A field experiment was conducted from 1983 to 1987 on a Fox loamy sand soil to study the effects of transplanting date on selected agronomic, physical, and chemical characteristics of flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) grown in Ontario. Tobacco plants (cv. Delgold) were transplanted at 3- to 5-d intervals commencing at approximately the middle of May and continuing for seven to nine planting dates into June. Delaying transplanting decreased yield, returns, total alkaloids, hexane extracts, lamina weight and percent lamina. Delaying transplanting also increased the chlorophyll content of the leaf but had no effect on reducing sugars, and only reduced grade index late in the planting season.Key words: Tobacco (flue-cured), transplanting date, yield, quality, tobacco chemistry