You may have heard this term used before and not been entirely sure what constitutes as the harvest window. Is it the flowering time stated on the seed pack, or down to the size and how swollen the buds are?
There are actually five factors that should be taken into consideration before chopping your Cannabis plants down.
Appearance
How the plants look once you have hit the recommended flowering time is one way to judge things, however yield and production should not be the deciding factor. Using the ratio of brown to white pistils is also not the most reliable way, and the appearance of the mature plants should be considered a long side trichome maturity and how swollen the calyx are.
Flowering Time
The flowering time stated by seed banks can often vary depending on the growing conditions, lights, and nutrients used, phenotype, outdoor environment and plant size. Marking each day off a calendar will allow you to keep a precise diary, although don't be hesitant to surpass the stated flowering date, if the appearance, calyx development, and trichome maturity do not look ripe and ready for harvest.
Calyx Swelling
Oftentimes impatient growers can harvest their plants too early and not allow the calyx to swell up, and really stack up. When a bud shows signs of foxtailing characteristics, the assumption is made that plants were over fertilized. Different cultivars will display different bud structures but giving the flowers time to truly reveal themselves and swell up is how you will achieve your bigger yields.
Trichome Development
The trichome is what contains all of the essential oils, terpenes, and cannabinoids, that make each cultivar unique. Under a microscope, a trichome gland will have a neck and on top a glass ball. It is by looking deeper into the head of the resin gland, where you will be able to see the state of the trichome and from the color, get an indication of peak terpene profile, as well as potency and effect. Generally the rule of thumb is to observe the trichome head to see if the color of the trichome head is clear, silver and cloudy or dark yellow with hints of reds. The darker the resin gland then the more potent the effects will be.
The Flush Period
If you are using bottled nutrients, then you will be feeding your Cannabis plants at high levels of salt-based nutrients, that over time become undissolved. You should take 2 weeks to clean out the growing medium and root zone using plain water, in order to push the plants to use up their internal reserves, break down any undissolved salts, dramatically improving the final flavor. So unless you are 14 days into your flushing period, then harvesting the plants should not be a concern, no matter how tempted or practical it may be.
What To Avoid When Harvesting Cannabis Plants
- Any buds that have mold should be cut away from the plant and discarded.
- Leaves that show signs of powdery mildew should also be thrown in the trash.
- Picking your plants too early and losing out on the ultimate flavor and effect.
- Harvesting based on the number of brown to white pistils is no good.
- Harvesting too late and losing peak terpene profiles.
Drying Your Harvested Flowers
The worst thing that you can do is become careless when it comes to the drying. So many growers waste their hard work by speed drying causing a low quality flower. Before you do harvest your plants, decide which way you will trim them.
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