Hey nitepharmer,

Yes you can get excellent results outdoors by visiting very few times if you live in an area with average or above average rains. Like the SE US for example were you can have great results. Also I have a cuz in upstate NY who gets pretty good results. Not only can you do it this was but in my opinion its the best and safest way to do it. It does require special attention to choosing site locations and special considerations in preparing beds. Also I agree that all beds should be prepared in fall not only to allow time for amendments to compost, but also so when you come back several months later to pop em in, you can be in and out in 2-3 minutes. That way, even if you got so unlucky that someone sees you and decides to call the cops you would be long gone by the time the call was dispatched to a catr and they
arived. Obviously the bed should be in a place where the chance of being seen is nealy zero to begin with.

I suggest the following schedule:
1. prepare in fall
2. pop em in immmidiately after last frost in order to get the most growth time possible. apply 20 oz water around each one a plant time.
3. come back 2-3 days later to water a second time. (2/3 minutes)
4. Come back 3-4 weeks later to remove competing weeds. (again, quick in and out, like 2-3 minutes)
5. come back in another 3 weeks to weed again. (quick)
6. Come back at the time to pull males or better yet plant clones and/ or fem seeds) I have not tried the fem seeds yet but I am considering them as a better alternative. If you are using plants from standard seeds, plant one "indicator" in mid summer in a small hole close to home so you can watch this instead of visiting productive beds over and over.
7. Come back when indicaor tells you its time to cull and when it tells you its time to harvest.

Steps for prparing beds that will not require tending:
1. Location:
- should be full or almost full sun
- should be an upland area with good air circulation not a lowland area or flood plain
- better on a slight slop than flat

2. Preparation of beds
- Dig deep (10 inches) and turn several times. Remove all live roots, sticks, rocks or other debris
- add one inch layer of mulch from surrounding area like dead leaves, dead grass or weeds, pine straw etc. Then turn in in to a depth of 8 inches.
- add a layer of either peat ot quality dry plant mix at about 1/2 - 3/4 cubic feet for each bed of 2.5 X 5 feet (holds two fems or 3 unknown sex plants)
then turn it down to 6 inches.
- add lime at a rate of 5 tablespoons for each bed of this size if your soil is naturally a bit acidic (low PH).
- add 1/2 dose of timed release ferts
- add water crystals at a rate of 1.3 times recomended application rate.
- turn again to 6 inches and cover bed with natural mulch, sticks branches etc.
3. Come back in spring, quickly remove mulch, lightly rake in full dose of timed release ferts with small garden claw or similar. Pop in plants with a trowel. cover area with mulch. Get in and out quick , like 2-3 minutes.

Good luck
bob