If you live in one of the increasing number of places where flower is legal, your first step is going to be to check your local laws around growing. Many states allow you to cultivate between four and eight plants at a time, enough to last a while.
That said, home growing is a tad more complex than, say, growing a tomato. It takes patience, attention to detail, and careful planning to glean a healthy, tasty stash. And one of the most critical aspects of that long journey comes right near the finish line: harvesting.
Below, we’ll explore how to time your harvest just right to snip those buds at their peak—plus a few techniques and tips for the process.
One of the most common pitfalls of novice growers is improperly timing their harvest. Maybe they get eager and, in their excitement, prematurely snip those buds before they have a chance to reach full maturity. Unfortunately, in these cases, the grower is left with underdeveloped trichomes (read: muted-tasting) and less potency.
Or perhaps they absentmindedly allow their plants to over-mature. In these scenarios, potency also takes a nosedive. Plus, as Royal Queen Seeds points out, “you run the risk of self-pollinating and rotting.”
You want to aim for the sweet spot. Below, we discuss two methods for timing your harvest: one ballpark and the other exact.
You can’t rely wholesale on strain-specific cannabis harvest times, but they can give you a good indication of when you should start paying attention.
In short, Indica strains tend to require harvesting eight weeks or two months after flowering. Sativa strains need a little longer to mature, often producing a harvest date ten weeks after flowering. And if you started your journey with an autoflower, the whole lifecycle from seed to harvest can be as short as eight to 12 weeks.
However, it’s important to note: do not rely on these guidelines alone. There are many types of flower, and every plant is different. Every growing environment varies, too, according to light and nutrients, affecting maturation.
Using your senses is the best way to know when your bud is ready for harvest. At the early end of the guidelines above (ideally earlier), start inspecting your plants daily for some telltale maturation signs. These include:
Harvesting isn’t challenging. However, it’s possible to spoil a good yield if you don’t know what you’re doing. To get the best yield possible and ensure its safe transformation into tasty, potent, high-quality flower, follow the straightforward checklist below.
This isn’t a glamorous tip, but it’s beneficial for keeping everything organized. Create a schedule at the time of flowering/planting with the rough, strain-specific harvest times mentioned above. As you near that date, leave schedule spaces for notes; you can write descriptions of the plant according to the maturation signs above, tracking its progress. Later, you will write the harvest date/drying date and then the curing date. You can keep this data on a clipboard in your growing space.
Some growers swear by “flushing” their plants two weeks prior to harvest to reduce harshness in the final product. Others don’t, claiming it has a negligible impact. We’ll leave the decision up to you. If you do plan to flush, follow this video guide.
Once you notice the maturation signs listed above, it’s go time! Gather up your supplies. You will need:
Those are the strictly necessary items. However, most growers will tell you that a good podcast or TV show is equally essential, helping you pass the tedious trimming time.
Finally, it’s time to harvest… almost. First, decide whether you will “wet trim” or “dry trim” the plant. Wet trimming entails trimming the buds right after harvest, before drying. Dry trimming is when you hang the whole thing to dry for a few days, including the leaves, before trimming the buds. Wet trimming is easier (the sugar leaves and fan leaves snip away more easily when the plant is still moist). However, those leaves will protect the bud during the drying process, preventing buds from drying too quickly.
Whichever method you choose, chop down manageable branches. Trim the fan leaves, then “buck” the buds from the branch by snipping them at the base. Break big buds down into normal “nugget” sizes, which allows them to dry more evenly without risking mold penetration.
Drying and curing are essential steps in the harvest. They drive away moisture, break down harsh-tasting chlorophyll, and generally improve the flavor and potency.
Dry the buds/branches in a dark room (at around 65 degrees Fahrenheit, 60% RH) on a line or mesh rack for two or more days. On day 2, you can give them a squeeze to track their progress.
Next, move the buds to airtight containers for the cure. Add Vivi Cure, seal the lid, and wait 10 days for cure-magic. Worried you’ve overdried? Not to worry: Vivi Cure balances out the humidity automatically to salvage what might otherwise turn into stale, harsh crumbles.
After waiting 10-days, open the lid and be rewarded with a windfall of great-tasting, potent flower. Discard that spent Vivi Cure, and subscribe so you always have a fresh pack for your next harvest.
Protect the fruits of your labor and store like the pros: invest in a couple of CVault Storage Containers specially engineered for home growers. For more resources on cannabis growth, like properly storing your grow, check out more homegrower and cannabis care articles on the Vivi blog. Happy harvest!