Normally, I bop along feeling pretty good about having a vape space to enjoy and be part of the community. When talk turn to dispensary visits and prices, historical prices, strain favorites, and the people one sees at a dispensary, I’m just wandering around the space wondering where my people are. Is there anyone that grows? Anyone that grows outdoors?
Croptober is almost upon us, and I’m almost done with harvest. My last two lines are drying, and I expect to trim to bag today and jar tomorrow one or both lines, depending on readiness of the final line. The weight of the season is on me, and I’m feeling the pressure of needing the right dryness and a good cure. Everything grew beautifully, and I don’t want to mess it up.
I feel fortunate to live where growing is legal and allowed, that I’ve got a yard, and was already a gardener before my Adventures in Cannabis began. Anyone else on this path?
Yes, I would not have it any other way. I’ve been growing on and off since the 1990s. Exclusively indoor then, but more recently I’ve been growing both indoor (winter) and outdoor(summer) - I try not to do both at the same time but it does happen on occasion. I’ve grown with many different methods including soil, rockwool, coco, hydro pebbles and DWC. Using only soil now either in SIPs or directly in ground. I also single source my own hash, rosin and edibles.
@Madri-Gal Do you keep mothers or just pop seeds and/or run clones?
Ah, my people!
I started doing clones, but there were too many issues. Then I moved to seeds and kept getting males, so I moved to feminized only. It broke my heart when a good spot was taken by a male that had to go. I wanted that sun spot. My initial seed banks were disappointing, then I found Twenty20 Mendocino. Life became much easier with good genetics.
I never know how many jars, humidity packs, hygrometers to order ahead, so I guess, then order more at the last minute and stress over delays in delivery.
Today I jarred what wasn’t my biggest plant ever, but the biggest this year. It delivered more jars than I’ve gotten from one plant before, so I’m fine with less height and fewer leaves.
Thank you for replying, @biznazion . I’ve been wondering if there are other people labeling quart jars with masking tape, counting out lids and rings, and trimming, trimming, trimming.
I’ve only been to a dispensary once, because I wanted to try commercial Rosin.
Outdoor is already a success this year. 2 Fast Flower Dirty Banana from Ethos (one turned out auto-flower) and a Doug’s Varin are curing. The second from the left I’m harvesting before Friday.
I want to learn how to grow. Been looking at the SpiderFarmer Tent kits.
If you have not already, you should join the Twenty20 discord. I too run fems mostly, but if the right genetics come around as regs I will entertain that. I have several tents, so I can sex plants if needed - just takes too long. I rarely grow the same thing twice (unless it’s outstanding) but I usually don’t know it until it’s too late and re-veg’ing plants is not my jam.
Outdoor doesn’t usually end up in jars due to volume - turkey bags in tubs. I’ll keep some of the tops and run them through the cannatrol, but most of the outdoor is going to hash anyway so no nice trimming or storage and I hang dry those. This year I put a PVC frame and mosquito net over a few of the plants to keep the moths off (and subsequently the caterpillars) and it’s been a booming success. I had one “early” (Summer Cherries from Twenty20) that is already down but I still have 3 (2 Twenty20 glue sniffers and a strawberry soda from Annunaki) that are 6-7 footers and still finishing. There will be some trim jail in my near future.
FYI - a sharpie on a jar lid comes right off with some ISO - i left tape behind years ago and use mostly 1/2 gallon jars 
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I wouldn’t have anything to vape if I didn’t grow it. So I’ve been growing fems and cuts indoors for a while 
Exciting time, watching the trichomes over the last week or two.
Before moving into the trim dungeon 
and the worry of the dry and cure.
I keep meaning to build or buy a drying and curing fridge (or 2 as they only take about 10oz) for after the chop and initial trim. It sounds ideal if you’re a regular grower, you just put it on racks in the wine cooler refrigerator with a dehumidifier and sensor inside and shut the door for about 3 weeks.
Cob curing is fun if you’ve got a vac pack machine and enough weed to give it a try. It looks nasty but I know a few people that swear by it.
I quite like the job of processing the trim for hash and the 1st bit of kief to vape while the buds are curing … Aaaand the feeling it’s nearly all done
@biznazion I was unaware that there was Twenty20 discord, and I thank you for that information.
I’ve been happy with painters tape, but Do Not want to buy more, so I’m glad an alternative was given. Seriously, this is where I cheapened out, not wanting to buy a $10 roll of tape.
I started with turkey bags and tubs, but moved to glass jars because I can fruit and veg from yard. When a jar is emptied it goes to food storage, and around and around.
I grew Summer Lemons. Summer Cherries was out when I ordered, and it sounds delicious. Honey Face is a heavy producer.
One early reverted, so I got a gorgeous auto-flower August 1st. That was Early Bird, but the second one came in last week and was a photo.
I do press my own rosin. Used to sift bubble hash, but didn’t like the process. The rest I do experiment with, tinctures, edibles, salves, balms, etc. There is just only so much I can get through.
I use BT (Bacillus Thuringiensis) to combat moths, but I feed birds, including a sizable group of crows, flocks of smaller song birds, doves, etc. The birds keep the insects down. Those white moths were the bane of my existence, and not one was spotted this year, knock wood and thank the crows. The skunks have eaten the snails and snail eggs, so they have been helpful.
I grow, but not outdoors anymore.
i mainly grow autos indoors. More of a hobby really. I give most of what i grow away, but keep a couple zips for my legacy box.
it’s fun. It’s relaxing. It’s therapeutic.
there’s nothing like coming home from a 12hr ass-kicking at the hospital and sit in the tent for a bit trimming and caring for the plants. The smell and vibe is healing.
inside.
I grew outdoors a few years ago. Grew monster plants, but fought the weather here in Virginia at the end of the season. I’ve been growing indoors since then with very good results.
The weather is certainly an issue. That’s one reason I like to be done before October. Now I don’t have to think about growing until March or so. Just got everything jarred yesterday, and I’m pleased with the season.
Indoor sounds intriguing. No cabbage moths.
The crows take care of the moths, but now they are looking in my windows to see if I’m getting lunch ready. No need to disappoint them because I’m feeling lazy, so off I go.
Thank you for sharing your experience, I appreciate it.