Once America's biggest trade items, tobacco and tobacco plant seeds have lost their touted reputation. It was not too many years ago that tobacco was large and the coolest of people could be seen holding a smoothly smoking cigarette between their fingers. This height has been dampened by high taxes and health issues involved with consumption.

Since most tobacco seeds grown are used for consumption, tobacco seed suppliers have found that farms are switching to grow other crops in spite of its lingering high payment yield. Growing tobacco plant seeds is still enjoyed by home growers and those with an interest in specialty varieties. Wholesale tobacco seeds are available for those interested in large scale uses.

Tobacco seeds applications and uses stretch far beyond being planted and grown to produce leaves to make cigarettes. Tobacco seed growers carefully select between many types of seeds to produce plants that will eventually become one of several products used often in everyday life. Some of these uses include:

1. Tobacco seeds grown for consumables like cigarette, pipe, cigar and chewing tobacco

2. Tobacco seeds grown for organic insecticides

3. Tobacco seeds grown for beautification of gardens and flower beds

4. Tobacco seeds grown for medicines

5. Tobacco seeds grown for tobacco seed oil

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Become familiar with the different kinds of tobacco seeds available and how they are best used

With many different seed choices, it is important to known about the kinds and which application the plants are best suited for. Some varieties are best for cigarettes, others for chewing tobacco and some are best for non-consumption uses. Knowing how you want to use the product will help you decide which type to plant.

I recommend: Virtual Seeds explains the categories of tobacco that each seed will fit into, focusing on consumable varieties. Go to GreenDealer for information on varieties for uses in addition to consumption.

Buy tobacco seeds for use in flower beds

Tobacco seeds are the start of a beautiful, trumpet-like flower. Many gardeners are choosing to incorporate these blooms in with their flower beds. A tall choice, perfect for the back of a garden, and available in striking colors, the tobacco plant is sure to be noticed and admired.

I recommend: Some tobacco seed distributors sell seeds for ornamental use only, like Victory Seed Company. Seedman provides information on growing tobacco for flowers, choosing which seeds to use and also offers tobacco seeds for sale.

Learn about how tobacco seed varieties are used in medicines

Tobacco has long been used to aid in healing. Scrapes, cuts and insect bites are only a few of the discomforts tobacco has been used to treat. Recently, the plant from the tobacco seed has been tested for use in vaccines.

I recommend: Vernellia R. Randall explores some of the history of tobacco for medicinal use. Folk remedies and other medicinal uses of the tobacco seed and plant can be learned from Meshu Peshu Productions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many of the uses of tobacco seeds oil are still being determined, including the possibility of its use as fuel.

Buy tobacco seeds based on your use for them. Some plants are better for cigarette use while others are more suitable for chewing or medications. Growers provide wide varieties of seeds for various uses, so you can find just the right type.

Take the time to get to know the tobacco seed growers for their service and quality. Since the time investment in seeds is so crucial, find and use the most suitable seed providers. Choose tobacco seed suppliers that:

1. Provide organic tobacco seeds suitable to be sold as organic product to users;

2. Offer the correct type of seed, such as pipe tobacco seed, to fit your needs;

3. Have the largest selection of tobacco seed varieties to accommodate all the tobacco specialties you provide.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Invest in wholesale tobacco seeds for large plantings

Companies that sell tobacco seeds wholesale offer large quantities that are ideal for planting fields and crops. Wholesale quality produces at least 25 healthy plants, on average, per handful of seed.

I recommend: Choose companies offering tobacco plant seeds they've cultivated. Organica Seed is one of the freshest sources for seeds selling wholesale seeds directly to businesses. Newton Tobacco Seed offers standard tobacco seeds as well as private varieties.

Invest in tobacco seeds for sale sold as pellet material

For easy planting and better results, tobacco seeds purchased in this method are considered better for plentiful crops. This new technology allows a faster and more successful start for the plant.

I recommend: Look to leading providers of pellet seeds. One tobacco seed company specializing in it is Workman Tobacco Seed. ProfiGen, which is a distributor out of Brazil, offers commercial tobacco seeds in this form.

Find out if the market for heirloom seed tobacco fits your needs

One of the fastest growing fields is heirloom seeds. Tobacco seed producers are concentrating on specialty varieties for a higher payout and to answer this new demand in the market.

I recommend: Specialize in heirloom or other varieties of tobacco. Tobacco seed suppliers like Burpee offer commercial, heirloom tobacco seeds for specialized crops. Victory Seed offers a larger variety of heirloom seeds and other tobacco seed varieties.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Wholesale tobacco seeds are often sold under the name of the seed variety, specifically Nicotina. Bulk seed purchase offers the lowest price, but freshness of the seed is crucial to the production of the plant on a large scale.

Each year, people smoke 5.5 trillion cigarettes. There's no question the tobacco industry is a profitable one, and the United States is fourth in the world for tobacco production. But, if you are new to the tobacco industry, there's a lot to learn. For example, as you shop for or research tobacco seed, you will likely run across many new terms you've never heard. Some relate directly to the type of seed you are buying, while others reference the type of tobacco plant the seed produces. To help you navigate through seed catalogs, check out some tobacco seeds key terms.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Heirloom

Heirloom tobacco seeds are non-hybrid seeds that have a long history in farming. Most tobacco farmers don't use them in modern commercial agriculture, because they're more prone to disease and similar problems than other tobacco seeds. However, heirloom seeds produce plants that create new and usable seeds, whereas modern hybrid seeds produce plants with sterile, or unusable seeds.

I recommend: Heirloom Tobacco explains and pictures a number of varieties of heirloom tobacco plants and seeds.

Hybrid

Hybrid tobacco seeds are seeds cultivated by carefully breeding plants for specific and desirable traits. For example, hybrid tobacco seeds cross plants that tend to be resistant to disease. This creates a seed that grows abundantly with the least amount of effort.

I recommend: Netwon Seed offers detailed descriptions of its hybrid seeds.

Virginia

Virginia tobacco seeds produce the most commonly grown tobacco for smoking. Virginia tobacco has a mild flavor and a fairly high content of natural sugar.

I recommend: TobaccoSeed.ca describes various types of smoking tobacco, including the Virginia variety. Scroll down to "Tobacco Types" for complete information.

Burley

Burley tobacco seeds produce the second most popular tobacco plant grown in the United States. Unlike the Virginia variety, Burley seeds produce a plant with nearly no sugar, which creates a tobacco that tastes more dry. Burley tobacco also burns slowly, making it popular for blends.

I recommend: NC State University A&T State University Cooperative Extension gives statistics about Burley tobacco seeds and plants.

Maryland

Maryland tobacco seeds produce a plant with a lower than average nicotine content. The Maryland variety is declining in popularity.

I recommend: The Washington Post discusses the decline of Maryland tobacco seed and plants.

Oriental

Oriental tobacco seeds produce a plant that makes mild-tasting tobacco. These seeds have a strong smell and taste slightly sweet.

I recommend: Pipe Smoking Tobacco described Oriental tobacco plants in further detail.