Nicotiana tabacum 'Ohio Dutch'

The 'Ohio Dutch' Tobacco (synonyms Shoestring Dutch, Little Dutch) is an old variety of tobacco that was already cultivated around 1880 in the USA in Ohio and in the Miami Valley. It is probably derived from the variety "Yara" originating from Havana. The plant, rather compact, develops long rather narrow leaves, light green in colour, with a fairly mild aroma. Once dried, they make an excellent pipe tobacco or for making cigars. It is a variety whose foliage matures early in the season, well suited for container gardening. Tobacco is sown as early as March or April, under heated shelter, for planting after the last frosts. This plant likes the sun, rich, fresh, but well-drained soil. The leaves will be harvested from June to September and dried away from the sun.

Originally from the plains located in the humid tropical zones of Central America, extensively cultivated in many warm regions, Nicotiana tabacum is a plant of the Solanaceae family cultivated as an annual for the tobacco industry. The 'Ohio Dutch' variety is a herbaceous plant with a pyramidal shape reaching 1.50m (5ft) in height when flowering, spreading over 60cm (24in) in width. It develops a robust, slightly sticky stem, which branches out mainly in the upper part. The leaves, embracing at the base and lanceolate in shape, can measure up to 75cm (30in) in length and 25cm (10in) in width. They are shiny, light green in colour, and covered with glandular hairs that make them slightly sticky and fragrant. The flowering, not very decorative, begins in midsummer and continues until early autumn. The inflorescence is a racemose cyme bearing small tubular flowers, with flared trumpet-shaped corollas with 5 rounded lobes. The flowers are greenish-yellow tinged with pink. This nectar-rich flowering attracts butterflies, especially certain sphinx moths. The fruit is a capsule containing numerous small seeds.

Usage: The 'Ohio Dutch' tobacco is appreciated by pipe and cigar smokers. The dried tobacco leaves are used for smoking. Drying is a rather delicate process that takes 3 to 8 weeks in the open air and shade, in an atmosphere that is not too dry. It is advisable to take advantage of the still warm and dry late summer days and relatively humid cool nights for drying. First, select the leaves located at the bottom of the plant, which yellow first. They will be tied at the petioles in small bundles of 3 to 5 with an elastic band, each bundle will be suspended on a cord. Choose a shaded (no direct sunlight) and well-ventilated room, such as a shed, barn, or well-ventilated garage. Make sure the air is not too dry, possibly close your room during the day and open it at night. The leaves gradually turn from yellow to orange to brown. Their edges are slightly curved, but they should not be brittle.

Attention, seeds reserved for very experienced gardeners who are used to sowing very fine seeds. These seeds are as fine as dust, barely visible to the naked eye.