A question not covered by most tutorials.

My plants are ready to harvest. no doubt about it. caterpillars may have gotten a small chunk of them, spider mites had their way at the beginning. the heat spiked to over a hundred degrees for a couple days last month. but dammit. its ready to harvest.

Heres something that ive been trying to figure out, and have yet to be able to find an answer.
Do I harvest when the plant looks like its ready to be watered again(leaves going down)
or should i harvest a day or two after watering before it starts drooping?

i like to water when the soil is dry...speeds up drying but everyone has their style

i like to wait till they need watering, this helps speed up the drying / curing process ime... where on earth do you live that by mid august you're outdoor plants are finished already? seems to me that most people's outdoor plants are just now getting ready to really start flowering, yet you're saying that yours are done already..
i just wanted to make sure that they are really ready and that you're not rushing things and end up being let down with the smoke after waiting all of this time is all...
have any pix of them??

i started flowering when the light cycle was 14/10
southern california babayy
Cali Connection's Deadhead OG, and in a few more week's my dynamite will be done. about 5' tall, towering over my fence exposing itself to the neighborhood park next door...couldnt come sooner -_-
i'll post pics if anyone wants tomorrow or the day after when im about to cut it down.

Also, i'm thinking of drying in a closet organizer, like a netted/linen shelf system, just hang some strings through it and cover it in tarp and put it in the spare bedroom with the fan on....stays pretty good temp in there, but not sure if theres a better way or if the tarp will not allow circulation...

actually, i'll post some pics tomorrow of what i've got and have you all decide just for a second opinion i suppose....hairs are down and its glands are starting to turn amber from what i see

Okay, So the first pics are examples, then its just showing off
this IS my first grow, outdoor and indoor grow to keep me occupied
Its pretty high res pictures on my camera, if anyone wants a better picture, i have a 12.2 MP camera i took pics with heh


Next up, lets play, IS IT HERMIED, i really need help on this one...its just growing REALLY tall and weird and not nuggy....

Looks like a bunch of leaves and not much of buds there. Them leaves look crystaly and there are some hairs peeking out here and there and on some of them pics the hairs are a good color. Yet, on a couple other pics the hairs are still white and not close to being ready.

Probably some buds getting more light than others. You can always harvest the buds that are ready and let the other ones finish i suppose

herpert derpert said:

Heres something that ive been trying to figure out, and have yet to be able to find an answer.
Do I harvest when the plant looks like its ready to be watered again(leaves going down)
or should i harvest a day or two after watering before it starts drooping?

Click to expand...

It's really up to you; there's no right or wrong here. FWIW, I (greatly) prefer to harvest after the plant was watered. The leaves stand firm, the scissors don't gum-up as much, making the trimming process go easier and quicker. Sometimes, during harvest, I come across a plant or more that are drier than most. Usually, a little water will purk them up in a matter of a few hours. No need to wait a day or two. Good luck.

Simon

that does not look ready bro...

Well i already cut the fan leaves, should I keep going and feeding it??

Looks like a bunch of leaves and not much of buds there. Them leaves look crystaly and there are some hairs peeking out here and there and on some of them pics the hairs are a good color. Yet, on a couple other pics the hairs are still white and not close to being ready.

Click to expand...

The fan leaves left are 5-6 inches long...thats all bud, i can barely wrap my hand around the cola 2/3 the way

not ready at all... be patient. im on my 8th week tomorrow and i think i have like another 4 maybe. patience is rewarded every time

Since i already cut the fan leaves should i keep going or just call it an early harvest?

herpert derpert said:

Since i already cut the fan leaves should i keep going or just call it an early harvest?

Click to expand...

Keep it going for 2 weeks. Even with out the fan leaves, the bud will still mature. Don't worry, it's always the first grow that gets harvested early. it just means you'll have to be more patient for the next time you grow. Harvest early if you want so you'll have something to learn from.

Well i still have another plant of equal size right next to it thats deeefinitely not anywhere near done yet. I guess i'll just use my Overdrive on it that i use on my indoor...

Keep them going man, don't cut them!! Get a 30-50x magnify illuminated scope, and use it to look at your trichomes. When they start turning from a milky white color to an amber color. When you have about 15% of them amber color, then you have entered the harvest window. It's unfortunate that you chopped off most of your fan leaves, but your buds will STILL ripen on the plant! Your buds are lookin great man, do make a HUGE mistake and harvest too early, it will not be what you're expecting to have. You see a huge bud and think that it's gonna be bomb!! But really, it isn't gonna live up to your expectations at all if you cut it early. It just won't have the right potency or high. Keep your clippers in the drawer for a little longer, and look at the trichomes every day to moniter their ripening. You'll thank yourself for it brotha