Question on Harvesting

I have a question on harvesting. Unfortunately, someone has discovered my outdoor grow location. I have some beautiful plants growing on a remote hillside. I had a stake in the ground by each plant to keep them stable. These suckers are a good 6 feet tall! :eek:

They are clearly in the flowering phase. What I want to know is if you can harvest too early. I am concerned that if I wait for the plants to be optimal, that someone else will come along and harvest before I have the chance.

I took a sample branch off, and have it drying now. The bud on it is going to end up being quite small at this point. I guess I just couldn't wait. :D

So, can I harvest too early? I know I can keep them growing for atleast another few weeks. If someone knows exactly what they are, they should also know that the buds aren't ready yet. I'm hoping that it was someone who simply wanted a couple of good stakes, but I have a suspicion that they know what they were looking at. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I'd rather harvest a bit early than have the whole crop taken. :mad:

Thanks.

u can harvest early but it wont be as potent. id move them if its possible to another location. this is the reason i always have a back up plot in case i have to move them

I planted them in the ground. Otherwise, I'd move them. I've got several locations around. But the plants that I'm referring to are clearly my best. It's a damn good location, and now I can understand why someone may have been looking there.

Thanks for the info. I'll have to let them go a few more weeks. When I get too paranoid that someone is eyeing them, out they'll come!

goodluck. i dont blame u for beeing paranoid i would be to if that happened to me

it's not too hard t'planting mature plants with proper preparation.

1st, a couple days before the actual move, take your shovel and 'cut' a circle as deep as your shovel will penetrate about 10" from trunk (you'll end up with appx 1.5' diam circlular cut) around the plant. water em heavily immdiately after cutting the soil and add a hefty amount of "super thrive" or similar stress reducer (check your nursery). a couple days of rest and they'll be ready for their move into their new holes (which you have already dug and are waiting to be filled). after they're in their new holes gently but firmly tap down the new soil but not too packed...then apply another heavy dose of super thrive and they should be fine. you might see some wilting but no need for panic...after 24 hours in their new holes they should look normal again.

one more thing...keep the root ball as tight and untouched as possible (which is why ya water heavily before the move). the more intact the root ball stays the better chance of success...