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Cuban Criollo 98 is a respected Cuban cigar strain descended from Havana 92 and Habana P.R., bred specifically for sun-grown cultivation and generous leaf production. This open-pollinated heirloom reaches 36 to 60 inches tall (occasionally taller under ideal conditions) and matures in 50 to 90 days from transplant. It's a dependable choice for gardeners in warm climates seeking an authentic cigar tobacco with deep historical roots and proven performance across fields, containers, raised beds, and greenhouses.
Full Sun
Moderate
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60in H x ?in W
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Cuban Criollo 98 carries the weight of its lineage, descended directly from two storied Havana tobacco strains refined over generations. The plant produces a generous number of harvestable leaves on upright stems that thrive in full sun, making it surprisingly productive for a specialty crop. Deer naturally avoid it, and it shows resistance to Mosaic Virus, removing two common obstacles from the grower's path.
Cuban Criollo 98 is grown for cigar tobacco production. The leaves are harvested, cured, and prepared for use in hand-rolled cigars or pipe tobacco, where the plant's legacy of careful breeding translates into the complexity and character prized by connoisseurs. Home growers cultivate it both for personal use and as part of the broader movement to preserve heirloom tobacco varieties.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors in a warm environment well ahead of your last spring frost date, allowing 6 to 8 weeks for transplants to develop sufficient size and root mass. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, and provide warm conditions (70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal) to encourage germination and early growth.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off seedlings gradually over a week, exposing them to increasing periods of outdoor conditions before final planting. Space transplants 24 inches apart, with rows 36 inches apart, in a full-sun location.
Harvest occurs 50 to 90 days after transplanting, depending on growing conditions and desired leaf maturity. Leaves are typically harvested selectively from the bottom of the plant upward as they reach full size and begin to show slight yellowing or color change. The classic test is to gently bend a mature leaf; it should have a slight brittleness indicating proper oil and sugar development. Harvest in the morning after dew has dried but before afternoon heat becomes intense, as this timing preserves the plant's volatile compounds. Once harvested, leaves require careful curing, which is traditionally done by air-drying in a well-ventilated space over several weeks.
Pruning is typically not necessary for Cuban Criollo 98, as its upright growth habit naturally produces the leaf-bearing structure desired for tobacco cultivation. However, removing lower leaves as the plant matures can improve air circulation and may encourage stronger upper leaf development.
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“Cuban Criollo 98 traces its ancestry to two legendary Cuban tobacco lines: Havana 92 and Habana P.R. These parent varieties represent decades of careful selection within Cuba's cigar-growing tradition, where tobacco cultivation became an art form tied to specific microclimates and soil conditions. The creation of Cuban Criollo 98 represents a deliberate effort to consolidate the best traits of these heritage strains into a single, reliable cultivar suited to modern gardeners while preserving the genetic legacy of traditional Cuban tobacco breeding.”