Makhorka Tobacco

Nicotiana rustica, Originally from South America where it is know as as Mapacho this is a potent species the tobacco genus. The high concentration of nicotine in its leaves makes it useful for creating organic pesticides.

Rustica is also used for entheogenic purposes by South American shamans.

In Ukraine, where we sourced the seed, to grow this, N.rustica is called "makhorka" (махорка). It was smoked casually until normal tobacco became widely available (after WWII), and is still sometimes smoked by peasants and farmers.

Nicotiana rustica leaves have a nicotine content as high as 9%, whereas Nicotiana tabacum (common tobacco) leaves contain about 1 to 3%.

 

 

 

HEIRLOOM TOBACCO SEEDS PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS

Sow undercover 6-8 weeks before transplanting. Use a fine compost. Sow seeds on the surface. Mist lightly and cover to prevent fast evaporation. Place in a bright propagator or windowsill and keep the temperature between 20C and 25C

Keep misted and seeds should germinate in a week or two. When the tobacco seeds start sprouting, remove the plastic cover and move to a fully light area such as a greenhouse, cold frame or sunny windowsill. Keep soil moist at all times, but do not over water. Water when the surface of the soil first begins to appear dry. Prick out into pots when large enough to handle.

PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR TOBACCO PLANTS

Harden off seedlings by  putting outside for a few hours a day.  Plant out 60cm part  after all danger of frost has passed. Keep soil moist until plants are established.

Cut off the flower heads when they appear. Topping forces the energy into the leaves making them larger and thicker. Cut off suckers (side branches) when topping. Leaves ripen 2-3 weeks after topping and are ready to harvest when they turn yellow, or become a mottled green and yellow with curled edges.
 

HARVESTING AND CURING TOBACCO

Tobacco leaves may be picked as they ripen (primed) and strung on wire or string with ½ inch of space between them for curing. Whole plants can be cut and hung when 50% of the leaves show signs of ripening. Curing (aka color curing) happens when chlorophyll in the leaf breaks down and the leaf changes from green or yellow to brown. Hang leaves or plants in an area where you can maintain a daily average of 70-80% humidity to cure and dry. Basements or outdoor sheds often make great curing locations.  If dried to quickly, the leaf will not cure and will dry green. Tobacco that fails to cure and dries green is unsmokable.

After curing, continue to dry the tobacco leaf until it is completely dry and the main stem snaps like a twig. Once cured and dried, the leaf can be left to hang and age where it is, or brought back into case (re-humidified until the leaf is pliable) then packed into cardboard boxes for storage and to age. Aging allows time for nitrogen compounds in the leaf to break down, which removes the harshness of freshly cured tobacco and lets the true flavors come through.

Average gardeners 300 seeds per packet

Average growers packet 4000 seeds