https://duckduckgo.com/?q=nicotiana+leaves&t=ffcm&iax=images&ia=images

not sure adding nicci changed the pix much

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=nicotiana+nicci+leaves&t=ffcm&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

No they’re not.

The plant in the upper center next to the walk does look like it may be a nicotiana. You could wait for it to bloom and know for sure.

I don't see anything in the shot that has Nicotiana features

They’re all the same species imo and I’d bet it’s a member if the Asteraceae. My guess is you’ll see dandelion flowers in due course. Probably yellow.

(They may not be Nicotiana but they are not dandelions)

No, of course they’re not dandelions. I didn’t intend to imply they were. I used ‘dandelion flowers’ as short hand for a yellow asteraceae bloom comprising multiple ray florets...... like a dandelion.

I think sunflower (aster) family also. There are tens of thousands of species of those.

I will keep the plants as they are until I see a flower.

And post the flower pics here, too.

(As I mentioned in my original post, given my zone, it is a bit hard to imagine that nicotianas could be so far along if simply starting from seed outdoors)