Jasmine tobacco (Nicotiana alata), planting guide and care work
Nicotiana alata, popularly called Jasmine tobacco, is a herbaceous, perennial plant that is part of the Solanaceae family. The plant has a more or less branched stem and has a height of up to 100 cm. The leaves are large, oblong-lanceolate and covered with glandular hairs (the same as the stem). The flowers are tubular, pleasantly scented, colored mostly in white, but they can also be yellow, green, pink or red. Most varieties open their flowers only at night and on cloudy days. Flowering takes place from June to autumn, and the fragrance of the blooms attracts pollinators that are nocturnal.
Jasmine tobacco – Varieties
‘Lime Green’: a variety that can reach a height of up to 60 cm, with particularly fragrant, light green flowers;
‘Nicki Red’: a variety with a height of up to 45 cm, with intense red flowers;
‘Perfume Deep Purple’: a variety with purple flowers, which can reach a height of up to 60 cm.
Environmental conditions
Light. Nicotiana alata can be planted in sunny places, where it can benefit from sunlight for at least 6 hours a day or in partially shaded places.
Temperature. It prefers moderate temperatures and has no demands in terms of atmospheric humidity. It is sensitive to extremely high temperatures and it is strongly affected by negative temperatures, which can lead to the death of the plant.
Soil. It can adapt to most types of soil, but it is ideal for it to be planted in one that is rich in organic matter and that ensures a good water drainage.
Care
Watering. It prefers moist soils, and therefore it is recommended that watering should be done moderately, when the first centimeters of soil have dried.
Fertilizing. For an abundant flowering, it needs soils rich in nutrients. Thus, immediately after planting, it is recommended to administer some balanced fertilizers, which have the role of stimulating the rooting. Later, during the vegetative growth period, to ensure their development and to help the flowering process, regular administration of fertilizers specially formulated for flowering plants is recommended.
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Propagation. The most common method of propagation is by seeds. The seeds will be sown in hotbeds/trays at least 5-6 weeks before planting them in the garden. The seeds are spread on the surface of the substrate (previously moistened), and then gently pressed. They will not be covered with soil because they need light to germinate. The optimal temperature for seed germination is 16–18 °C, and it is recommended that the substrate be constantly damp. The plants will sprout within 7-10 days. The planting of the seedlings in the garden will be done after the danger of late frosts and hoar has passed.
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Diseases and pests
In general, the Jasmine tobacco is not affected by diseases, but it is quite susceptible to the Tobacco mosaic virus. Among pests, it can be affected by aphids or different species of caterpillars.
Additionally:
- The lack of water or light are two of the most common reasons why Jasmine tobacco does not bloom;
- The plant is toxic to humans and animals;
- The fragrance of the flowers is similar to that of jasmine;
- It is cultivated only for ornamental purposes, it is not used for smoking. The tobacco grown for this purpose is Nicotiana tabacum, a different species;
- Young plants can be pinched to encourage branching.