Harvest Question ?????

[rustafa]

I have a question that has proabably been answered a couple times but i couldn't find. The question is when do i know its time to harvest if i dont know what strain type it is. In conjunction with this question is if you are suppose to flush the plant and aonly starit water for the last two weeks how do you know when to flush the pants in order to prepare for harvest? If i am not mistakeni know you are suppose to look at the tichomes or the %hair coloration but wouldnt those change alot in 2 weeks that you are flushing the plants?

rustafa Reviewed by rustafa on 07-02-2007. Harvest Question ????? I have a question that has proabably been answered a couple times but i couldn't find. The question is when do i know its time to harvest if i dont know what strain type it is. In conjunction with this question is if you are suppose to flush the plant and aonly starit water for the last two weeks how do you know when to flush the pants in order to prepare for harvest? If i am not mistakeni know you are suppose to look at the tichomes or the %hair coloration but wouldnt those change alot in 2 Rating: 5

[Divestoned]

when the clear resin known as "crystals" begin to cloud over,and the hairs begin to turn red.....it's time to start flushing......when more than 50% of "crystals" are cloudy it's about time to harvest.

Dive:stoned:

[stinkyattic]

I'd do it by % hair coloration.
When you see that there aren't lots of fresh white hairs being produced, you are nearing finish.

[razzapiggy]

Yep, I do it by a combination color of trics, and the red hairs as well. I am having a weird situation with my Purps right now, some of the plants appear to be like a week more mature than the others... lots of red hairs... some cloudy trics etc. The other bunch don't have any red hairs yet... so perhaps it will be a two step harvest though I'm not entirely sure where I will dry if not in the grow room and it's far too warm in there with the lights on to be hanging any amount of plant.

You can buy a 10X scope at a grow store or radio shack for pretty damn cheap... it gives you a great peek at your trichomes and should help you to know how far along you are.

BOL

[rustafa]

so what you guys are saying is when 50% of the hairs turn color begin flush and then wait the 2 weeks?

[stinkyattic]

I don't think anyone said a % of the hairs. You have to get a sense for how fast that strain changes... also be aware that high temps can make hairs go prematurely brown, giving the impression that it is time to flush when it isn't.
When the hairs are turning brown at a faster rate than they are being replaced by fresh white hairs, you are nearing completion. Does that make more sense?

[rustafa]

The issue i am having is i am not sure of the strain. There lies my biggest problem of knowing when to flush to begin my pre-harvest (flush followed by 2 weeks of strait water). Basically my question is what can i look for to know when to flush and wait another 2 weeks. Is there any way i can tell by looking at the trichomes with a scope and looking for a certain percentage. Or by looking for a certain percentage of hair coloration. Like i said i dont know this strain and i dont know how long it takes or anything about it at that matter. I am guessing this is a real crucial part of harvesting and i want to get it 100% as good as i can get it. Thanks for all your input already given although im not really understading what to really look for.

[stinkyattic]

It's okay, don't tell anyone, but I don't really do much in the way of a flush myself. I am heavy on the organics and use that to my advantage- I feel that it helps avoid that un-flushed chemically harshness.
The first run with a new strain is about practice anyway. Even if you don't know the name, just note down how it behaved in different life stages- like, how much stretch in flower, did it like to be topped in veg, etc... the second grow is always easier to time.

[rustafa]

So if i am using organic ferts (botanicare), I won't really get that really harsh burn my throat taste? So i shouldnt really worry all that much about flushing you think one week would be enough? Maybe like 60-70% hair coloration then flush one week then harvest what you think?

[stinkyattic]

I think that is a pretty good plan. I like that botanicare stuff. It even smells good!
Part of the harshness you will often find in weed is from a combination of too much Nitrogen and not a long enough cure. Basically, it's the chlorophyll (green pigment, more N leads to more chlorophyll) that is really harsh and allowing your leaves to go yellow the last couple weeks signals that it is breaking down. Then after harvest, a good cure for a few weeks will let it break down even further and yield smoother smoke.
So do what you were saying, test smoke as soon as it is dry, then cure it and see how much change there is in smoothness. It will be significant.