Growing Marijuana Information
Acquiring Good Marijuana Seeds Quality seed strains are often difficult
to obtain. This is especially true for people who hang in a predominantly
straight crowd and know few people who partake in the fine erb. The rule
of thumb is if the weed gets you pretty high then the seed is usually
good to grow. Seeds coming from green bud are often better to grow because
the strain is frequently acclimated to the growing season of northern
latitudes. Jamaican and Colombian varieties can not be easily produced
in northern latitudes because the strains produce bud too late in the
season. The results of growing these varieties in most of the U.S. will
be little or no bud growth before the first frost hits. Sativa strains
usually grow taller than the indica or indica-sativa hybrids. This can
be a major drawback especially in the fall when other plants are dying
off and trees are losing leaves. Some growers have success crossing sativa
varieties from southern climates with Indica, and creating an offspring
that will bud more timely.
When at parties, concerts, or other social events, keep an eye out for
people breaking up bud and discarding seeds. The best time to look for
seeds is from October to January because this is when most of the locally
grown outdoor erb hits the market. Acquiring and maintaining a quality
seed stock is the most fundamental task of a successful grower.
Finding a Site Aside from acquiring good seed, picking a prime location
to grow is probably the most important task a grower is faced with. One
of the best locations is in areas of grasslands that have small trees
and bushes interspersed. Often a farmers field that has been out of production
for ten years is ideal. Flood plains along rivers and streams are another
good location, but the risk of losing seeds in the Spring or the harvest
in the Fall due to flooding should be considered. Growers have also been
known to plant in buckets in more rocky or mountainous terrain. This enables
them to grow in areas that receive good sunlight but have rocky, untillable
soil. Digging a site in areas of dense but short plant growth, like sticker
bushes, is another suitable spot. The sticker bushes grow high enough
to prevent people from seeing through them and also serve as a direct
deterrence from people and large animals wandering into the site.
A grower can often use animal and insect life to his advantage. Bees,
tics, green flies and the like can discourage people from wandering through
fields so areas having an abundant insect population are prime locations.
The most important criteria for an excellent growing site are good soil,
available water, sunlight, and suitable cover. Other factors are secondary.
Good soil is sometimes hard to find but without it you won't get much
of a harvest. So, if you find a site that is perfect for all other factors
but has poor soil , you may want to consider bringing soil to the site.
Soil is often the richest in areas where grassland vegetation has existed
for a series of years. Grasslands recycle nutrients in the soil and form
a thick layer of organic matter. Grassland biospheres require very little
preparation to start growing, while other soil conditions require more
work. Sandy soils often need potting soil or top soil along with a small
amount of lime to make them more fertile. Soils with high amounts of clay
need material, like peat moss, added to break up the clay and make the
soil more porous. I'm a naturalist and disagree with some erb growing
professionals who believe that planting along road sides can be productive.
The lead and other toxic chemicals found in some of these soils is enough
to discourage many vegetable growers from producing consumable or smokable
plant material. If you live in a city, and lack your own means of transportation
then use roadsides as your last resort.
A close water source is also very important. A site close to the water
table would be ideal since bringing water into the site can get tiresome
an d also dangerous. It can get very tiresome if you have many sites or
even a few big sites. If you choose a site much higher than the water
table or grow in buckets, you will quickly find that the amount of water
needed during a dry summer will be enormous and will give you great incentive
to find a site closer to the water table. The dangers in having to bring
water to the sites are numerous. The greatest of these would be the chance
of someone spotting you, possibly a cop. The second greatest would be
the destruction of the foliage you have to walk through to get from the
water source to the site. If you have to make more than one trip you run
a big risk that a trail will become noticeable. Finding a stable water
source in the summer can be another obstacle since small streams often
dry up at this time. How often you will need to water is determined by
the weather and that could require you to make unexpected trips to the
sites. Each trip puts you at risk. Your goal is to minimize these trips.
Sunlight is less important than the previous two components but is still
essential. Plants should be in areas that receive at least five hours
of direct sunlight per day. Morning sunlight is preferable since plants
tend to respond better to it than to the afternoon sunlight. Growers who
scout sites during the winter months must be able to visualize how the
landscape will be shaded by trees, and the path the sun will take come
Spring. Of course, the greater the amount of sunlight the better, but
when choosing a site sunlight is just one of many factors that must be
considered.
The last criteria has nothing to do with plant biology, but rather focuses
on minimizing the threat of unwanted attention from people wandering by.
The cover should be both tall enough to keep people from spotting it and
thick enough to discourage them from wandering too close to it. The best
foliage to accomplish this is a large patch of big sticker bushes. If
that's not available, look for foliage that grows to a height of six to
eight feet by the fall and is far enough away from where someone might
stray.
The Ability to hide plants amongst the flora in fields is an art and
skill improved upon through practice. One favorite technique is to hide
plants on the south side of bushes so that passers by will have difficulty
spotting the plant(s). Plants still get adequate light in spite of the
appearance of being crowded by the larger bush. The best hiding spot for
erb is where people have their view blocked from all sides and has the
appearance of being impenetrable. In areas where the vegetation growth
is less than three feet the erb may need to be trimmed back or tied to
the ground in order to create smaller bushier plants. Fields with small
vegetation growth may have poor soil or can be dry upland environments
where the soil frequently becomes too dry so use caution. Making erb junior
blend in with the other plants in the field will minimize risk. In order
to grow plants efficiently, an outdoor grower must use the natural landscape
to his or her advantage.
Making a Trail One of the ways to ensure success is by creating trails
that are not visible to passers by. This is easier in some places than
in others. Areas having dense undergrowth with lots of sunlight can be
ideal because plant growth is so rapid it will erase any damage to the
vegetation between trips during the Spring and Summer. If you are growing
plants in areas easy to spot trails then make the path weave back and
forth so it becomes difficult for people to see a trail. Making a hidden
trail to the site(s) is important because it allows the grower to minimize
getting ripped off or worse, caught. People wander through undeveloped
areas and follow trails to nowhere all the time. Their access can be limited
through thoughtful planning of pathways and proper care in using them.
When you walk through your entrance, do everything possible not to damage
any of the foliage, especially toward the late Summer and early Fall.
At this time of the year, damaged foliage usually will not regrow and
this is when the plants need as much cover as possible. There are two
things to keep in mind when making a trail to your site(s): 1) Can you
see the trail you just made, if not that's great, if so look for ways
to cover areas that look like a trail; 2) The more difficult it is for
you to get to the site, the less likely someone else will try.
The Mechanics of Growing Your cousin Louie and his friend Sam are in
town from Oklahoma and they have smoked a lot of grass and grown some
in their backyards. Sam has a good rap, and appears knowledgeable about
fine erb. Taking these two gentlemen for a walk in the fields might appear
to be a good idea. Shit, they could offer some insightful pointers. I
must caution against these excursions. Even if these men are the erb experts
they appear, taking a walk with them may not be in your best interest.
They are unfamiliar with the area and may not know where to run if the
need arises. Walking with more than two people through a field can attract
attention (the greater the number of people, the greater chance of being
seen). The more people walking on a trail the larger the trail becomes
and thus the greater the chance your trail can be followed by others.
Every time you visit the site(s) you are putting the harvest and for that
matter yourself at risk. This may be a small or large risk depending on
the particular place but remember that no place is 100% safe. Unless it
is an emergency situation where the buggy fly has infested your crop,
and you are bringing in a specialist to offer expert advice, the site(s)
should not be visited by strangers. Having a growing partner is recommended
regardless of his or her competence, and even then the site(s) should
only be visited to accomplish specific tasks. Trips to the site should
occur at the following times.
A. Preparing The Soil: (early March - Mid April depending on climate)
I suggest buying 40lb. bags of organic potting soil and mixing this in
with the existing soil. This soil is not often found at your local all-purpose
store so some searching may be required. Potting soil is richer soil than
commercial top soil so it goes a little bit farther when mixed with the
existing soil. Lime may be necessary in areas with acidic soil and peat
moss is a good additive for soils with a clay type consistency. I avoid
chemical fertilizers, not just because I believe that organic farming
is the best way, but also because toxic waste is produced from the manufacture
of fertilizers.
It's also a good idea to put up a two foot high fence at this time. This
will keep small animals out and the use of dried blood and/or human hair
will fend off deer. Purchase a wire fence with small gaps, 2 inches or
less between the metal strands. Collect enough sticks in the area to provide
stakes that will support the fence about every 2 feet. Outline the site
with the sticks and tie the fence to the sticks with string or wire. Cut
the fence endstrand and bend the strands that protrude from the top of
the fence out and down the outside to discourage animals from trying to
jump over it. Camouflage the fence and site with normal ground debris
as necessary before leaving.
B. Planting: (early April - early May)
There are different ways to go about planting:
1) The seed intensive method:
This method should only be used if you have an abundance of seeds. The
seed intensive method entails planting many seeds in a small area. Its
strength is that it can limit risk. When you journey to your newly prepared
site(s), the seeds and trowels are hidden in your pockets. Plant the seeds
about one half inch deep, unless the soil contains high amounts of clay
then only plant seeds one quarter inch in the soil. If you setup small
sites 3ft x 3ft square, put in three rows with a seed every one and a
half inches. If you work out the Math this is roughly 72 seeds per site.
Unfortunately, many growers, especially beginners, do not posses this
many good seeds. If a grower creates four sites with this many seeds he
or she is almost guaranteed a harvest. Yes, there will be some crowding
and this is one of the drawbacks of using many seeds in a small area.
Also, figure around 50% of the plants are going to be male so you must
return to the site to cut out the males toward the end of Summer. Once
the males are removed from the site, the females get more light and aren't
as crowded. The seed intensive strategy tends to produce smaller plants
because of crowding, but at the same time it helps ensure a harvest every
season. In the present day of infrared photography, I believe it is important
to have small sites to avoid detection from the air. This of course means
growers may have to create a series of small plots in order to garner
a year's supply of erb. If you grow merely for hobby, sport, or experimental
purposes, than one site may suit you fine.
2) Planting small seedlings:
The strongest argument for this method of planting is that you get the
opportunity to select for planting the strongest of the seedlings you've
started. The strongest argument against this method is the risk of transporting
the seedlings to their intended site(s). Transporting them requires you
to find a method of concealing them, usually a box. The problem that then
arises is that the size box needed to transport many plants may make this
method too risky or totally impractical. The other concern with this method
is that there is also the risk of shocking the seedlings when you put
them outside in the site where they will be exposed to the harsh Spring
weather. Before planting seedlings or sexed females they should be put
outside and closely monitored at least three days before planting to become
acclimated to the wind and change in temperature.
This method works best when you can set up a small shelter near your
sites that is enclosed but not insulated. This shelter can be as small
as the site and 18 inches tall or big enough to walk in, providing you
have a safe location for such a structure. Starting seeds in this shelter
gives the benefit of acclimating seedlings to a temperature much closer
to that which they will face when they are planted in the site and it
will also protect them from any late Spring snows and/or frosts.
3) Planting sexed females:
The advantage of planting sexed females is obvious; every plant will produce
buds. The sex of plants can be determined by growing them until they're
four inches high, and then decreasing the amount of light they receive
to eight hours. The males are then identified and removed in one to two
weeks. This method requires being able to control the amount of light
the plants receive each day, and also requires that plants be started
indoors earlier than you would normally start (late February - early March).
This method allows growers to spread their plants across a wide area in
smaller sites and also to hide plants amongst small trees and shrubs.
By spreading two dozen female plants throughout a ten acre area in individual
sites, a harvest is almost guaranteed, providing that you remember where
all the sites are. Growers are encouraged to create a map of their sites
to insure against memory loss. Just remember to guard that map closely.
Putting anything about your operations in writing puts you at risk.
C. Weeding:
Three weeks after the plants or seeds are in the ground return to remove
weeds that are crowding out the kind erb. Three weeks after the first
weeding a second weeding should take place. A third weeding is optional,
by this time the plants should be large enough to compete with the weeds,
however, if you are in a site that has strong weeds around it you may
have to cut the weeds back at additional times throughout the year. Remember,
weeding does not mean destroying all vegetation within three feet of a
plant. Weeds can help hide your crop and protect your crop from hungry
animals. Nearby vegetation can also help keep water in the soil from evaporating
in the hot sun. So don't go overboard and be very careful, it's very easy
to accidently injure small plants or their roots trying to get rid of
weeds.
D. Removing Males:
(If you are growing sexed females these trips can be omitted) Male plants
will begin to produce their flowers and pollen as early as mid July for
varieties acclimated to this climate. Varieties from more southern climates,
may not start until mid September. This difference depends on the budding
cycle of your variety, some plants start to bud earlier than others, so
the exact time to cut the males will vary with the strain. If you are
using a variety of different seeds it may be necessary to visit once a
week from July 21 through September 15. The timely identification of a
male plant is crucial to the success of the harvest. If the weather is
exceptional during the time a male starts producing its flowers and you
missed seeing the first signs during your last visit, you could wind up
with a lot of seeds and little of the fine erb. A female can either generate
a large seedless bud, a large bud with a few seeds, or a large bud that
is almost totally seeds. The first case is achieved by removing all the
male plants before any of their flowers open. The second case occurs when
a few male flowers have opened but you remove them before any more open.
The third case occurs when you miss-time the flowering of the male. This
can be devastating if you have big female plants because you could loose
90% of the smokable erb to seed production. This last scenario may not
always be bad though. If you are short on seeds for the next growing season,
it may be prudent to let one or two males stand and fertilize a portion
of the females. Good seeds are hard to come by, so if you have a strain
you like, make sure to plan ahead and have at least a few hundred seeds
for the future. The spotting of males is one of the most difficult of
things to explain to a person that's never grown since it really takes
careful attention to how the tops of male plants look at this stage of
development. Even experienced growers will be unsure at times and will
have to wait till the next visit to be sure. When a male enters the stage
of flower development, the tips of the branches where a bud would develop
will start to grow what looks like a little bud but it will have no white
hairs coming out of it.
E. The Fungus:
Along with cops, thieves, animals, and insects, "the fungus"
is another obstacle in the path of a successful growing season. When the
buds are roughly half developed they become susceptible to a fungus or
bud rot. It appears that growing conditions for the fungus are best when
temperatures are between 60 and 80 degrees and the humidity is high. The
fungus is very destructive and spreads quickly. It is a spore type of
fungus that travels to other buds via the wind so it is impossible to
prevent or stop if weather conditions permit it to grow. If things should
go badly and the fungus starts to attack your plants, you must remove
it immediately or it will spread to other areas of the plant or plants.
Some growers will remove just the section of the bud that is infected
whereas other growers will remove the entire branch. Removal of the entire
branch better insures that the fungus is totally removed, and also enables
the grower to sample the crop a few weeks ahead of time. The main point
in removing the fungus is to be very careful. Since it is a spore type
of fungus, the accidental jerking of an infected bud will release some
of the spores and they could fall onto a lower bud so by the next visit,
you might have to pull that bud too. Also be careful in touching the fungus
with your fingers because your fingers could pick up the spores and then
when you touch the next bud, the spores could cling to it and start eating
away at that bud.
F. Emergency Visits:
The Real Estate and Construction Industries have conspired to develop
housing near your crop and their "progress" must be monitored.
A hurricane or tropical storm with winds over 50 miles per hour has visited
your area. A drought takes place. etc. One of the drawbacks of growing
outdoors is that you can not control for interference by outside forces.
Emergency visits may be necessary but don't go crazy every time there's
a bad storm. These plants are strong and can take some punishment.
The Harvest
Performed at night if possible. A nighttime run will limit the chances
of someone seeing you. Do the most risky parts, such as carrying freshly
cut erb where you could easily be spotted by a passing car, when the police
jurisdiction changes shift. This can help ensure that officials do not
spot you, and if a nosey nearby resident or passerby calls the police,
it may take time before a car is dispatched to investigate. If harvesting
at night, use flashlights sparingly so as not to attract attention, and
bring extra batteries just in case(the rechargeable kind are recommended).
When harvesting more than a couple of plants remember a small pocket knife
because it makes the night move quicker. Unless you are planning to use
the large fan leaves for cooking, remove them in the field so they don't
take up a lot of space. If you have more than one variety of erb that
you are harvesting bring various bags to put the different strains of
buds in, and I would suggest using backpacks for travel to avoid suspicion
and for easy handling.
When to Harvest
The time to harvest depends on several factors: bud development, weather,
fungus, and thieves. Some pot strains mature earlier in the fall than
others, depending on the latitude of the globe where the strain originated.
You will need to pull Indica varieties in late September and Columbian
varieties in late October. The weather may also force you to pull early.
If there is a severe freeze heading your way, you are better off not chancing
that the weathermen are wrong and pull at least a majority of what you
have. Another case for pulling early is if weather conditions are perfect
for the fungus to run wild. This will also force you to pull early. And
of course if your site has been found or is in great danger of being found,
you must pull everything to avoid loosing out on what would otherwise
have been a great year. For instance, if you have a site in a corn field
or other temporary situation, the harvest must occur at a point in time
relatively independent of weather. Also try to find out if and when hunters
start to roam the fields.
One other thing to watch for is frost. Even a mild frost can damage plants
so watching the weather closely in late September and throughout October
is important. If your plants do get damaged by frost the erb is still
harvestable so don't give up entirely if you fail to chop before the first
frost. If by some freak chance there is a frost in early September and
the buds are still very small you may want to allow the damage to occur
and then let the buds finish maturing rather than harvesting a small quantity
of premature buddage. This type of situation is an on the spot call and
you must consider many factors, such as bud size, weather predictions
for the following weeks, strain of weed, location of site, etc., before
deciding. Indica varieties usually mature sooner than sativa varieties,
and the best time to harvest varieties acclimated to the Northeast is
from late September to mid October. Those varieties not acclimated to
the Northeast, such as Columbian or Jamaican, are best left to late October
or even mid November if the weather permits. One other thing you want
to avoid is harvesting in the rain. Moisture can lead to problems in the
drying process such as molds and fungi. The dryer the plants at the harvest
date the better.
As mentioned before, it is important to acquire seeds from strains that
can be grown at the latitude you are at, some Mexican or Colombian varieties
may not develop mature buds until November and by then the weather becomes
harsh. Knowing when your plants will mature is difficult for beginners
or growers using new seeds for the first season.
Planning and getting to a good drying location quickly is important so
the buddage is not left in bags for longer than a few hours. If the freshly
harvested bud remains in bags for too long (12 hours or more), molds and
fungus will begin to destroy the erb. Once you get to your drying location
you need to prepare the erb for drying. This entails removing excess fan
leaves and other larger leaves. However, if the drying spot has a temperature
higher than 85 degrees it may be beneficial to leave a few large leaves
to keep the buds from drying too quickly. Typical places to dry are attics,
closets, dresser drawers, and basements. The best position for a bud to
dry in is hanging upside down in a location where air can circulate all
around it. If you are fortunate to have a location that you can do this
in, great, otherwise use a dresser drawer or some other concealed place.
If you dry the buds in dresser drawers remember not to double stack the
buds or the weight of the upper layer of buds will cause a flat spot on
the buds underneath. Also remember to rotate the buds every day so the
erb dries uniformly and you can check for any signs of mold or fungus.
If space permits and you are able to retrieve the whole plant, roots and
all, you can hang them upside down by the roots, but don't expect this
drying procedure to yield higher quality bud. THC does not drain from
the roots down into the buds, the THC forms in the resin on the buds.
The entire drying process should take place over four to six days depending
on the size and variety of bud, the temperature, and the relative humidity
of the drying area. If the buds are dried too quickly, the flavor of the
erb will become more harsh and the THC level may not reach its potential.
If the pot is dried too slowly then molds and fungi may develop and have
a similar effect. With any method of drying, the process must be monitored
on a day-to-day basis. Room temperature is fine for drying as long as
the humidity is kept low. If drying must take place in a cool damp place
then a fan and possibly a heater should be installed to compensate.
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