Harvesting

phat pharmer · 02-25-2005, 04:32 AM

Well, as my latest crop is fast approaching harvest time, i thought we might get a quick discussion going on harvest methods, styles, tips etc and pics of plants just before harvest .

I always harvest by the colour of the trichomes and prefer a mostly 50/50 mix of cloudy and amber but with my current crop i shall take some earlier for an uppy high, some when i have my fav mix and the rest much later for that couchlock effect.
I dont use the pistils as an indication.
I took two 12.0g wet buds yesterday, day 61 for a little early taster, the trichs on these two were a 50/50 mix of clear and cloudy. They should be dried and smokeable by the time the main lot is ready for the chop in a few days...

Phat

phat pharmer · 02-25-2005, 04:34 AM

This is a great pic of the trichomes, clearly showing the trichs heads

koshiva · 02-25-2005, 05:09 AM

Hey Phat, love those trichome pics

With the harvesting,I have always kept it simple,and never been too particuarly concerned with CBD/CBN levels etc which are said to vary according to the time of harvest, ie early vs late. If I dry it...yes 'dry'...I guess 'cure' is a word one could use, but 'drying' is pretty much what it is...unless by 'curing' people mean doing all that crapola about putting it in and out of jars..but if I dry it, and its better, for me its good. I am not saying that is wrong,'curing' just not something I would do.

For myself, the herb is not so much just about potency/intoxication, but also scent, and taste. In order to preserve as much of that scent/taste(beautiful in some strains)...it is my contention that drying it, rather than curing it is better. Put it this way, in my experience, doing it many ways, the quck dry is best. And by quick, I mean a few days max. This same methodology applies to many herbs...to preserve/retain constituents.

What happens when you 'cure' herb rather than drying it, in my view, is that it is essentially breaking down and oxidising. Certainly there is no doubt in my mind that the longer you cure, ie de-hyrate and then re-hydrate over weeks or months, the taste and scent breaks down, aswell as...'preservative qualities'(longevity of storage capacity),and probably also potency itself- worst case scenario..mould.

Even if, 'cured' herb can be 'mellower'...'smooth er' and have a unique taste unto itself...sort of like how cheese is cured...its the initial product with some extra on top...which isn't necessarily bad.

So blah.....and put it this way...if I do it a certain way, test it, like it...its gotta be good...believe me, many trials

Ok so cutting through the crap, I'd harvest, hanging plants is acceptable for a day, or three....sooner is probably better, but what ever is practicle. So yeah...harvest,same day remove main leaves, chop into smaller material(ie get rid of bulk stalk). Then simply tease out the moisture, this could be via the sun(under cover) or even a heater directed at a mound of herb which is turned often. Main emphasis is not to cook it...'tease' moisture away,avoid excessive heat. After 24hrs...when its starting to feel 'dryish'...put it in a bag(closed) and periodically turn it(over hours)...so that all the herb takes on the same moisture content. After that...remove herb,dry some more. When its a bit dryer still...place it all in a bag...it will re-hydrate itself some more and become 'damp'. So you'd remove it from the bag after a few hours and continue with a bit more drying. Remember...'tease it dry'. Use heat source like you would a hair dryer. And when you 'feel' its at a perfect moisture content...its ready for storage and will keep much better, retain more potency etc. It always pays to check up on it though, for storage, to make sure it isn't too moist. Dryer is always better to too moist.

Oh yeah, tips? Well one....I know you love my rants really

lol I am stoned////yeah, common sense, but at all stages, handle the bud with care....do not crush it, man handle it,treat it like fine bone china...then when its all dry...the bud will retain its original shape and volume. I feel a faq entry commin on

Another tip...is if you happen to over dry the herb, it will crumble easily and ruin it....you can fix this simply, by misting the herb with water, then placing it in a bag where it will absorb the moisture. Then remove it after a few hours,(the herb will be damp now)and dry it again to the correct moisture content.

Oh yeah...with the trichomes, I have noticed that strains are variable and even when all the pistils have died off, the trichomes are still clear. I generally go by how many pistils have died off...rather than applying science necessarily to determine harvest time, go with 'inutition',..'its a plant' you can feel when they are ready...sort of like how pets know when they are gonna be put down. When a majority of pistils have died off,ie 70-80%, to me thats a vissual indication that the plant has peaked and preparing for death,its life cycle is commin to an end,and thus, quality will diminish from then on. Just the way the bud looks is a good indicator...easy to tell when its not in its prime. Also, I think the scent can help...when its ready, it can smell, hard to describe it, but different.

Free the herb

phat pharmer · 02-25-2005, 06:20 AM

The perfect harvest time is hard to say ...

Some areas of the plant will finish before others. When they do, the THC begins to degrade. So what happens is, fresh THC is being produced in some places while it is degrading in others ...

Most growers use what is called the law of diminishing returns. It's pretty simple really. When it appears that more degradation is taking place than fresh THC is being produced, they're done ...

How do you tell ? - It's half instinct, and half careful observation. As they near the finish, watch them closely with a magnifying glass. You'll see the glands on the leaves and pistils forming and filling up with resin ...

As they become full and begin to degrade, they turn amber in color. When you begin to notice more glands turning amber than new ones forming, you've reached the point of diminishing returns , then chop those babies down ...

When the pistils are 50 % brown , red , gold etc , etc , this only means that the plant is entering into the phase of maturing.

A Green Planet is a Good Planet

Dandaweedman · 02-25-2005, 06:38 AM

Harvest in that damn snow now like I do PHAT LOL

Havest they way I seem to, strip the fucking room.

Daniel

BC Budman · 02-25-2005, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmer fred

Kosh, i think you may have got yer wires crossed...

As far as i'm concerned, curing means that ONCE it's dried, them the CURING takes place. By the storage of said herb in air tight containers.

We are led to believe its the best method of storage for dried bud, and enahances the taste etc over time...up to 12 months...

we all dry it the same........

unless i've missed the point entirely that is, but it wouldn't be the first.

Ya thast what I thought to. I was a little confused by kosh's post. Mind summing that up for us in simple words?

koshiva · 02-26-2005, 12:06 AM

What I was refering to...regarding 'curing' is when people speak of drying they're herb, then they put it in jars and now and then open jars and let fresh air in...and repeat this often.

And when you do that, the herb will simply become as moist as the ambient humidty in the enviornment you expose said buds to.

Peace seeker · 02-26-2005, 02:17 PM

nice pics PP

enjoy the fruits of your harvest

02-25-2005, 04:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
phat pharmer Earache My Eye Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: two stops short of Dagenham Posts: 1,071 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Harvesting Well, as my latest crop is fast approaching harvest time, i thought we might get a quick discussion going on harvest methods, styles, tips etc and pics of plants just before harvest . I always harvest by the colour of the trichomes and prefer a mostly 50/50 mix of cloudy and amber but with my current crop i shall take some earlier for an uppy high, some when i have my fav mix and the rest much later for that couchlock effect. I dont use the pistils as an indication. I took two 12.0g wet buds yesterday, day 61 for a little early taster, the trichs on these two were a 50/50 mix of clear and cloudy. They should be dried and smokeable by the time the main lot is ready for the chop in a few days... Phat Attached Images __________________ VOTE Phat

02-25-2005, 04:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
phat pharmer Earache My Eye Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: two stops short of Dagenham Posts: 1,071 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	This is a great pic of the trichomes, clearly showing the trichs heads Attached Images __________________ VOTE Phat

02-25-2005, 06:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
phat pharmer Earache My Eye Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: two stops short of Dagenham Posts: 1,071 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The perfect harvest time is hard to say ... Some areas of the plant will finish before others. When they do, the THC begins to degrade. So what happens is, fresh THC is being produced in some places while it is degrading in others ... Most growers use what is called the law of diminishing returns. It's pretty simple really. When it appears that more degradation is taking place than fresh THC is being produced, they're done ... How do you tell ? - It's half instinct, and half careful observation. As they near the finish, watch them closely with a magnifying glass. You'll see the glands on the leaves and pistils forming and filling up with resin ... As they become full and begin to degrade, they turn amber in color. When you begin to notice more glands turning amber than new ones forming, you've reached the point of diminishing returns , then chop those babies down ... When the pistils are 50 % brown , red , gold etc , etc , this only means that the plant is entering into the phase of maturing. A Green Planet is a Good Planet __________________ VOTE Phat

02-25-2005, 06:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
Dandaweedman Herbologist Join Date: May 2004 Location: In the minds of others Posts: 5,153 Thanks: 13 Thanked 34 Times in 28 Posts	abbledabbleitslybits y Harvest in that damn snow now like I do PHAT LOL Havest they way I seem to, strip the fucking room. Daniel __________________ Life is a temporary way to spend eternity.

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02-25-2005, 05:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
koshiva . Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6,907 Thanks: 3 Thanked 72 Times in 58 Posts	Hey Phat, love those trichome pics With the harvesting,I have always kept it simple,and never been too particuarly concerned with CBD/CBN levels etc which are said to vary according to the time of harvest, ie early vs late. If I dry it...yes 'dry'...I guess 'cure' is a word one could use, but 'drying' is pretty much what it is...unless by 'curing' people mean doing all that crapola about putting it in and out of jars..but if I dry it, and its better, for me its good. I am not saying that is wrong,'curing' just not something I would do. For myself, the herb is not so much just about potency/intoxication, but also scent, and taste. In order to preserve as much of that scent/taste(beautiful in some strains)...it is my contention that drying it, rather than curing it is better. Put it this way, in my experience, doing it many ways, the quck dry is best. And by quick, I mean a few days max. This same methodology applies to many herbs...to preserve/retain constituents. What happens when you 'cure' herb rather than drying it, in my view, is that it is essentially breaking down and oxidising. Certainly there is no doubt in my mind that the longer you cure, ie de-hyrate and then re-hydrate over weeks or months, the taste and scent breaks down, aswell as...'preservative qualities'(longevity of storage capacity),and probably also potency itself- worst case scenario..mould. Even if, 'cured' herb can be 'mellower'...'smooth er' and have a unique taste unto itself...sort of like how cheese is cured...its the initial product with some extra on top...which isn't necessarily bad. So blah.....and put it this way...if I do it a certain way, test it, like it...its gotta be good...believe me, many trials Ok so cutting through the crap, I'd harvest, hanging plants is acceptable for a day, or three....sooner is probably better, but what ever is practicle. So yeah...harvest,same day remove main leaves, chop into smaller material(ie get rid of bulk stalk). Then simply tease out the moisture, this could be via the sun(under cover) or even a heater directed at a mound of herb which is turned often. Main emphasis is not to cook it...'tease' moisture away,avoid excessive heat. After 24hrs...when its starting to feel 'dryish'...put it in a bag(closed) and periodically turn it(over hours)...so that all the herb takes on the same moisture content. After that...remove herb,dry some more. When its a bit dryer still...place it all in a bag...it will re-hydrate itself some more and become 'damp'. So you'd remove it from the bag after a few hours and continue with a bit more drying. Remember...'tease it dry'. Use heat source like you would a hair dryer. And when you 'feel' its at a perfect moisture content...its ready for storage and will keep much better, retain more potency etc. It always pays to check up on it though, for storage, to make sure it isn't too moist. Dryer is always better to too moist. Oh yeah, tips? Well one....I know you love my rants really lol I am stoned////yeah, common sense, but at all stages, handle the bud with care....do not crush it, man handle it,treat it like fine bone china...then when its all dry...the bud will retain its original shape and volume. I feel a faq entry commin on Another tip...is if you happen to over dry the herb, it will crumble easily and ruin it....you can fix this simply, by misting the herb with water, then placing it in a bag where it will absorb the moisture. Then remove it after a few hours,(the herb will be damp now)and dry it again to the correct moisture content. Oh yeah...with the trichomes, I have noticed that strains are variable and even when all the pistils have died off, the trichomes are still clear. I generally go by how many pistils have died off...rather than applying science necessarily to determine harvest time, go with 'inutition',..'its a plant' you can feel when they are ready...sort of like how pets know when they are gonna be put down. When a majority of pistils have died off,ie 70-80%, to me thats a vissual indication that the plant has peaked and preparing for death,its life cycle is commin to an end,and thus, quality will diminish from then on. Just the way the bud looks is a good indicator...easy to tell when its not in its prime. Also, I think the scent can help...when its ready, it can smell, hard to describe it, but different. Free the herb

02-26-2005, 12:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
koshiva . Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6,907 Thanks: 3 Thanked 72 Times in 58 Posts	What I was refering to...regarding 'curing' is when people speak of drying they're herb, then they put it in jars and now and then open jars and let fresh air in...and repeat this often. And when you do that, the herb will simply become as moist as the ambient humidty in the enviornment you expose said buds to.

02-26-2005, 02:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
Peace seeker YaHookan Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 6,165 Thanks: 166 Thanked 92 Times in 71 Posts	nice pics PP enjoy the fruits of your harvest

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