Tobacco Rustica

(Nicotiana rustica)

This tobacco variety is the first to flower in our Michigan gardens.  The plants are less than 18 inches high with stubby yellow flowers that yield small round seed pods filled with countless tiny seeds. Known for a higher nicotine content than commonly grown  tabacum varieties, Rustica is useful for making  home-made garden bug sprays. It also serves as a trap crop for tomato hornworms.

These seeds are extremely small.  We measure out 0.3 cc using powder scoop which provides over 200 seeds.