Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco) in Zone 6a & 6b

Nicotiana alata

When to plant nicotiana (flowering tobacco) in zone 6b

Zones 6a and 6b 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 indoorsMar 14–Mar 21
Direct sow / transplant outsideMay 2–May 9
Estimated bloomJul 16–Jul 23 (~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 6's season

Zone 6b's frost-free window runs about 173 days, from April 25 to October 15. 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 →

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a genuine consensus of positive, independent reviews. See the sources cited on each item.

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 6b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

Growing Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco) in USDA zone 6b

Pin this for later

Growing Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco) in USDA zone 6b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.

Save to Pinterest