Hello from Alberta

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Havok

Havok

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Hi all,
Thanks for having me.

I found a bunch of seed in my basement from 2008/2009 still in the envelopes from when I purchased them, so… after a long break from growing I guess I’m getting back into it.

I found this lovely forum while doing a bit of research to see how things have changed/progressed over the years. I was on a different forum then that doesn’t seem to exist anymore.

Looking forward to learning & sharing with you all. And hopefully getting some tips and tricks from other members that are up here in the tundra with me.

Thanks!

-Havok
 
deluxestogie

deluxestogie

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Welcome to the forum. Read the New Growers' FAQ, and scan topics in our Index of Key Forum Threads. Both are linked in the menu bar.

I would suggest that you do a simple germination test now on your seed. After a decade, it may or may not still be viable. Sprinkle 10 or so seeds of a single variety into a moistened coffee filter or folded paper towel, enclose in an open Ziploc bag, label it, and repeat for each of your varieties. Set the bags flat, in ~70°F. You will know within 1-2 weeks whether or not you need to order fresh seed.

Northwood Seeds Tobacco Seed

Bob
 
Alpine

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Welcome to FTT. If your seeds are from 2008 and have not been stored in the best way, they may be no longer viable. I suggest to perform a simple germination test so that, when the season starts, you will not loose time ordering new seeds.
By the way, the best source for tobacco seeds is
www.northwoodseeds.com
the owner is a forum member and a fine gentleman.

pier

Edit: @deluxestogie has been, as usual, faster than me…
 
Havok

Havok

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Thanks, I will definitely give northwood seeds a look! (I’ll likely need seed by March )

I thought the same thing about viability, but that’s why I’m here now… I need to figure out what to do with these things with 6-7 months of winter left.

I’d say I had well over 90% germination. I’ve thinned them out a few times from about 200 sprouts down to 16 small plants now. The biggest leaves being about 3.5 to 4” long. But I’m not planning on raising all 16 of these indoors all winter. Decisions gotta be made here!
 
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cincydave

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Welcome. That's amazing that you got that high of germination from 13 year old seeds. My first year growing will be next year and I planted a few seeds to test germination so there are no surprises next year. 3 of 4 varieties have sprouted. Not sure what I'll do with them, but I have a hard time throwing out live plants.
 
Havok

Havok

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Update on my accidental indoor winter grow…

The plants seem to be healthy. Apparently 18 of them, not 14 as previously reported.

I’d been keeping them tight together in a single 9”x18” tray and slowly giving them more space (to 2 trays, and now three.) They’re all still in 3” peat pots, I figured the less room I gave them the slower they’d grow. I thought I was doing well until I realized that no time has really passed… any thoughts on this? Am I setting them up to die, are they eventually going to bust out of the pots, or can I keep them small and healthy for months and then move them out in the spring? …Alberta spring is roughly mmm… late June.
 
Havok

Havok

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That’s the good thing about forums, lots of different experiences to draw on. Without control on all the variables, some will have success where others didn’t.

The early flowering that you mention is interesting, is this a hunch or from experience? Will the seed still be viable? Genetically they should be fine even if the plants didn’t mature fully, I would assume.
 
Oldfella

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ChinaVoodoo said:
That's a good question. I'm going to say that if you don't pot them up, they're going to get rootbound and flower early. If you had 1gallon pots you could start them in early February. Someone else is going to say something altogether different. We're both correct.
Click to expand...
The Japanese keep trees small. Don't know if it would work on Tobacco. Interesting experiment though. Here in NZ we have a tree that we call wild Tobacco I've often wondered about grafting a Virginia on it. Anyway I digress, put them in bigger pots, I think they'll grow up to about half outdoor size. I wouldn't bother trying to save the seeds, who wants mini baccy leaves.
Oldfella
 
ChinaVoodoo

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Havok said:
That’s the good thing about forums, lots of different experiences to draw on. Without control on all the variables, some will have success where others didn’t.

The early flowering that you mention is interesting, is this a hunch or from experience? Will the seed still be viable? Genetically they should be fine even if the plants didn’t mature fully, I would assume.
Click to expand...
The seed will be fine, but the issue is that you get little leaf growth after it flowers.

It's been my experience.

A lot of others trim the leaves over and over instead of potting up.

I planted these on Feb 14, 2015.
This photo was taken on Jun 2
IMG_20150602_065810.jpg
 
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