They are very easy to grow from seed, really. Surface sow the seeds - do NOT cover with soil. Best started in a pot, then transplant to the garden since you want to keep them moist until germination and that's hard to do directly in the garden as they should be pressed on the soil not covered in it. Once you get ONE in your garden they'll also self seed nicely. I no longer start these from seed, just transplant them from where they seed to where I want them.

I've had great luck wintersowing, and they reseed nicely for me. Even though I have some that reseeded, I picked up 2 3pks, which I'd never noticed available in nurseries before. I'm not sure if they'll get as tall as my regulars, which are normally 4'-5'. The ones I purchased are about 1' and blooming. I just couldn't resist ;)

Select seeds offers plants of some varieties. I buy N. sylvestris every year from them.

I winter-sowed Nicotiana alata 'Jasmine-scented white' this year using seeds that were commercial (Seeds of Change, organic) BUT they were packed for 1997 so they are 10 years old! I often sow older seeds to see what will happen and for the most part still get excellent germination with seeds that are 10 years or older.

Lots of the Nicotiana sprouted, which I planted out in little hunks and also potted up a bunch in flats for a swap I'm hosting next weekend. Not sure what variety you're trying to grow, or where the seeds were from, but in my limited experience it is very easy to start from seed.

I planted mine in early March in flats, they took awhile to come up under grow lights, and they're up but they're small. How long does it take them to grow up?

Starchild, mine self-seed in the garden and by late July are large enough to start blooming here in central NH. You don't say where you are, but they are frost-sensitive, so don't plant out until all danger of frost is past if that's an issue in your area, but after that they should grow quickly to blooming size.

Plant them once and they'll reseed and come up for years. I haven't planted nicotiana in years, but I still get seedlings.

I've never had trouble starting Nicky. Did you happen to use a heating mat when trying to germinate Nicotiana. Nicky is a cool weather plant and germinates at around 65 degrees. Anything higher and you cook your seed

Another way that I get mine started...and get ready for it, since I'm WAY too lazy to scarify the seeds...is that I put the seed packet my freezer for a few days. Then I take it and plant the seeds. Impressive, isn't it?!