Partial harvest?

[Megalomando]

Here's a new one for me & I'm not sure what to best do at this point: Sativa has been lollipopped twice and was in veg longer than usual. This one plant covers the entire 4x4 tent and has two layers of 6" netting. Looking at the trichromes it's finally ready to harvest and normally I'd have it going into flush today. The thing is there are a lot of buds underneath the top layer that gets the direct light and those under that top layer are not as ready for harvest; the trichs are clear and the blooms have that soft green color to them, the top buds are multi-colored and 50% amber with most all having cloudiness to them. I have clipped colas over the last few weeks just to vary the character as it neared maturation and even the first clipping is excellent.

Harvesting all of it today today would not be a mistake but letting the shielded buds get direct light for a week or two would probably give better results than clipping them now. Knowing flushing at the end helps the taste I'm conflicted. If I flush the whole plant and harvest then all goes as usual. If I do a light flush and harvest the top buds only they won't get the benefit of the full flush. I would hang the selected top colas for several days but without the benefit of the branches above while hanging, perhaps hanging the selected ones isn't important other than to help expel the initial humidity?

So my debate is to flush for a day or two, harvest the top buds, now exposing the lower buds to the light and give nutrients again & let the exposed buds mature. Or... do I flush for several days and as usual; harvest the entire plant at the same time.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[casualfw]

Here's a new one for me & I'm not sure what to best do at this point: Sativa has been lollipopped twice and was in veg longer than usual. This one plant covers the entire 4x4 tent and has two layers of 6" netting. Looking at the trichromes it's finally ready to harvest and normally I'd have it going into flush today. The thing is there are a lot of buds underneath the top layer that gets the direct light and those under that top layer are not as ready for harvest; the trichs are clear and the blooms have that soft green color to them, the top buds are multi-colored and 50% amber with most all having cloudiness to them. I have clipped colas over the last few weeks just to vary the character as it neared maturation and even the first clipping is excellent.

Harvesting all of it today today would not be a mistake but letting the shielded buds get direct light for a week or two would probably give better results than clipping them now. Knowing flushing at the end helps the taste I'm conflicted. If I flush the whole plant and harvest then all goes as usual. If I do a light flush and harvest the top buds only they won't get the benefit of the full flush. I would hang the selected top colas for several days but without the benefit of the branches above while hanging, perhaps hanging the selected ones isn't important other than to help expel the initial humidity?

So my debate is to flush for a day or two, harvest the top buds, now exposing the lower buds to the light and give nutrients again & let the exposed buds mature. Or... do I flush for several days and as usual; harvest the entire plant at the same time.

Decisions, decisions...

I always harvest the top buds on my Sativas and then do 3-4 more periodic harvests as the lower buds mature.
Taste and potency of the later harvests seem consistent with the first, as long as the buds are as visually mature.

Doesn't seem to be as much of a thing with the heavily Indica strains I've grown, they more of what I'd call "all over mature" at the same time.

 

[Herb & Suds]

I consider it a waste of space letting lower buds mature
They aren’t going to ever yield well and I can drop in next run
Oh and flushing is for removing salt build up and toilets

 

[Kerowacked]

If you cut the top off, i use bees wax to seal the cut.

 

[Hook Daddy]

I harvest the tops and let the rest finish up often with sativas. I’ve never used anything like bees wax to seal the cut, never had an issue with it. I also don’t flush any more so that is not a problem either. Just try it yourself and see what you like, it won’t hurt anything other than take a bit of time and then you’ll know.

 

[OldMedUser]

I harvest the tops and let the rest finish up often with sativas. I’ve never used anything like bees wax to seal the cut, never had an issue with it. I also don’t flush any more so that is not a problem either. Just try it yourself and see what you like, it won’t hurt anything other than take a bit of time and then you’ll know.

I heartily recommend this approach. I've done staggered harvests for years and unlike some advice the buds/small colas below the big colas are worth waiting a little longer to crop. Popcorn buds of course aren't worth any wait and should have been snipped off before even flowering the plant. They just steal energy from the big stuff up top and are a bitch to trim.

I've never seen anything bad happen from not sealing the cut stems while doing this.

No need to flush for this.

 

[Megalomando]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I have removed the top layer, am exposing the buds below to light. They're large enough, just never saw light B4. I've lollipopped it twice already and there's two layers of netting, it just kept growing till it is a solid blanket.

First time for two harvests from the same plant.

Cheers!

 

[Herb & Suds]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I have removed the top layer, am exposing the buds below to light. They're large enough, just never saw light B4. I've lollipopped it twice already and there's two layers of netting, it just kept growing till it is a solid blanket.

First time for two harvests from the same plant.

Cheers!

Snap a pic now and show us the progress in a few weeks