Building a 60,000 square foot outdoor legal grow in Washington State HELP!

Hey Buds! It's legal in Washington now and I am applying for 2 level three (up to 30k sq' each) producer licenses. I will also be applying for a processor license and I'll post another thread on that. I am working on my business plan and doing a ton of research and right now I'm working on how many plants I can grow. Keep in mind the 30k is canopy and does not include equipment or other storage. I've been considering many options, 30gal pots too expensive, tires too messy although I love tires for gardening, soil filled trenches waste of soil, black garbage bags with holes maybe, raised beds too expensive. I have come to the thought of digging holes 3' round and 3' deep into the ground. This will not impede the root system as the roots can grow into the natural soil, is cheap, and the holes can be filled with the medium of my choice. Now I am trying to figure how many plants I can grow with this arrangement. Considering a rectangle 100' x 300' I can place these holes in rows 3' apart but this only gives me 666 plants. I'll probably stagger them but is this enough room? I plan on growing almost exclusively this year G-13 strain and I expect a yield of 2lbs per plant. Any help is appreciated as I am building my business plan now to find funding. Thanks!

Nobody want 1200 lbs of the same strain! Good luck

If your growing under the medical permits then those ideas will no go as you need to have the grow sealed off and bug free so if you use a dirt floored grow area your open to quality control issues that will not pass inspection. You can get tons of bugs and such issues. Your gonna wanna grow soiless or hydro of some sort. If your going for this size right off top then money should be no real issue if it is you need to start smaller then expand while making sure to not take on more then you can a handle or it's just a waste of time. basic figures here in Illinois basically mean a start up producer on large scale will need at least $500,000 to be in complete compliance and to maintain medical grade grows.

757growin said:

Nobody want 1200 lbs of the same strain! Good luck

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stupid answer, like a farmer is not gonna be able to sell 1200 lbs of broccoli or cukes.

If you are going to "farm" then it makes perfect sence to focus on one strain. Each strain "likes" this or that different and if you can master one strain and make money on that then you should go for it.

Like vineyards specialize in a piticular wine.

lol counting beans and asking for advice on how to dig holes but have no clue on how to handle powdery mildew and bud rot.

ewwwwwwwww

I'm going to bet you're on the same side of the hill I'm on. I've been growing outdoors for the past 4 years and all I can say is a greenhouse is the way to go. Fall weather sucks for trying to finish a crop.

commander strax is correct - when discussing legal produce. I think what 757growin meant was that no dispensary or street dealer is likely to want that much. I knew a guy who grew trainwreck perfectly for years - until his outlet said his customers complained and asked for something new. on the large scale, wide open legal market - I can see why you would focus on what you knows will bring you success.

Are you starting plants indoors? best I've done is just over a lb per plant.

If you are getting 2 lbs a plant you are vegging way too long. Your largest part of your overhead will be your electricity even at the business rate of 9 cents a killowatt hour. Therefore the longer your veg the more that plant cost you to grow therefore reducing your profit margin. The more plants you put under your lights the less veg time you will need because 24 small plants at 1 ounce give you more than 1 plant at 1 lb. If you do stick 24 under each thousand watt you will only need to veg at most 1 week. The only reason I would do bigger plants is because of plant limits if you don't have any grow more rather than a fewer. There are other advantages to growing more plants for one since you veg less you have less time for that plant to develop pests or mildews. Also if one plant becomes stressed or dies then you are losing a smaller portion of your crop. If you really are serious about this the costs of your pots are pointless you can use plastic pots for a decade if you take care of them and wash them out in between crops with a pressure washer. Msg me when can talk more in detail if you would like.

LOL I'll take 1200 lbs of any strain at the right price....

Thanks. As far as not wanting 2,000 lbs of the same strain there will be 334 retail locations. I'll be selling at about $1,000 to 1,200 per pound and it isn't all going on the streets as I'll be extracting a yet to be determined %. It's estimated 190,000 lbs will legally sell in the state next year. I think I'll be safe with these parameters but to mitigate the risk I will be probably running three strains. Why someone would assume I don't know how to address fungal or other issues is beyond me. I am in Spokane County hardiness zone 6. I will have 9,000 feet of green house space. I am starting all my clones inside and I'm aiming for a late April-early May planting subject to weather projections. Why would the largest part of my overhead be electricity if I'm growing outdoors? I know I can yield 2lbs where I live easily. The cost of the pots are a huge issue have you priced 1,200 30 gallon pots? I can place this cost directly into the soil and nutrients.

Think I'm figuring out this forum! Recreational permits. I know the regs better than the state MJ division. My start-up will be less the 100K

I'm in Spokane County

I would agree with lighting cost. But you can veg under flours for a month or more if using some type of greenhouse they can go out mid march giving you another 5 months of veg time.

Just when I thought I had this figured out I deleted all my posts! It's been estimated 189,000 lbs will be sold legally in this state and the 2,000 lbs I plan to sell at $1,000-$1,200 per lb will sell although % of that I plan on extracting. Also, don't plan on nor do I want it all to go at the same moment. I've been considering mitigating the risk though and growing a few strains. I'll be growing under recreational licenses and I know the regulations just as well as the MJ division and will bring this to fruition on less than 100K. I'm not counting beans or asking for advice on how to dig holes and why would you ass-ume I don't know how to address fungal or other diseases. I am in Spokane County hardiness zone 6 and will have about 9,000 feet of greenhouse. They will be cloned indoors then acclimated via a greenhouse. Why would electricity be the largest part of my overhead if I'm growing outdoors. All the good advice is appreciated!!

I'm in a little warmer county. I have about a 4 month longer growing season then you do. Just wondering how you came up with your selling price? I can get indoor for close to that price now trimmed and dried. Do you plan on processing also?

Mid March in a green house that's the plan!

Yes I will have a processor license. Why would my outdoor grow sell for any less than your indoor? It's about strain and quality right? My outdoor will be tastier and just as good as any indoor grow and of course trimmed and dried so if you're paying it now that's how I came up with it. If I have to drop my price I will be able to do that because I'll own a processor license and my volume will allow me to hit whatever price point I want to address the market needs. Four months longer season than Spokane in Washington state? I'm moving!

At least you'll be able drop one of the 25% tax hits. I know for a fact there are years when you guys still have snow on the ground when I put my stuff out. You've got snow already this year and I still have stuff in my greenhouse. Stupid sativa takes forever to finish. For what it's worth I have been planting in ground so I use 1 gal pots for indoor start and veg. you can pick those up at nurseries for a buck each. I made the price comment because I think the state will have to beat the black market price to compete.

You golf a lot more too!!! Yeah I know where you're at but I grow an awesome garden. The 25% savings will go directly to the consumer that's part of my plan and the only way to do it. I picked the G13 because it's 70% Indica dominant strain. I have a lot of pots just none big enough to hold 30 gallons worth of pure nutrients. I can dig 1200 holes for the price of diesel! The legal sales will never reach black market prices but they need to be close and that's their plan. If you have advice on another high yield high level strain that will grow and sell well here I'd like to hear it. Ha! The spell checker here doesn't recognize Indica!!!