ATF Harvest - I "think" it's ready..

[ISO2BWELL]

This ATF is some weird stuff...trichs are not very pronounced (should they be?) and it is only the slightest bit sticky...yet, it appears done based on the trichs.

I've been told to NOT go by the hairs on ATF, but to watch the trichs. I looked over some today, small ones (big trichs are hard to find) and they appear cloudy, and ..nearly collapsed. This can not be for flowering for 51 days.....

So, Since I have a couple more of these in flower, this one is geting harvested today, in hopes I got it right on the timing. I've seen sites where they say ATF is generally a 50 day plant, and others where they say it is a 9-10 week plant. I don't see where 2 more weeks is going to ripen this plant any further, and it may be too far now if those trichs really are collapsed.

We'll know more this afternoon when I start harvesting.

ISO

[IceIceBaBy]

ISO, you're right pal...it looks to me like they might need more time but from what your saying about the trichs they might be done. weird...let us know how it comes out. do you think you might have passed peak ripeness? im not totally sure about this but from the pic's im confused..it looks like there could be some white pistols in there still. is that common with this strain?

[ISO2BWELL]

Ice,

That is the issue...no one seems to know much about the strain...a LOT of discussion about "this and that", but little hard fact about when it should be harvested.

Seems there is a sativa only variety, and another one that folks are calling MTF or ATF and it is a indica. What I've got here appears very sativa'ish to me..

If I was going by the hairs I would say another 10 days to 14 days...but I've been told not to go by the hairs...so...???

ISO

[IceIceBaBy]

ISO, i have to admitt before you started this strain i had not heard of it! i would say if you have the more sativa version you may need more time. 10-14 days sounds about right judging those pistols but im not totally sure...are there any amber trichs? It would be a shame to chop it all before its ready....but then again it would be a shame to let it pass peak ripeness! tough one here dude..i wish i knew more about this strain.

[scott06]

I searched for awhile and only found the same info as you Iso,...I wouldn't sweat it, how can the trics be wrong, and if you went a little past peak how bad could it be? I think it will be just fine....let us know. The budz are lookin very nice by the way.

[ISO2BWELL]

Yep...it's a very confusing issue. These came to me as clones from a benefactor, so I really don't know much about the strain, other than it's supposed to really be an ass-kicker!

I'm going to look closer before I start harvesting it, but as best I can tell from what I have seen it is ready...so, I'll post some pics in a few hours of the harvest, or having done a closer inspection, it'll go back in the lights for a few more days.

ISO

[green_nobody]

Originally Posted by scott06

I searched for awhile and only found the same info as you Iso,...I wouldn't sweat it, how can the trics be wrong, and if you went a little past peak how bad could it be? I think it will be just fine....let us know. The budz are lookin very nice by the way.

i would say the same thing scott, the pistils are usually a poor indicator for the level of ripeness that is reached - on my last batch of BB they all turned red and brown before the trichomes turn milky, a smaller batch that i put earlier into flower ended up looking just like yout ATF but been ready and some of the clones i had flowered in my veg box under 6500K tubes still had totally white pistils but been ready for harvest still... check here for pics

so, if the trichomes turned milky it is a good point to harvest these babies, after all, the THC is in the heads of the trichomes and not in those pistils

[ISO2BWELL]

Well, it appears it was taken a bit early, but not too early to be some very fine smoke!

I would say that, after closer inspection the trichs were about 60% cloudy and 40% clear..I saw no dark heads anywhere. Still, I am very pleased with the outcome.


070108 019.jpg

Hope ya all know what it's like to be harvesting a strain you've only smoked once...and that was long ago..thinking you have to wait another 4-5 days before you can sample the fruits of your labor..makes ya wanna

So, next best option is the microwave quick-dry method. I learned about it in this thread HERE. Surprisingly, the smoke was very pleasant...not a 6 week cure mind you, but damn smooth for fresh off the plant.

I fired up a small bowl of it, 3 hits and it was gone. Waited about 5 min and ......"I should be stoned as hell," I am thinking...and I ain't! This is supposed to be the all powerful ATF? Ok...so, I fire up the last of my microwave bud...3 more hits. Head in the house...5 min. later...Seems it took awhile for that buzz to get to work.... High is loonnnggg lasting, mellow yet a bit stony. Very cranial as well..making me think this is more sativa oriented than indica.

070108 016.jpg

Next ones will go another 6-10 days longer than this one did.

Odd thing with this plant..about 3 weeks into flower it had nice sticky and smelly buds forming, but then it almost seemed as if the trichs dried up. I am thinking this plant needs 8-10 weeks of flowering to really pack a punch, but damn, for a first try I'll take it!

070108 027.jpg

ISO

[jangel]

Pretty bud ISO. Good going!

[tokecrazy]

Hey Iso,I looked all over for some infor on atf and didnt find anything.One place Reservoir seeds has a TFW thunder _ _ _ _ wonder.The only thing that I did find is that it was a clone only. I dont know this for sure.But there not alot of infor on it.You will have to do post on that strain in the seed bank forum.Let us know if you anything. Peace