I got you. I am too late to defol in veg but I will try that in flower on half the garden.
I just finished 4 grow journals otherwise I would do a thread too. I'm burnt out on posting, taking pictures, etc.
Anyway, sub'd.
I had a friend show me defoliation years ago but I didn't believe him but after seeing it for myself. I did it when things got to thick but nothing set in stone.
I'm investigating the best times for flower in veg it's easy, just do it till you like the structure then let it releaf and flower.
Two good growers from another site do it one at flip the other two weeks in, most do it at 21 days and 45 days like I have done, one guy says wait till the 5th week so their are things to test this will be the first of many for me.
For your garden if your going to do half I'd do some at different times and amounts to see what works best for yield and larf reduction keep them in groups of two or three or more it sounds like you run some numbers then you can weight and judge the best times/amounts you can post them here if you don't want another journal. It took me until my plants are near done to load all the photos I took.
I'll start the defoliation tomorrow the two burnt ones one is fine just burn the top the other I topped to keep them even but it's stalk got burnt bad hopefully it's like suppercropping and will recover strong