N - Nicotine
N is for Nicotine.
I'm not about to embark on a public service announcement, we all know smoking is not a healthy habit. But, did you know that nicotine is unhealthy for your plants as well as yourself?
It's true!
Plants are able to take in nicotine from cigarette smoke, as well as through roots in contaminated soil (nicotine can be an ingredient in insecticides!). The smoke also clogs up the stomata (pores on the leaves through which plants "breathe") with tar, similar to the yellowish coating on walls and ceilings in your home (the previous owners of my home must have smoked in the bathroom a lot, over time it still forms spots of sticky yellow).
Plus, smoking can spread a disease called tobacco mosaic virus to your precious tomatoes! Just handling your tomato plants after smoking can transmit the virus! The disease can also spread to marigolds, petunias, and zinnias!
Nicotine is naturally present in tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, and tobacco, related species. The nicotine levels are much lower in the vegetables than tobacco, but high enough in potato and tomato stems and leaves to be toxic to smaller animals, like dogs.
So, don't smoke in your garden, and wash your hands before touching your tomatoes! Or, for good health all around, quit smoking everywhere!
N was Nicotine. O is something for family fun!
I'm not about to embark on a public service announcement, we all know smoking is not a healthy habit. But, did you know that nicotine is unhealthy for your plants as well as yourself?
It's true!
Plants are able to take in nicotine from cigarette smoke, as well as through roots in contaminated soil (nicotine can be an ingredient in insecticides!). The smoke also clogs up the stomata (pores on the leaves through which plants "breathe") with tar, similar to the yellowish coating on walls and ceilings in your home (the previous owners of my home must have smoked in the bathroom a lot, over time it still forms spots of sticky yellow).
Plus, smoking can spread a disease called tobacco mosaic virus to your precious tomatoes! Just handling your tomato plants after smoking can transmit the virus! The disease can also spread to marigolds, petunias, and zinnias!
Nicotine is naturally present in tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, and tobacco, related species. The nicotine levels are much lower in the vegetables than tobacco, but high enough in potato and tomato stems and leaves to be toxic to smaller animals, like dogs.
So, don't smoke in your garden, and wash your hands before touching your tomatoes! Or, for good health all around, quit smoking everywhere!
N was Nicotine. O is something for family fun!
Wow! I never knew this. Glad I've never smoked, and that an online acquaintance big into gardening managed to quit. Be well!
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