Growing Non-GMO Connecticut Broadleaf Tobacco Seeds

Complete Tobacco Seed Growing Guide

• Latin Name: Nicotiana tabacum
• Tobacco Leaf Type: Wrapper (damaged leaves filler, binder)
• Hardiness Zone: Annual 6-12 (Perennial 9-12)
• Days to Harvest: 50-60 days
• Days to Germination: 7-14 days
• Seeding Depth: Press without covering
• Plant Spacing: 12-36 inches
• Row Spacing: 36-60 inches
• Plant Height: 48 inches
• Growth Habit: Broadleaf upright similar to collards or broadleaf mustard
• Soil Preference: Consistently moist, light, sandy loam, well-drained
• Temperature Preference: 65-85 °F
• Light Preference: Full sun - partial sun
• Connecticut Broadleaf Color: Cures to a dark espresso-black wrapper
• Connecticut Broadleaf Flavor: Dark rich leaf with a profile of leather, chocolate, and espresso

How to Grow Connecticut Broadleaf Tobacco from Seed

Sow seeds indoors in flats, trays or small pots 6-8 weeks before transplanting. Fill trays approximately 3 inches deep with a fine starting mix soil or potting soil. Pack soil very lightly. Potting soil should be screened to remove any large chunks. Thoroughly soak the soil and let drain before seeding. Do not use garden soil.

Sprinkle 2-3 seeds in each pot on top of the moistened soil. Do NOT cover the seed. Mist the seeds lightly with a spray bottle and cover the tray loosely with a plastic dome or sheet of clear light plastic film. Do not seal tightly. Leave a corner propped up to allow some air exchange.

Place in a well-lit area near a window or under grow lights where the temperature is a constant 70-80 degrees. Do not exceed 85 degrees. Mist the trays daily and keep the soil surface moist at all times. Seeds will germinate in 7-14 days. Tobacco seed germination is very temperature dependent. Lower temperatures will greatly delay germination.

Once established, tobacco requires little water. Fertilize lightly at planting and again in 4-6 weeks only if needed.

Uses for Connecticut Broadleaf Tobacco Leaves

Connecticut Broadleaf seeds are popularly grown to produce a wide and flavorful wrapper from premium cigar rolling. Leaves must technically be at least 9" wide to be classified as a "wrapper". Damaged and low-quality leaves from the Connecticut Broadleaf are also traditionally used for fillers and binders.

Broadleaf cigar-type tobacco leaf was first grown in the Connecticut River Valley by the earliest colonial settlers as a response to the booming popularity of cigars over pipes, replacing the much thinner "shoestring" variety which was the preferred cultivar of pipe tobacco.

Harvesting Connecticut Broadleaf Tobacco Leaves

The lowest tier leaves of the Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco plant are ready to be harvested as early as 50-60 days from transplanting. Similar to cut-and-come varieties of leafy greens, the youngest tobacco leaves on the bottom of the plant are harvested first since they are the first to turn golden yellow and ready to cure.

The entire Connecticut Broadleaf plant may be harvested at once, but growers will generally need to wait longer than 60 days for the entire plant to be ready for curing.

Leaves may be easily harvested with a knife, scissors, clippers, or gardening shears. Removing by hand may stress or damage leaves prior to curing.

Be careful to not damage, blemish, or bruise leaves when harvesting Connecticut Broadleaf because only the most pristine leaves make for premium wrapping leaves. Each 12-16" wide leaf should provide enough surface area for about 8 rolled cigars. Damaged Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco is generally used as binder and filler, still providing premium flavor.

About Connecticut Broadleaf Tobacco Seeds

Nicotiana tabacum. (50-60 days.) Premium Wrapper.

Connecticut Broadleaf is a flavorful binding and wrapping tobacco native to the Connecticut River Valley, a region as synonymous with tobacco cultivation as Sonoma and Napa are for winemaking.

Although Connecticut Broadleaf was the choice American cigar tobacco for well over a century, it is no longer the standard by which others are judged.

Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco is neither glamorous nor showy, but is the evidence of the rugged determinism from the earliest colonial settlers in the form of a plant. Connecticut Broadleaf thrives in hot and full sun gardens similar to summers spent on the Connecticut River.

Connecticut Broadleaf is a fast maturing cigar wrapper tobacco. It grows to 4 feet in height with dark green leaves to 30" long and 16" wide. It matures in only 45-50 days.

Mentioned in seed catalogs as early as 1884. Fine texture and long leaf.

Heirloom Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on orders over $75.