When to harvest

[Ren Hoek]

Hi everyone. I'm new here so forgive me if I screw-up. I'm at the end of my 3rd grow. First 2 looked great but not very potent. I check the trics to tell when it is time to harvest but I read here that the trics on the leaves get matured before the ones in the buds. I think I have cut them to early. When they dried they smelled more like hay than the great smell they had before. I have 3 left and I'm going to try to look at the bud trics and see. Is this info correct?

 

[PopAndSonGrows]

Yes, definitely look at the trichomes on the flowers themselves. I also don't check the top buds either, i check something about midway down the plant, towards the center.

 

[Tracker]

@Ren Hoek I'd add that after you dry, put the buds in a mason jar to cure. Proper cure will help bring out the aroma and flavor, and the smoke is more smooth.

 

[JimmiP]

Wait until all of the pistils have changed color and receded into the calyxs. Then wait two more weeks and start checking the trichomes on the now swollen calyxs.
Also, keep telling yourself, "it's easy to harvest too early and almost impossible to harvest too late! " Just be patient.
Then control the humidity and the temperature as best as you can while drying them. The longer it takes to dry them the happier you will be.
Good luck friend!

 

[Lowkeygardener]

you need to do a slow dry and cure to prevent that Hay smell. Dry for 10-14 days in 65F and 55-60% humidity with good air flow, not direct wind blowing on buds and no light hitting your buds either. Then cure for at least 3 weeks in air right jars at 55-62 % humidity. Burp a couple times a day the first week then every other day after that. Don’t use humidity packs until after 3 weeks of curing. Problem solved even though it is easier said than done

 

[go go kid]

i just wait untill the red hairs atre almost sunken into the fAT SACKS THEY GROW OUT OF. i used to harvest far too early and missed out on all rthe goodness . im also a fan of the long cold dry, i used to dry as fast as i could a while back now, but after reading about the cold dry/cure aND TRYING IT, IM HOOKED. GREAT FLavour. sm ooth asmoke and great overall everytthing. it took 3 monthes to dry my last harvest due to it not being warm or dry enough so i thaught, but it turned out that it was one of the best things id ever done. i was worried that taking so long to dry would have a detrimental effect on my crop, but it turnes out that it has no differance on potancy, and its overall effect on the crop was more benaficial then harmfull. if your sceptical then just try a few buds and compare it to the other dryed bud, i think you will be plesantly surprised

 

[jondamon]

i just wait untill the red hairs atre almost sunken into the fAT SACKS THEY GROW OUT OF. i used to harvest far too early and missed out on all rthe goodness . im also a fan of the long cold dry, i used to dry as fast as i could a while back now, but after reading about the cold dry/cure aND TRYING IT, IM HOOKED. GREAT FLavour. sm ooth asmoke and great overall everytthing. it took 3 monthes to dry my last harvest due to it not being warm or dry enough so i thaught, but it turned out that it was one of the best things id ever done. i was worried that taking so long to dry would have a detrimental effect on my crop, but it turnes out that it has no differance on potancy, and its overall effect on the crop was more benaficial then harmfull. if your sceptical then just try a few buds and compare it to the other dryed bud, i think you will be plesantly surprised

I can second this.

during winter I can leave my buds hanging in my drying area without the need to cut them into jars!

When it’s winter here my drying area is kept at approx 65% RH and around 13-15C and it takes ages to get them to dry properly but the smoke and flavour is insane!!!!

 

[Ren Hoek]

@Ren Hoek I'd add that after you dry, put the buds in a mason jar to cure. Proper cure will help bring out the aroma and flavor, and the smoke is more smooth.

Thanks. I do store and burp the jars daily. I'm smoking a grow from a year ago. It has gotten better but harvesting at the right time sounds like my error.

 

[Ren Hoek]

Yes, definitely look at the trichomes on the flowers themselves. I also don't check the top buds either, i check something about midway down the plant, towards the center.

Thanks. One little difference can keep ya happy for months. I will follow your advise. Thanks!

 

[Ren Hoek]

Wait until all of the pistils have changed color and receded into the calyxs. Then wait two more weeks and start checking the trichomes on the now swollen calyxs.
Also, keep telling yourself, "it's easy to harvest too early and almost impossible to harvest too late! " Just be patient.
Then control the humidity and the temperature as best as you can while drying them. The longer it takes to dry them the happier you will be.
Good luck friend!

Thanks JimmiP. I should have come here 3 grows ago. LOL

 

[Ren Hoek]

Many thanks to all you guys. I gained more info in one day that a year on commercial sites. My new favorite forum.