What ripeness do YOU prefer, and why?

[AltarNation]

I've noticed there is a lot of variety to the opinions on when a plant is ripe, and I've come to the conclusion that it is entirely a matter of personal preference, which makes it difficult to decide when you are a noob to the whole thing.

So, rather than ask the same old question of WHEN a plant is ripe, I ask you this:

When do YOU harvest, and why? (describe by whichever indicators you use; preferably with a ratio of clear/milky/amber trichomes included)

How would you describe the ideal high for which you are shooting?

Do you harvest an indica dominant plant at a different trichome ratio than a sativa, or always shoot for the same ratios regardless of the plant and just depend on the indica/sativa factor to determine the effects?

Or do you harvest at a variety of times so that you have a variety of materials?



I feel hearing some answers to these questions would be more worthwhile than just posting up some pictures and asking "Is this done?" because it's quite obvious that the opinions of what is "done" are hugely variant.

Thanks in advance if you decide to answer my questions.

Peace,
AN

 

[Stoobie]

I guess I could be considered an early harvester. I like my trichomes to be cloudy, but that's not really my harvest gauge. I harvest when the calyxes are swollen, most pistils are colored and receding. But most importantly, the calyxes themselves are closed...there's no more opening where the pistils come out of the calyx, and the calyx becomes more rounded than elongated. At that point, my plants are ripe and ready for harvest in a few days. When I look at the trichomes, they're cloudy, but you could find some amber.

I usually harvest each plant twice...top colas first, everything else maybe a week later.

 

[tip top toker]

Once the plants are looking about done, i harvest when ever i feel i fancy spending an evening trimming, i don't bother working out ecxactly what stage it's at. I rarely ever bother looking at the trichs.

 

[AltarNation]

I guess I could be considered an early harvester. I like my trichomes to be cloudy, but that's not really my harvest gauge. I harvest when the calyxes are swollen, most pistils are colored and receding. But most importantly, the calyxes themselves are closed...there's no more opening where the pistils come out of the calyx, and the calyx becomes more rounded than elongated. At that point, my plants are ripe and ready for harvest in a few days. When I look at the trichomes, they're cloudy, but you could find some amber.

I usually harvest each plant twice...top colas first, everything else maybe a week later.

Okay, that was the best elaboration I have heard so far of what it means to have swollen calyxes... I was still wondering on that a bit. So you're saying that the shape actually changes and the place the hairs come out of "closes up"? I keep hearing people say the calyxes will swell but I don't have a damn clue how to gauge the difference between that and just plain old growth!

Would LOVE to see the difference between swollen/closed calyxes and unswollen/open calyxes if anyone could provide a visual guide to that.

 

[k3nz1387]

i tend to wait till pistils start receding back into the bud then i check trichs. i grow mostly indica and i harvest when about 25% of the trichs are amber as i like a stone. always go by the trichs if your after a certain effect eg stone or a high. harvest when most trichs are cloudy for a high. if you prefer a stone then harvest when some of the trichs have turned amber.

 

[Stoobie]

Would LOVE to see the difference between swollen/closed calyxes and unswollen/open calyxes if anyone could provide a visual guide to that.

Here's some good pics: https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/138690-pics-swollen-calyxes.html
An immature calyx is fat near the stem and tapers off, like a vase. A mature calyx gets rounded and looks almost like a tiny head of iceberg lettuce.

It's a lovely sight. I get all excited every time I see it.

 

[k3nz1387]

you missed the l on the end of the link. just to let u know. nice find btw

 

[AltarNation]

Okay, I THINK I am seein that on one of my plants, the one that was ahead of schedule (it was an unknown autoflower seed so it bumped itself to flower before I could bump the rest) ... I'm not ENTIRELY sure that's what I'm seeing... I thought it was some kind of foxtailing effect basically... still not sure... haha.

I'll post a pic in here soon and maybe you guys can give me your 411 on whether or not I'm loking at swollen calyxes. heh.

I'd assume that it was exactly as such, but the thing is, I am seeing a fair amount of trichomes changing over (maybe 20% amber) but not necessarily seeing the same kind of swelling on those plants... and the one that I would say IS swelling, seems to be almost all cloudy still. Kind of unclear on how that's supposed to synchronize.

 

[Stoobie]

you missed the l on the end of the link. just to let u know. nice find btw

Fixed it. I used to be paid to edit journals. It was a sloppy edit on my part. Oh the shame.

 

[sk'mo]

I like to go for all cloudy. I scope new plants to find out around when that is, and then 'set it and forget it'.