I started back in the early 70's before there were grow books around or at least before there were grow books available for the common person. It was all trial and error for the first few years until I figured out the plant has separate sexes and I kept getting a mess of seeds at every harvest! But as soon as I got it down Mel & Ed came out with their excellent grow guide and High Times was being published...back then High Times was actually a useful and very helpful magazine!