Harvest Help Please

[Lost Online]

Today is the mark of week 8 of flowering on my first personal indoor med grow. I grew from seed (seedboutique) and have 4 plants (1) Skunk #1, and (3) Strawberry Cough. The seed company says that Skunk #1 is harvested in 8 weeks, and the Strawberry Cough in 9 weeks. I've been keeping calendar on it all with notes. Anyway, the pistils are still less than 50% turned from white to brown. But, I use an electronic microscope (radio shack) and I'm checking the resin glands every day. There are still some clear resin glands, but most 80% have turned milky on all 4 plants. There are a couple of small areas with signs of the resin turning amber, but it's not pervasive at all. Somehow it seems that these plants are ready to pull now, but still early according to the seed company.

I worked hard on this grow and don't want to harvest too early, but I don't want to miss the window either and end up degrading the THC.

This may sound dumb, but I'm not a big sativa fan and these strains are sativa dominant. So I was hoping to let them go long enough for the other compounds to develop along with the THC so I could get some sedative affect out of the smoke.

I hope I've provided enough information for getting advice. Any input would be greatly appreciated. I kinda need help with this pretty quick in case I'm letting them go too long. Thanks.

Scissors at the ready :p

SMOTU

[Marco Renda]

Give it another day or 2 as it doesn't take long for the tri to turn from cloudy to amber

Take Care and Peace
Marco

[Lost Online]

Thank you. Are you saying to wait until they are all nearly amber, or turning amber? The only reason I'm asking is because I read that you should harvest when they are milky, before they turn amber.

Thanks
SMOTU

[FUNK4:20]

for a more entergetic high cut it down when trich's are 20-30 percent amber--for a more deep high(couchlock)i do at 50 percent amber...some wait till about 65 percent though---it sounds like your buds will get bigger-if there still cloudy--i would say 5-8 days. maybe more?

marco knows way better than me though.:)

[Lost Online]

wow - thank you for that. Exactly what I wanted to know. I'm in no hurry so your post is a relief. I was just reading another post by Capt Zigzag where he recommended doing only 4 hours of light in the last week. Anyone else subscribe to this thought? I can do that if it will help at this point. Im still on 12/12 as I've never heard this before about 20/4.


SMOTU

[Marco Renda]

Once the tri are cloudy it doesn't take them long to turn amber. I personally prefer to have 50 / 50.

Best thing to do though is to keep a eye on the tri.

I have heard people keep plants in total darkness for the last 72 hours prior to harvesting.

Take Care and Peace
Marco

[Lost Online]

Thank you very much for that. Will do.

SMOTU

[soulmate]

You could cut a small bud and quick dry it on one of your ballasts and try it to see how it works for you.

[hashimoto]

You should consider giving your plants 3 days of darkness when you're close to ready/ready. Produces harder buds, replacing some water with oils.

[stickytri]

Please believe me if you wait and are patient you are rewarded no end,
I always give my plants 2 nights of dark before cutting this makes the cure better as the plants use up alot of the water still in them.
Im so jealous of the strawberry cough this is a strain i have wanted for years now.
Please supply pics so i can drool over them lol.

Stickytri

[Roy]

You asked a good question and you got a lot of good answers. I use the same Radio Shack unit you are using and have found it excellent. I usually take a very, very small piece of bud and put it on a piece of white paper and then view it.

If you only have a few amber trichs I don't think it's time for a cut.

I wouldn't cut until they are at least 30% amber and usually more like 50%.

Good luck!

:D

[Lost Online]

Thank you all for the information. I switched to 4 hours of light for now. Will cut down on those last 72 hours too. Here are some pix I took today. I hope they come out ok.

The 2nd photo is of my one Skunk #1 (freebie seeds from seedboutique) the pistils have always grown weird (knarled and lumpy). The 1st - 3rd - 4th photos are of the strawberry cough.

SMOTU

[Capt. Zigzag]

Very nice work. The wimin love the Strawberry cough.


http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/JusSumguy/Trt/cough.jpg

-

[Green Medicine]

^^^^ It sure seems that way....at least on some sites. It's a ladies strain! <jk> http://smilies.neo101.nl/smilies/lekkerrr.gif

[FUNK4:20]

because of the flavor--its a favorite for wemon--mabe even an stimilant sexualy some way. :Dall day the next u will.lol:p:cool:

had to edit this..lol

[Lost Online]

The wemem have a seekret. Last night I vaped a couple small nugs that I have been drying for a few days . I was impressed. Strawberry Cough already has such a sweet odor on the branch, but the flavor was like nothing I've found in any club. Two bags on the volcano made for a great night of movie watching. It breaks my heart to think I'll lose 75% of these buds during the drying process. LOL. It's been fun growing my own meds, but I need to get the RV out and head to the coast. I have to get used to not worrying about what's going on in my hydro hut. LOL

I'm hoping to harvest within the next 4 days or so. Will switch to 72 hrs dark soon.

SMOTU

[greendragon]

strawberry cough - you can get it cheap at planetskunk in th UK

[GrassMaster]

First let me say- I don't know how else to word this so don't take it as sarcastic if that's how it comes across, that is not my intention in anyway.

I have noticed that alot of growers at TY swear by the dark period at the end of flowering(36-72 hrs.) My question is WHY? I have not heard any scientific proof that warrants this, just peoples theories and opinions. I do know that elswhere I get laughed at for even asking about this and told that it's silly and doesn't do anything more for a properly grown plant than the extra time would anyway, keeping the 12/12 schedule. Barring personal opinions, can anyone provide me with scientific PROOF(not theories like- since this and this, then that must be true) that this dark period is warranted?

Sorry to hijack the thread but this was a good place to ask a question that's been on my mind for awhile. Peace

[greendragon]

im not laughing, its an extremely intelligent question. 1 i would like to hear the answer too as well. i have sum buddies that move new stock in as they take the plants out to be harvested thus never interfering with the light cycle.

the idea of telling the dieing plant that its dead because of no light is kinda dumb. and if you properly flush for 2 weeks; there are no more fertilizers to be concerned with. the trichs tell ya its ready to harvest so other then curing, i have no idea why people do this.

[stickytri]

I have tried both methods,
Without the dark period the product not only does not have as much flavour but the strength isnt the same.
By giving the plant between 48 and 72 hours dark without light and simple water all the oils in the branches and stalk make their way into the bud.
This defo happens, the question is if you can wait the extra couple of days.
The plant also dries and the fan leaves simply fall of thus making it easier to manacure which is a bugger we all must admit but a must.
Try cutting one or two plants and leaving one or two for a dark period then test both when they are ready.
You will find that the plants cut first will not be cured before the plants given the dark period.
They will also not have as much of a sweet flavour.
It is only advice and your own preference

Stickytri

[soulmate]

I am not sure which way is the best but what you said stickytri, is not true the oils, that you talk about do not move, these are stationary and stay where they are on the plant. The oils are in the trichromes and don't move unless they end up stuck on someones fingers and get moved like that, LOL. This is the some as someone saying that by not give the plants water for a few days before harvest and then dripping the roots into some warm water that this will push the oils into the leafs, it is simple not true. Don't take this wrong, I am not putting you down, Stickytri just clearing up a misconception.

[greendragon]

like i said elsewhere; its sumthin to do with the curing time and harvesting

[stickytri]

Well when i was being shown how to grow that is what i was told,
Anyways the bud is better with the dark period this i do know because i have tried both methods.

Stickytri

[greendragon]

what i have found is commercial growers dont use the 3 day dark period, to them its a crop to go to market. while the dark period is mainly used by small growers who take the time to get as much off the plant as possible. then over time we get both methods of using or not using the dark period passed down to others. make sense?

[Lost Online]

Well, the harvest is over now. I pulled the Skunk #1 three days before the Strawberry Cough. Pulled the three SCs yesterday and ended up with one very stinky house afterwards - LOL.. I'm drying in my hydro hut where the grow was done. Seems best since I can control the temp,humidity, and odor. I want a nice slow dry. The Skunk #1 was dry this morning so I have manicured and placed the buds in mason jars for the cure. I got the grinder out and tried a little of the skunk. These buds have almost no skunky odor, but this has turned out to be a very good morning med. Hope it's better after curing. Based on the way this plant grew out, I honestly expected to get Hay. Can't wait to try properly dried and cured Strawberry Cough. It is so fragrant and sweet tasting. The high from even a microwave quick dry is amazing to me. Just as good as the Kushes I've had from the clubs. Now I can see my total net from growing these 4 plants is going to be just about right until I can do another grow. I think I'll try growing out the Master Kush from seeds next time.

Thank you all for the advice during the last few weeks. I'll try to post bud photos soon.

SMOTU

[FUNK4:20]

when fully dried and cured--the bud will be twice as good:) More flavor Ect.

[GrassMaster]

ENJOY!!!! And yes the cured Buds will be better all the way around!!!!! Peace