Bursa Tobacco is a tall, upright Turkish tobacco variety that grows 3 to 5 feet (sometimes reaching up to 8 feet) and matures in 50 to 90 days from transplant. This heirloom, open-pollinated cultivar produces generous, heavy leaves prized by home growers who appreciate its substantial yields and columnar structure. Resistant to deer and mosaic virus, it thrives in full sun with moderate water and adapts well to fields, containers, raised beds, and greenhouses.
Full Sun
Moderate
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60in H x ?in W
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High
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Bursa stands out for its impressive leaf production and tall, structured growth habit that makes it distinctly ornamental as well as functional. The broad, columnar form creates visual interest in the garden, though staking is recommended in windy locations to support its height. Its proven resistance to deer and mosaic virus removes two major growing frustrations, while its ability to thrive in containers and garden beds alike gives growers flexibility in how they approach cultivation.
As a tobacco variety, Bursa is grown for leaf production, which can be dried and processed according to individual preference. Home growers cultivate it for personal use, experimentation with fermentation and curing techniques, and seed saving.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors in controlled conditions, then transplant to the garden once outdoor conditions stabilize and the risk of frost has passed.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the final frost date has passed and soil has warmed. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart.
Allow 50 to 90 days from transplant to maturity. Harvest leaves as they reach full size and desired color development. Leaves can be harvested individually as they mature, or the entire plant can be cut at once and hung for drying and curing.
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“Bursa Tobacco is a Turkish heirloom variety, reflecting centuries of tobacco cultivation in the Bursa region of Turkey. Its preservation and introduction to modern seed catalogs represents the work of heirloom seed savers committed to maintaining open-pollinated, non-GMO varieties that connect gardeners to agricultural traditions outside the industrial seed complex.”