My first Harvest - too early? - GreenPassion.org - Dedicated to Medicinal Cannabis Cultivation and Education

JosieJo · #1 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 06:55 PM

This is Strawberry Kush indica, grown from seed outdoors. Saw some powdery mildew 4 days ago, treated with Safer sulfer spray, but it kept coming back. Worried it would get into the buds, so cut it down. Got a magnifier for the tric, they are still white to milky, not amber, which is what I read they should be before harvest. But some strains like White Widdow seem to stay white, could this inidica be like that? Well, this is a learning experience. Advice appreciated!

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WA MM script for MS

jangel · #2 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 06:59 PM

If you had a reason then you are better to cut them. Yes, they could of gotten bigger but they all could of gotten mildewy as well and then they would not be good at all. Better to save what you can, and consider this a learning lesson.

I prefer my buds cloudy, with the odd one amber. More UP high for me, and less likely to cause anxiety attacks. You will at least have some. It is all good!

Keep your leaves as well and make either bubble hash or canna butter with them.

Peace

JosieJo · #3 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 08:21 PM

Thanks for the feedback! I am studying your 2008-2009 grow journals. I've already collected seeds for starting early this time (White Widdow, Northernlights, Iranian Short Season). Will try to have staggered outdoor harvests, with an aim towards early. That way I can beat the frost and mildew we get in Western WA.

Saving every leaf and discussing the Rick Simpson oil extraction method here at GP!

Deb-HAS-grn · #4 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 08:28 PM

Hey Josie, sounds like you probably did the right thing,,, It all is a learning experience, Happy smoking to you

Psyops · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 05:52 PM

Clear white to cloudy is the prime time to harvest, depends if you are looking for higher THC (brain buzz) or the oxcide (nailed to the couch)... if they are amber you're late, unless horizontal is your favorite position. Clear white to cloudy FTW in my opinion. Let it oxcidise while it is drying / curing / waiting, plenty of time for that. For me you timed it right.

JosieJo · #6 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 06:21 PM

Oh thakyou for the feedback! I've just started trimming the buds, and sure enough, the little hairs that were white are now turning amber.

So next step is curing. Do I have this right? After a week of air drying with a fan for ventilation, they go in a paper bag, get inspected every day.

Once they are crispy, they go into a glass jar, get inspected every day, and this is the curing when they get stronger.

jangel · #7 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 06:30 PM

Yes, but once dry after hanging you can either bag or jar them, then burp daily in the jar. No need if they are dry in the bag to inspect them, but you should do it occasionally.

Peace

Hatch · #8 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 06:41 PM

Congrat.'s & Happy Smoke'nnnn!!!

DieAbetic · #9 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 06:42 PM

you def made the right choice pulling them down. personally i like at least 30% amber, but i also like the couchlock potency. i have harvested at straight cloudy with one or two amber (like Jangel likes) and still had a good smoke.

now you should be hanging up the plants drying. it does not have to be a week. depends on your air flow and humidity level. i would suggest that you DO NOT put a fan blowing on them directly, this causes strange drying, and can over-dry plants. looking at the size of your plants, id guess they will be dry in 3-5 days. now people do say to cure them when the stem snaps. the stem has to snap off cleanly, but dont let it be bone dry. you still want some moisture in the middle of the buds that will even out as you cure (this is what curing is for -evening the moisture in the buds).

people cure in different ways. but in general you need to have them put in a sealed bag/jar. for the first 1-2 weeks of curing, you should open the jars/bag once daily for anywhere from 30mins-2hrs (depending on if you think the buds are too dry/wet). After the first two weeks, you can open them up every couple days, and after a month you can open it a couple times a week. MAKE SURE that when you open the jars, you pull/pour out the buds, rotate them, etc before putting them back in. This insures mold doesnt grow in tiny pockets of moist buds, and of course releases that chlorophyll smell/taste/green color. the chlorophyll left in the buds is what makes the buds so 'harsh' when you smoke them (and they will taste like straight lawn clippings) as you have read im sure, the longer you cure, the better the taste and the better the bud. many say 2-3 months is a minimum to get the real taste out of the bud. im too impatient. so i've tried my buds at all different times in the cure. 2 week is definitely early. but once the buds have been in there for about a monthi think they taste pretty good. by 1.5-2mo amazing (this was def the best time for my Chocolate Thai flavors coming out)

my final tip is that if you do dry out your buds too much (if you squeeze the bud and the outside of actual buds is feeling a little dry/crispy), put them in a jar. Then take orange/lemon/grapefruit (whatever fits your fancy) peel and put it in there with the buds for an hour. take out, check moisture, and either put bar into regular curing or put back in jar w/ peel for more moisture. DO NOT leave peel in there for many hours or overnight under any circumstances. This is almost guaranteed to bring mold (especially if stored in a warm place).

Oh and i ****ing love Strawberry Kush Indica. great strain im jealous :-)

HumboldtHunny · #10 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 11:26 PM

I agree with above, but do have an additional reason. PM can be a further set-up for bortrytis (bud rot). They are not the same species of critter, but PM does damage to the surface of the plant which seems to allow the bud rot to get an easier hold and spread more quickly. Good job and GL. HH

JosieJo · #11 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 12:38 AM

Wow, y'all have been so helpful! The bud are dry and now I am testing my patient with the curing technique. OK, no so patient, I've been sampling! And I can taste the chlorphyl. But the small leave around the bud were so heavy with resin I rolled a joint from them, and the primary taste was like smoking insence, uttely fabulous! I could never make it through a whole joint of this strong bud, so the leaf joints are fun.

Another medical point on cannabis I just learned: it is a vasodialtor.
There is newly emerging evidence that MS is cause by kinked jugulars, so anything that dialates the veins is helpful. But the good news is this may mean that a cure for MS is as simple as a stent procedure! 40 patients have already had this done at Stanford, and I have an appt there in 2 weeks. Here is a website with the research and info on how to get doctors in your area on board. MS-MRI

I8ntLucky_UR · #12 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 09:44 PM

Gr8t looking harvest josie. I hope it helps and you enjoy it as well.

I am excited to see that info on the MS. Thanks for posting that and if you have any other information you want to share please visit our Medical Marijuana Gardens forum and post away. This may help some of our members.

Take care.

JosieJo · #13 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 01:35 PM

I've been very patient waiting for the Strawberry Kush to dry, here's a pic of the final clean up, taking the little leaves off the buds. Smoked about a half a teaspoon in the easy vape last night - sure enough the first vapors taste strawberry! And this is not like anything I've had before. I got so darn high it felt like a mushroom trip, and it went for hours. Then I went to bed and all my muscles were relaxed and I slept through the night. This was our first outdoor grow, all organic. Is outdoor that much stronger than indoor? Or is it the strain?

Qustion on curing in glass jar, should that happen with the bud leaves on or off?

Well, I will have a comaprison soon, we grew 4 7 ft tall Super Sativas that had to go to a grow room because frost was coming, but most of their life was outdoors, and each branch is covered with buds all the way to the stem. Fingers crossed!

sabasi · #14 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 03:42 AM

nice crop there! I never smoked anything that tasted like berries lol It sounds cool tho I don't have the patience to do the curing thing yet. If all goes well, I will have to tho. Shortage going on here at the moment so I'm just trying my hardest not to pick and smoke....

OMINOUS_ICABOD · #15 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JosieJo

I've been very patient waiting for the Strawberry Kush to dry, here's a pic of the final clean up, taking the little leaves off the buds. Smoked about a half a teaspoon in the easy vape last night - sure enough the first vapors taste strawberry! And this is not like anything I've had before. I got so darn high it felt like a mushroom trip, and it went for hours. Then I went to bed and all my muscles were relaxed and I slept through the night. This was our first outdoor grow, all organic. Is outdoor that much stronger than indoor? Or is it the strain?

Qustion on curing in glass jar, should that happen with the bud leaves on or off?

Well, I will have a comaprison soon, we grew 4 7 ft tall Super Sativas that had to go to a grow room because frost was coming, but most of their life was outdoors, and each branch is covered with buds all the way to the stem. Fingers crossed!

very nice... strawberry kush sounds so appetizing..