Submitted by admin on April 23, 2009 - 00:39
Soil and Climate
The commercial growing of tobacco in New Zealand is at present limited to the Waimea county of Nelson Province. Most of the area is close to the town of Motueka. Soil and climate favour this locality. The best soils for producing heavy crops of good-quality leaf are sandy silt loams of the river valleys. The largest area of this soil type is in the Riwaka district. Tobacco is also grown on heavier soil types in other river valleys in the area. The Motueka district has an annual rainfall of about 40 in., reasonably evenly spread throughout the year. It is very sunny (about 2,500 hours a year) and free from wind. Hot days, with temperatures of up to 90° F, with warm and humid nights, suit tobacco.