Yes, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) can be successfully grown in Colorado, but growers must adhere to specific legal requirements and adapt cultivation practices to the state’s unique high-altitude, semi-arid environment. The plant is frost-sensitive and requires an extended growing period, making variety selection and careful timing particularly important in Colorado’s shorter seasons. Success depends on horticultural planning and understanding the regulatory distinction between growing for personal use and commercial sales.
Regulatory Requirements for Cultivation
Growing tobacco for personal consumption is generally unregulated at the federal level, meaning no special permits are required for a small home garden. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) does not license or require permits for simply cultivating the tobacco plant itself. Federal oversight only begins when the grower engages in the business of manufacturing or selling tobacco products.
Commercial cultivation, or any intent to sell the harvested leaf or processed product, triggers strict federal oversight under Chapter 52 of the Internal Revenue Code (Title 26). A commercial operation must obtain the necessary permits from the TTB, which is responsible for collecting federal excise taxes on tobacco products. These permits, such as the “Dealer in Tobacco Products” permit, apply even to small commercial sales and necessitate meticulous record-keeping for tax purposes.
State-level regulation in Colorado focuses almost exclusively on the sales and distribution of the final tobacco product, not the agricultural act of growing the plant. Any person distributing tobacco products for sale within Colorado must obtain a license from the Department of Revenue and remit the state’s tobacco products tax. This tax is applied to the sale of the product, meaning commercial growers are primarily concerned with sales tax and distribution licensing rather than cultivation permits.
Adapting to Colorado’s Climate and Soil
Colorado’s diverse geography presents significant horticultural challenges, particularly the short frost-free period and high-altitude conditions. The growing season can range dramatically, from approximately 150 days in lower-elevation areas to as few as 60 to 100 days in high mountain valleys. This limited window necessitates selecting fast-maturing varieties to ensure a harvest before the early fall freeze.
The soil across the state varies, but the most fertile agricultural areas often feature Mollisols—dark, humus-rich soils that retain moisture and nutrients well, particularly in western Colorado. However, much of the state, especially the eastern plains, is characterized by drier, sandy soils that drain quickly. Tobacco thrives best in well-drained, sandy loam, which means careful soil amendment and fertilization are required to support the plant’s heavy nutrient demands.
High altitude also brings intense solar radiation and cooler overnight temperatures, which can influence leaf composition. Varieties like ‘White Mammoth,’ ‘Sobolchskii 33,’ or ‘Isleta Pueblo’ are preferred because they mature quickly, often in 40 to 60 days after transplanting, fitting within the state’s condensed season. The semi-arid climate means the grower must implement consistent irrigation, especially during the peak summer growth phase, as the plant needs regular water.
Detailed Steps for Growing and Curing
The process begins indoors, typically six to eight weeks before the last expected spring frost, since tobacco seeds are minute and fragile. Seeds must be surface-sown onto a fine growth medium and kept warm (usually around 75–80°F) to encourage germination. Once the risk of frost has passed and the soil temperature reaches at least 65°F, the seedlings (which should be six to eight inches tall) can be transplanted outside, spaced about two to three feet apart.
During the summer growing season, two specialized maintenance tasks maximize leaf quality and size. The first is “topping,” which involves removing the plant’s terminal flower bud before it fully opens, redirecting energy toward producing larger, thicker leaves. The second is “suckering,” the continuous removal of small side shoots that sprout at the junction of the leaf and the main stalk, which compete for nutrients and reduce leaf quality.
Harvesting is done either by “priming” (picking individual leaves from the bottom of the stalk as they ripen and turn a pale yellow) or by cutting the entire stalk once the lower leaves have yellowed. The most intricate step is curing, where the leaf’s starches convert to sugars, and its green color changes to the desired yellow, red, or brown. Air-curing, the most common method for home growers, requires hanging the leaves or stalks in a well-ventilated structure like a barn or shed.
Successful air-curing demands specific environmental controls, requiring temperatures ranging from 65°F to 90°F and relative humidity maintained between 65 percent and 75 percent. The drier air in Colorado means growers may need to manage ventilation carefully, sometimes closing doors or adding moisture to the floor to slow the drying process. If the leaves dry too quickly, the desired chemical changes do not occur, resulting in a brittle, bright green leaf unsuitable for use.