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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: genlistlass on May 24, 2011, 07:11:47

Title: Old tobacco - any uses?
Post by: genlistlass on May 24, 2011, 07:11:47
I have just found my late father in laws tobacco jar packed in a moving box. It still has 3 pouches of tobacco and two sealed samples inside. As he died ten years ago I presume the tobacco is stale?????

On wikipedia it says it can be used as an organic pesticide...........   

Any thoughts anyone? Do I just sprinkle it around or make a "tea" with it and water it in?


Gen in windy Northumberland
Title: Re: Old tobacco - any uses?
Post by: goodlife on May 24, 2011, 07:48:37
Tobacco was used as pesticide and it was used by spraying some diluted tobacco brew...but it is rather potent stuff..personally I would not use it as there is all sorts of additives in it too..not so 'organic' things neither.
If it would be home grown stuff I might consider using it. But you could certainly put it in compost heap if you don't want to bin it.
Title: Re: Old tobacco - any uses?
Post by: goodlife on May 24, 2011, 07:59:23
I just 'dug out' one of my older gardening books that I've kept as 'curiosity' from things past.. ;D
And nicotine (active incredient in tobacco) was used to particularly against mealybugs and various aphids...but that was in days when DDT was common garden pesticide for those insect that was left alive when nicotine didn't quite clear the creepy crawlers.. :-X ::) I wonder how gardeners will look upon the 'remedies' and chemicals that 'we' use now in future....
Title: Re: Old tobacco - any uses?
Post by: genlistlass on May 24, 2011, 19:35:34
Interesting....... so its powerful stuff.

Will put it in the composter - see my other posting - Composters I'm sceptical!


Gen in Northumberland
Title: Re: Old tobacco - any uses?
Post by: Nigel B on May 24, 2011, 20:10:51
Don't put it anywhere near your composter!
It kills Brassicas.