There are over 3000 named varieties of Nicotiana tabacum, and many named varieties of N. rustica. Had Mendelian genetics been discovered two centuries earlier, I suspect that there would be far fewer tobacco varieties today, with more dramatic distinctions among them. As it is, we get to enjoy our subtle preferences (often less dependent on the variety than on our growing conditions, and our subsequent curing, fermentation/kilning and aging practices).
With the exception of commercial seed production, where numerous varieties are just part of the business, home-growers seem to fall into two camps. The most common is to purchase a small number of specifically recommended varieties, and perhaps vary that from year to year. Then there are those home-growers who grow increasing numbers of different varieties each year, to explore their characteristics. This latter group has a tendency in subsequent years to eventually settle on a much smaller number of varieties that they particularly like.
For me, the burden of maintaining accurate documentation of simultaneously growing dozens of varieties each year became oppressive. My craziest year was a grow of 43 different varieties (a decade ago). I have pretty much settled on about a dozen varieties that I frequently grow, but fewer than 8 or 9 varieties in any given season.
Bob
