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Re: [SHADEGARDENS] Nicotiana alata

In a message dated 98-01-22 10:26:05 EST,Cindi writes:

<< Hi all,

 I'm looking for advice and/or your experiences growing Nicotiana alata (maybe
 N.sylvestris too).  I've heard it seeds itself around.  I think it was
Barbara
 Damrosch from Maine who said this on her show Gardening Naturally.  I think
 she is in zone 5.  I'm in zone 4a...will it seed itself here too? >>

Cindi,

Here is a plant that grows well for me in the North Pole.  Nicotiana alata was
once in the T&M catalog as a species.  It is no longer there having lost way
to some more exotic types.  Sylvestris is there but is a plant I do not like
(takes lots of space and is not as fragrant or as cooperative)

I may have seeds of alata as my plants produce tons of them and I collect to
throw around the farm and give away in the fall seed swaps.  I will look
sometime today and e-mail you privately.

This nicotiana seeds around generously but you must wait for mother nature.
They seedling emerge here in cold country around the first of July.  You pull
out those too close to each other and add some Miracle-Gro or whatever you
like best.  I know you should have great soil and it should do the trick but
here in zone 4 you need to help mother nature and hit the plant a few times to
get it going. (meaning water soluble fertiziler not granulars)

Nicotiana will grow on my farm in the gardens, in the shade (full shade), in
rockwalls and in the driveway.  The best bloom is in August and lasts until
frost.  I have a few plants that have placed themselves in the house
foundation on a heated garage wall.  These are perennial, they bloom in June.
They are directly into the foundation and I cannot get rid of them.

You can start in the house but do not need to.  Plant in a warm situation
outside and like all annuals for northern flowering force quick growth with
frequent fertilization.  Remember carefully what the seedling looks like so
you will not weed it out in July.

Break open the seed pods in the fall and throw around the seed where you might
want it next season.  Verbena bonariensis works exactly the same.  I have them
bloom in half shade and have not tried in full shade.  Nicotiana alata is an
excellent full shade flower.  The species does not open blossoms until late in
the afternoon which is, I think, why it was replaced with all of the hybrids.
Someone must list the species, which is for self seeding,  superior to the
hybrids.

Claire Peplowski
East Nassau, NY
zone 4 Berkshires
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