TN86 Burley Tobacco
Price: $3.49
SKU: 1000641
TN86
Nicotiana tabacum L
[ Approximately 100 seeds per packet ]
'TN86', also known as 'Tennessee 86', is an improved Burley-type smoking tobacco with good disease resistance. It is a late maturing variety with an extreme upright growth habit which results in less breakage and marketable leaf loss during harvest. 'TN 86' has a high yield potential and should be topped at about twenty-two to twenty-six leaves. Topping the plants higher than this will result in unnecessarily large plants that are difficult to manage and harvest.
'TN 86' matures to a lighter green color in the field when compared to other Burley tobaccos and air cures to a reddish-tan.
Like many tobacco varieties, 'TN86' is an amazing plant that grows from a seed as tiny as a pinhole, to well over six feet in height in a single growing season. The plants are attractive and make a very interesting addition to flower gardens. Since their flower heads will reach six feet or taller, they are typically planted in the back of the bed as opposed to along the border. Tobacco prefers healthy, rich soil in full sun. It blooms in mid to late summer and is attractive to pollinating insects. It is an annual (tender perennial in warmer climates).
'TN 86', was the first Burley tobacco variety developed with resistance to TVMV (Tobacco Vein Mottling Virus), TEV (Tobacco Etch Virus), and PVY (Potato Virus Y). It is also resistant to Black Shank (Race 0 and Race 1), Black Root Rot and Wildfire bacteria.
Developed by Dr. Robert Miller at the Tobacco Experiment Station in Greeneville, Tennessee using material originally crossed by Dr. Creighton Gupton, former USDA Agricultural Research Station Burley tobacco breeder at the Tobacco Experiment Station in Greeneville. It was released by the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station in February of 1986. Our seed progeny is USDA accession number PI 552522.
Once tiny seedlings emerge, you can pick them out one by one and move them into individual cells. Very lightly fertilize and never allow the potting soil to dry out. Within 6 weeks it'll be ready to plant in the garden. Wait until all risk of frost is over before planting outdoors.
For additional information, please have a look at our more detailed guide with photos.
Customer Reviews:
By Kevin Hannigan (Simpsonville, SC) on November 24, 2023
As a first year grower this was definitely the place to start, and TN 86 my lead horse. Great germination. Planted one package per flat under grow lights in February until they burst the cover off the tray. Then transplanted three times until I got them set for the summer. Huge, healthy and produced like crazy. No disease issues. Harvested and stacked the leaves, turning them every few days until I hung them to dry in the barn (garage) Creating quite a strong demand in California and Peru from the finished product. Thanks guys for getting me started. And thanks to Dr. Robert Miller and Dr. Creighton Gupton (and his family) for developing this variety.
By Jan (Georgia) on June 29, 2023
Carefully followed all packet directions and there was not one seed that sprouted. Extra care given for sentimental reasons….growing up with a Dad tobacco farmer. Don't blame, don't understand.
By Bradford charles (New johnsonville tn) on June 29, 2023
I guess i did it wrong the seeds did not grow
By Rich Henry on October 7, 2021
These were amazing. I chose 7 plants to grow though I could've had dozens if not hundreds from the seeds germinated. Grew inside for 2 months and moved outdoors mid-spring (zone 6). In the months that followed they went from a few inches to 7 feet tall with 8' reached by the flower stalk on a few. These plants are beautiful and no one went through my garden without asking about them and wanting to learn more. Mid-August I cut them all off to the ground for a friend who had interest in them. Expecting them to be done at that point I was surprised to find them quickly coming back. It's early October now and they 4' tall again and looking great. I'll never be without these again.
By Valerie Whitman on July 31, 2012
Every time I walked passed these plants, I got a high. Ha, ha! Beautiful, large, green leaves. Just needed a little love at the beginning and they grew up to 6 plus feet tall.
