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Sherazi Tobacco is a traditional Oriental variety originating from the Shiraz region of Iran, prized for its compact growth and aromatic, flavorful leaves. This heirloom cultivar reaches 36 to 60 inches tall and matures in 50 to 90 days from transplant, making it surprisingly manageable for small-scale growers. Its leaves are highly valued for blending into cigarettes or pipe tobacco, offering a complexity that reflects centuries of cultivation in its native region. Deer naturally avoid it, and it thrives equally well in containers, raised beds, or open garden plots, giving gardeners flexibility in how they grow it.
Full Sun
Moderate
10-11
60in H x ?in W
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High
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Sherazi Tobacco carries the aromatics and character of an ancient Iranian landrace, compressed into a plant that fits comfortably in small gardens or containers. The leaves develop a fragrant, nuanced profile suited to tobacco blending, rewarding patient cultivators with a genuinely distinctive harvest. Its compact habit and deer resistance make it unusually practical for ornamental or functional gardens where space and wildlife pressure are concerns. Despite its specialty application, it's straightforward to grow from seed, reaching maturity in as little as 50 days under good conditions.
Sherazi Tobacco is grown for its leaves, which are harvested and dried for blending into cigarettes and pipe tobacco. The aromatic, flavorful character of the leaves makes them particularly valued by tobacco blenders seeking complexity and distinctive character in custom blends. While tobacco cultivation is subject to legal restrictions in many regions, gardeners in areas where home cultivation is permitted grow Sherazi for personal tobacco blending, experimentation, or preservation of this heritage variety.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sherazi seeds are extremely tiny, so sow them on the surface of moist seed-starting mix without burying them; they require light to germinate. Keep soil temperature around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and maintain consistent moisture. Germination typically occurs within 7 to 14 days. Provide bright light once seedlings emerge.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Space transplants 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart in full sun locations.
Harvest leaves once they reach full size and develop a slightly waxy texture, typically 50 to 90 days after transplanting. Pick individual leaves from the bottom of the plant upward as they mature, or harvest entire plants by cutting them at the base once most leaves are ready. Leaves are ready when they feel slightly thick and pliable. Hang harvested leaves or whole plants in a warm, dry location with good air circulation to cure; this process concentrates flavor and aroma as moisture content decreases.
Pinch off flower buds as they develop if your focus is on leaf production rather than seed saving, as flowering redirects energy away from leaf development. This pinching encourages bushier, more compact growth with fuller foliage.
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“Sherazi Tobacco is a traditional Oriental variety that originates from the Shiraz region of Iran, where it has been cultivated for generations as part of regional tobacco culture. This heirloom represents a direct line from the historic tobacco-growing traditions of Persia, preserved through open-pollinated seed saving and passed down through gardeners and cultivators who valued its distinctive aromatic properties. Its journey to modern seed catalogs reflects the growing interest in heritage varieties and regional landrace preservation, particularly among gardeners seeking authentic, non-GMO cultivars with deep cultural roots. As an open-pollinated, non-GMO heirloom, it carries the genetic diversity and character that selective breeding and commercial hybridization have often erased.”