apart.
- Water plants thoroughly after transplanting and water daily until plants become established.
- Like tomato plants, the branches (suckers, offshoots), should be removed to focus the plants energy on the large leaves.
- Tobacco plants generally require full sun to grow properly.
- Tobacco is ready to be harvest after 60-90 days after germinating.









