Connecticut Broadleaf Tobacco – Approx 100 Seeds

Connecticut Broadleaf Tobacco is a fast maturing cigar wrapper tobacco. 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. Connecticut Broadleaf Tobacco originates from the Connecticut River Valley, dating all the way back to 1640. The leaves are broad, strong, thin, elastic, silky and the flowers are a vivid pink. The plants are stalk cut, the entire plant harvested at one time. The lower grade leaves on the plants are used for cigar filler, blending and binder leaves. The plant matures in only 45-50 days. Used for cigars and pipes.

Growing Connecticut Broadleaf Tobacco

• 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 a 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.