How to know when to harvest marijuana?

Plants have their own voice

As growers it is fundamental to take care of the entire growing process but also, to the harvest moment. From germinating the seed to the right time of harvesting marijuana, each step and each action will determine the quality of the buds or flowers that we are going to obtain.

If we postpone the harvest time too much, our flowers will have a very high concentration of cannabinoids and this is not always a good thing. What a grower should look for in their harvest is a balanced product between flavor, consistency and effect.

The marijuana plant gives us signs that indicate whether or not it is time to harvest and the key, as in almost the entire process of growing cannabis, is observation. If we notice that the flower pistils turn red or brown and is covered in resin, it is time to harvest. When the plant is already in its last week of flowering and the leaves turn yellow and die, it is time to harvest.

Harvest time

Marijuana plants have their own times depending on the type. When we talk about photoperiodic plants, the flowering time in those with the lowest percentage of sativity, such as the Rainbows strain, will be approximately 8 weeks and in those with a highest percentage of sativity, such as the Pineapple Larry OG, 9 weeks. In autoflowering plants, such as Critical Auto and Northern Auto, the time is approximately 7 to 8 weeks from the seedling stage to the harvest.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a fast flowering, the Lebron Haze from BSF is an exceptional case, since it is the fastest sativa on the market with a flowering time of between 7 and 8 weeks.

Regarding the trichomes, those beautiful crystals that impregnate the flower, if we notice that they have a light or transparent color, it is best to wait. When the trichomes turn white or milk white they are ready to harvest. If pass this stage, we will notice that almost all trichomes are amber or light brown.

To observe is to learn

Trichomes give us key signals to understand when it is time to harvest. As this are very small, the ideal is to have a magnifying glass to see more accurately.

The jeweler’s loupe is a good option since it is accessible, but it is not a high technology tool. In any case, it fulfills the basic function of increasing the vision of our flowers.

The handheld magnifier is difficult for maintaining a correct focus. It is not very comfortable to use but with patience we can observe in detail the trichomes and colors that will tell us if our plant is mature enough.

The best option is a digital microscope but it is also the most expensive. To use this device you also need a laptop to see the results. If the option is chosen, it is essential to read the manual of the microscope to take advantage of its use.

Root washing

Two weeks before harvesting, most growers water their plants with clean water without additional fertilization. This helps the chemicals in the fertilizers to flush off the flowers, so smoking becomes a more pleasant and not harmful experience. This is a must to improve the harvest experiencia. 

A more powerful harvest is not necessarily better

Although sometimes a long flowering period can result in a better harvest, it will not always give us the final results we are looking for. If we wait too long to harvest, the flavor of the bud can turn into something not at all pleasant and although cannabinoids can increase this does not mean that THC is going to be more effective.

The art of growing and harvesting cannabis is developed with patience, observation, trial and error. As each grower is different, so will the results you want from each harvest. Knowing yourself as a grower is the key to success and this is only accomplished with time and dedication.