Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco) in Zone 4a & 4b

Nicotiana alata

When to plant nicotiana (flowering tobacco) in zone 4b

Zones 4a and 4b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.

Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco) needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.

Start indoorsApr 3–Apr 10
Direct sow / transplant outsideMay 22–May 29
Estimated bloomAug 5–Aug 12 (~75 days after transplanting)

Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-3 ft.

Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco)
Photo: AnRo0002 via Wikimedia Commons, CC0, cropped.

Nicotiana is an ornamental relative of cultivated tobacco, grown for trumpet-shaped flowers with a fragrance that gets noticeably stronger in the evening, making it a good choice near a porch or patio where people sit after dark.

How nicotiana (flowering tobacco) fits zone 4's season

Zone 4b's frost-free window runs about 128 days, from May 15 to September 20. Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco) needs about 75 days from transplant to first harvest.

Good companions

No standout companions recorded yet for Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco).

Where to buy nicotiana seeds

See why we recommend these suppliers →

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See it growing

Search YouTube for "growing nicotiana (flowering tobacco)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)

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Growing Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco) in USDA zone 4b

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Growing Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco) in USDA zone 4b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.

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