Tobacco should be enjoyed outdoors
The Danish smoking ban in public and private places has had several positive effects for smokers; not only do they automatically get more fresh air, but they are also given the opportunity of becoming familiar with the wide range of lovely outdoor plants.
A plant which can be enjoyed by smokers as well as non-smokers is Nicotiana alata, also known under the name of tobacco plant or ornamental tobacco. Nicotiana is not only a delight to the eye but also contributes significantly to the cosy nights on the patio as its flowers emit a faint scent when darkness falls, attracting butterflies and other hawk-moths.
Nicotiana is an easy outdoor plant that flowers continuously from May to September but like people, tobacco plants do not love too much rain. However, to comfort and encourage us, Allan Holm Nielsen, manager of the nursery Gartneriet Skovlunden situated at Kerteminde on Funen and producer of Nicotiana, can tell us:
- that despite of the fact that the Danish summer in 2007 went down to history as the third wettest since 1874, most plants did exceptionally well and when the rain finally stopped for the sun to take over, they actually began flowering again.
Gartneriet Skovlunden grows Nicotiana in a series called AVALON. These plants are available in red, pink, lime, “appleblossom” (white mixed with a little pink) as well as rose with a whitish centre; they are therefore ideal for this summer’s plant trend, Pure Living, with their delicate pastel colours or tone in tone arrangements as the fulcrum.
Nicotiana originates from South America and therefore thrives best in warm, sheltered places. However, the plants have been able to adapt to the summer conditions of our latitudes and is extremely well suited for planting out in containers and beds. Some Nicotiana varieties can grow up to 40 cm tall but despite of their height, the growth of the plants is very uniform leaving an attractive, compact impression.
Tobacco plants are annual plants that fade in the winter and it is therefore up to the seeds to make sure that the plants survive the following year. As a natural consequence of the exotic origin of the plant, seeds will be able to shoot during mild winters under Danish conditions, thus offering positive surprises when spring sets in.
Fact box
Water Nicotiana regularly, especially when it has been planted out. It thrives best in a sheltered location; feed moderately or not at all.
Nicotiana is characterised by being in full bloom throughout the planting season as new flowers are forming all the time at the same time as the existing flowers last longer.
Fact box
The nursery Gartneriet Skovlunden is situated in Hundslev near Kerteminde on Funen. In addition to the main culture, Kalanchoe, also called flaming Katy, the nursery produces 150,000 Nicotiana AVALON plants during a season that runs from May to August. The company is MPS-certified, meaning that it consciously aims to reduce the use of chemicals, fertiliser, energy and waste. It is also a member of FFP (Fair Flower and Plants) which is your guarantee that plants are grown in a way that respects both people and the environment.
Source
Floradania