Golden Burley Tobacco Seeds (Nicotiana tabacum) Popular air-cured type with smooth burn and mild flavor, ideal for blending
Minimum: 50+ seeds
A Smooth, Golden Classic, Grow Your Own Legacy of American Tobacco
Whether you're a passionate homesteader, a craft blender, or a curious heirloom grower, Golden Burley delivers a rewarding, deeply rooted connection to the land. With its golden-green leaves, mild aroma, and easygoing character in the garden, this air-cured variety has earned its place in home gardens, artisan blends, and history books alike. If you're ready to grow your own tobacco from seed, with full control over the process, this is a perfect place to start.
Trusted, Mellow, and Rewarding
Golden Burley grows with a clean upright habit, maturing into stout plants about 4 to 6 feet tall. The leaves are broad, light green, and full of smooth-bodied flavor when properly cured. Unlike fire-cured types, Burley tobacco is air-cured in shade or a well-ventilated barn for several weeks, developing a gentle smoke profile that’s often used as a base in pipe, cigarette, and cigar blends. This makes it ideal for hobbyists or growers interested in crafting their own blends without the harsh bite of darker types.
Garden to Curing Rack—A Full Circle Crop
• Mild & Smooth Flavor: Known for low sugar and low oil, resulting in a mild smoke
• Great for Blending: Used in commercial and homemade blends to soften and balance flavor
• Impressive in the Garden: Tall plants with lovely pink trumpet flowers that attract pollinators
• Multipurpose Crop: Can be used for smoking, organic pesticide sprays, or as ornamental bedding
• Easy to Cure at Home: Hang in a dry, shaded, well-ventilated space for 6–8 weeks
A Piece of American History
Burley tobacco originated in the 1860s in Ohio and Kentucky. Golden Burley became a favored cultivar due to its bright color, manageable curing process, and clean-burning qualities. It played a huge role in 20th-century American tobacco production and remains a staple for traditionalists and modern craft smokers alike. By growing Golden Burley at home, you’re not just raising a plant, you’re reviving a living tradition.
Growing Tips from the Field
Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost. Tobacco seeds are tiny, surface sow on moist, fine seed-starting mix and press gently. Keep under lights or in a sunny window, maintaining warmth (70–80°F) and humidity until germination (7–14 days).
Transplant after danger of frost has passed into fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Space 18–24 inches apart. These are heavy feeders, so amend soil well and side-dress with compost or balanced fertilizer as needed. Water regularly but don’t saturate.
• Soil: Rich, well-drained, neutral pH
• Light: Full sun
• Spacing: 18–24" apart
• Maturity: 60–70 days to harvest leaves
• Hardiness: Grown as an annual in all USDA zones
Begin harvesting lower leaves when they yellow slightly. Hang in an airy shed or covered porch to air-cure. Curing takes patience, but the result is worth every minute.
Bring Back the Craft
There’s something deeply satisfying about growing your own Golden Burley tobacco from seed. It’s a crop with weight, history, and soul, perfect for those who want more from their garden than just flavor. This is your chance to grow one of the best tobacco varieties for beginners, with the satisfaction of a smooth burn and a garden full of heritage.
Plant your legacy, before this season’s seeds are gone.