Tobacco in Zone 11a & 11b
Nicotiana tabacum
When to plant tobacco in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. Tobacco needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Start indoors | Nov 6–Nov 13 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jan 15–Jan 22 |
| Estimated harvest | May 15–May 22 (~120 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: about 4 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 3-10 ft.
Nicotiana tabacum is the commercial tobacco species, and growing it at home raises three separate issues worth knowing.
How tobacco fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free in this dataset, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Tobacco.
Where to buy tobacco seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing tobacco" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Tobacco in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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