I mBolg

I received my tobacco seeds yesterday, February 20th. I'd never seen tobacco seeds before and they are tiny: about the size of a dot made by the tip of a pen. So today I ventured on over to the Home Depot and picked up some organic potting soil and a 10" pot for the transplant later on. I already had some small starter pots from one time I failed at growing basil and other spices before. Here's hoping for a greener thumb this time around.

The seller I received the seeds from provided some growing instructions, which were useful in starting my tobacco plants, so I've paraphrased them below:

1 - Fill the starter pots with soil
2 - Soak the soil
3 - Sprinkle several seeds on top of the soil (not covering them with soil)
4 - Cover the starter pots with saran wrap
5 - Leave the pots in light (tobacco seeds need light to germinate)

So as of now, I have 4 starter pots and a heck of a lot of leftover seeds. Anyway here's a pic:



The title of this post:

I mBolg is Irish-Gaelic for "in stomach" or "in belly". Of course, this is where the name of the pagan holiday Imbolc is derived, referring to young sheep still in their mothers' wombs. The holiday is one of rebirth, and preparation for spring, and I think that I mBolg is an appropriate analogy for the new germinating seeds.

The Purchase Is Made

Today I bought 500 Virginia Gold (left) tobacco seeds from E-Bay. The seller is shipping them from Canada, so who knows how long that's going to take. I paid $1.50 for the seeds and then $3.99 for shipping, so it's really cheap to get started. I went with Virginia Gold because I like plant names that are state-oriented. My searches for Pennsylvanian varieties amounted to little.

(Seller's name was Dannysgarage, in case anyone is looking for seeds, but there are numerous sellers)

Why am I growing my own tobacco? I don't even smoke. At least not regularly by any means. I have a pipe and some loose store-bought tobacco from over a year ago. But I really want to grow something that is not going to go rotten right away like some foods do. Tobacco has its niche here because it can be dried and stored for a reasonable amount of time. I do enjoy smoking every now and again, and I have every reason to believe that smoking homegrown tobacco is healthier than anything you can buy commercially, and almost eliminates one's risks of developing cancer, if done in moderation. I'm also a libertarian, so I like doing things myself.

About this blog
I'll be updating this blog whenever I do something significant. My next update will be made when I receive the seeds and plant them. Feel free to write me if you have any questions.