In addition, the land requires thorough preparation and fertilization. Crop rotation is a necessity because several years of tobacco cultivation in one field may consume all of the soil's nutrients. Transplanting machines are used extensively, but most of the world's tobacco plants are planted by hand. Spacing in a field varies according to the type being planted. The full-grown plant has large leaves that droop from a central stem.
Short hairs cover the green parts and give off a sticky secretion.
Large, sweet-scented flowers appear in a cluster at the top of the stalk. They range from deep pink to nearly white. This directs most of the nourishment into the leaves. After topping, the lateral, or side, shoots called suckers are removed to increase leaf development. Tobacco plants may be attacked by a number of diseases and insect pests.