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Blue Star 100 is a reliable Burley tobacco cultivar that combines heritage genetics with practical garden performance. This open-pollinated heirloom reaches 36 to 60 inches in the garden (or 6 to 8 feet including the flower head), growing in a sturdy upright form that sheds rain and resists wind without fussing. From transplant to harvest takes 70 to 79 days, making it feasible even in shorter growing seasons. Deer leave it alone, and its columnar shape makes it efficient to grow in fields, containers, raised beds, or greenhouses.
Full Sun
Moderate
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60in H x ?in W
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Blue Star 100 earns its reputation through sheer reliability and low maintenance. The plant's naturally upright, columnar structure means it stands firm through storms and heavy rain without sprawling or requiring support, a genuine advantage when growing tobacco at scale or in home gardens. Its deer resistance removes one common headache for growers, while the compact vertical habit maximizes garden space efficiency compared to sprawling varieties.
As a Burley tobacco cultivar, Blue Star 100 is grown for leaf production rather than culinary purposes. The cured leaves have been traditionally used in tobacco blends and products.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Tobacco seeds need light to germinate, so press them gently into moist soil without covering them completely. Keep soil consistently moist at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit until sprouts emerge.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed and plants have developed 4 to 6 true leaves. Space plants 24 inches apart with 36 inches between rows. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before final planting.
Harvest leaves 70 to 79 days after transplanting when they reach full size and begin to show slight yellowing at the edges. Pick leaves from the bottom of the plant upward as they mature, removing 3 to 4 leaves per harvest cycle. Continue harvesting over several weeks as upper leaves mature. The leaves are ready when they feel pliable but not brittle, and the veins begin to turn tan.
Remove the flower head once it appears if you're growing Blue Star 100 for leaf production rather than seed saving. This redirects the plant's energy toward leaf development and improves overall leaf quality. Prune any lower leaves that yellow or show disease to maintain airflow around the base.
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“Blue Star 100 emerges as a heritage Burley tobacco with open-pollinated genetics, meaning seed savers and home gardeners have preserved and replanted this variety across generations without commercial cross-breeding. The heirloom status signals a lineage rooted in traditional tobacco agriculture, passed down through farming families and preserved by seed companies committed to genetic diversity.”