Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco) in Zone 5a & 5b

Nicotiana alata

When to plant nicotiana (flowering tobacco) in zone 5b

Zones 5a and 5b 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.

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

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 5's season

Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. 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

• Botanical Interests
• True Leaf Market
• Burpee
• High Mowing Organic 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)

← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

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Growing Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco) in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.

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