First Time Grower Seeks Advice

[NewEnglandFarmer]

Hello--I'm aiming to try my hand at growing some cannabis outdoors this season (coastal New England, zone 5B), had a few questions for the veterans on here.

Where's the best place to buy seeds online? Or should I try locally here in my state? I'm a big fan of organic agriculture so would love to support that and plan to grow in native soil using organic fertilizer and amendments as needed.

Any recommendations on varieties? I can legally grow three plants in my state. Was thinking of trying a sativa, an indica, and a hybrid blend. I generally like a high-energy effect so I can work (both mental and physical work) and get stuff done, but once in a while a relaxing before-bed chill effect in the evening might be nice. Back pain relief a big plus. Planning to do mostly edibles and tinctures.

Sour Diesel sounds like a great option. Open to other recommendations. Have decent soil here, fair bit of sun, but short growing season. Trees here don't leaf out until mid or late May and hard frost generally comes in late October, although lately we've been having warm fall weather well into November.

Thanks so much. Excited to give this a try.

 

[Hobblebush]

online stuff rn is pretty slow due to flu, i would try to get local if possible but I ive bought last week from Greenpoint seeds some Chinook Haze for 28$ for ten seeds, shipped in 7 days to Vermont and I havent had any complaints about their customer service. Gonna pop the seeds soon, If you are in a northern state make sure you are aware of the flowering times, Sativa takes usually longer to flower than Indica, just dont want to get caught by the frost

 

[Edinburgh]

Since your not rumming autoflowers i would go to OES Oregon Elite Seeds many many strains and free bees or DC seed exchange, if your growing in new England you need a strain that can take hot humid days and cool nights, i recommend Grandadady purple, Norhern lights is another high yield outdoor strain, another great strain is AK 48 as the strain likes it hot and humid i live in CT so you know how humid it can get, steer clear of strains that are susesable to mold, if this is your first grow i would recomend Northern lights a tough strain easy to grow and lets beginner mistakes slide within reason and is mold resistant, go eaysy and put in big pots for high yield good luck.

 

[mancorn]

online stuff rn is pretty slow due to flu, i would try to get local if possible but I ive bought last week from Greenpoint seeds some Chinook Haze for 28$ for ten seeds, shipped in 7 days to Vermont and I havent had any complaints about their customer service. Gonna pop the seeds soon, If you are in a northern state make sure you are aware of the flowering times, Sativa takes usually longer to flower than Indica, just dont want to get caught by the frost

Yeah I got an email last Thursday from Pacific Seed saying they had printed up the shipping label (4 days after making the order). They still haven't shipped. It's a busy time of year so best to source locally if you can.

 

[NewEnglandFarmer]

Thanks for the tips everyone. Heat and humidity isn't too severe up here in Maine, usually just a 2-3 hot spells later in the summer that last for a week or so, normally not too bad. But of course as climate change progresses that's changing.

I'll call some local places here. Are clones worth it or should I just stick with seed?

When should these plants go in the ground? Most people start gardens here after Mother's Day. First hard frost traditionally is early October, but lately it has been much later, like Halloween or even into November.

 

[BurnzYzBudZz]

Yeah I got an email last Thursday from Pacific Seed saying they had printed up the shipping label (4 days after making the order). They still haven't shipped. It's a busy time of year so best to source locally if you can.

Still waiting for my pacific seeds I purchased on March 28. That bank is a joke when it comes to their customer
Service. I live 7 hours away and it’s been almost a month. They are bullshiters. Won’t purchase from them again.

 

[NewEnglandFarmer]

Just ordered some seeds from Greenpoint. Seem like a decent operation--will report back. Here goes nothing...

 

[the rrock]

I just recieved my order from oaseeds,9 days from Spain to Bay area with awesome freebies. My first time using them but they had a specific strain no one else had.
Ive used True North seedbank multiple times with great success also,Canuk seeds has some winners,ive run the canuk cookies multiple times and every pheno is top shelf gooey. They also shipped the same order twice once> I let them know and they said keep them($250 order)

 

[BurnzYzBudZz]

I just recieved my order from oaseeds,9 days from Spain to Bay area with awesome freebies. My first time using them but they had a specific strain no one else had.
Ive used True North seedbank multiple times with great success also,Canuk seeds has some winners,ive run the canuk cookies multiple times and every pheno is top shelf gooey. They also shipped the same order twice once> I let them know and they said keep them($250 order)

That’s what I want to hear. That’s good customer service. Pacific seed bank should have sent the seeds when payment was received. And I sent a money order to get the freebies, so I know that’s already cashed. I’ll be doing a grow diary of the NYCdiesel auto from mendocino farms. That’s the only reason I bought the seed from there. Guess I’ll be patient.

 

[mancorn]

Still waiting for my pacific seeds I purchased on March 28. That bank is a joke when it comes to their customer
Service. I live 7 hours away and it’s been almost a month. They are bullshiters. Won’t purchase from them again.

Edit: after my snarky reply I looked at my "Your shipping label has been created" email that was sent out a week ago and saw there was a tracking number and it's suppose to arrive today. So if you got one of those emails Burn, go back and check.

 

[Hobblebush]

How long does it take a stoned hippy to put seeds in a bag? According to Pacific Seeds at least two weeks (and counting).

comes with the culture

 

[BurnzYzBudZz]

How long does it take a stoned hippy to put seeds in a bag? According to Pacific Seeds at least two weeks (and counting).

Haha haha.. pretty sure they are already pre packaged from the breeder. They are the distributor, they should have it in the mail upon payment. Let me know @mancorn when you receive yours. Haha. Did you purchase yours before March 28th?

 

[mancorn]

Haha haha.. pretty sure they are already pre packaged from the breeder. They are the distributor, they should have it in the mail upon payment. Let me know @mancorn when you receive yours. Haha. Did you purchase yours before March 28th?

Made the order on the 29th

 

[Hobblebush]

Thanks for the tips everyone. Heat and humidity isn't too severe up here in Maine, usually just a 2-3 hot spells later in the summer that last for a week or so, normally not too bad. But of course as climate change progresses that's changing.

I'll call some local places here. Are clones worth it or should I just stick with seed?

When should these plants go in the ground? Most people start gardens here after Mother's Day. First hard frost traditionally is early October, but lately it has been much later, like Halloween or even into November.

Im in Northern Vermont, I think I will toss a couple of plants outside the beginning of May or end of this month. It depends on the weather (getting 3 inches of snow today). So the babies are likely gonna have to stay inside for a while longer. I think it might be good to grow clones so they get a head start on time because for us up north time is of the essence. Im not sure, but I think if the plant is old enough before getting put outside and is plenty old once the days get shorter it shouldn't need the full 12/12, and may flower before then. Outdoors the time schedule changes gradually and if the plant thinks it ready, and feels the nights getting longer it can flower at 14 hours of dark. also there are periods in sunrise and sunset where the plant really doesn't get much of any light. If people in VT were to wait for 12/12 it would be early September and nothing would make it to full flower. That clearly isn't the case, but I think starting your plants indoors is the best thing you can do for them, so when they are old enough to flip they will. Winter is coming lol

Again I would recommend trying to get set up inside so you can start seeds inside so they can be nice n healthy when they go out. Ive heard of people in northern Canada being able to grow well. I think a hoop house might be in order for fall for me. Just be ok if a plant outside gets hurt or doesn't make it to its full potential, we are pushing the limits of a plant that historically grows in much warmer climates. I will have my prize plants indoors to baby them, the ones that might get crowded out or are a strain I don't care about can rough it out in the yard. I think you still have time for the seeds, but once you get em you should germ as soon as possible to get them outside. You might want to invest in a small inexpensive light just to help seeds indoors so they don't get too leggy in a windowsill.

VT is a very rainy state, make sure that you look out for mold in Maine, shake the rain off try to keep the flowers dry and happy. There are ways to organically spray for mildew and aphids which might be inevitable. I might even try getting some lady bugs to eat the suckers! there are plenty lady bugs around naturally. Nature has checks and balances naturally, but you also need a resilient outdoor capable strain to be able to handle certain conditions.

 

[BurnzYzBudZz]

Made the order on the 29th

I ordered on the 26th. I have a tracking number but it says “sitting in the outgoing mail bin.” Jk but freal they should be popped already.

 

[mancorn]

I ordered on the 26th. I have a tracking number but it says “sitting in the outgoing mail bin.” Jk but freal they should be popped already.

I had just gone to their site (while posting earlier) and they have a online chat, which they replied to immediately.

 

[BurnzYzBudZz]

I had just gone to their site (while posting earlier) and they have a online chat, which they replied to immediately.

“Beth” always gives me the run around. At least the couple times I talked to her. None of my questions had answers, just the usual, “waiting for the shipping team to send out order, but it’s ready.” If it was ready, why wasn’t it sent out? She didn’t have answers. Anyways, Have a good one and happy grows.

 

[NewEnglandFarmer]

Seeds are on their way. Can I germinate these in a windowsill? Or outdoors (I'd bring them in at night)?

What are your thoughts on growing in the ground vs. container? Not looking for massive yield necessarily, just for personal use and sharing with friends. Native soil a bit acidic, but I could dig holes in the ground and add compost and other amendments. Or just use Coast of Maine Stonington Mix, although that could get pricey (I'll definitely be using that for the seedlings though).

Planning to go full organic on this.

 

[Beachwalker]

I just recieved my order from oaseeds,9 days from Spain to Bay area with awesome freebies. My first time using them but they had a specific strain no one else had.
Ive used True North seedbank multiple times with great success also,Canuk seeds has some winners,ive run the canuk cookies multiple times and every pheno is top shelf gooey. They also shipped the same order twice once> I let them know and they said keep them($250 order)

I'm about to make my first order with OAseeds, good to hear the positive review, thanks

 

[NewEnglandFarmer]

Seeds arrived yesterday. Planted 4 each of 3 strains in some Stonington mix in seedling trays. They're sitting on the windowsill right now at 69 degrees (it's 40 outside and supposedly snowing tonight!).

Can't wait to see some action--will post an update when they germinate. Hopefully just a few days? Have to admit I'm second guessing myself constantly (should I have soaked the seeds longer? did I put them in too deep? should I water more?). Need to just relax and enjoy the experience.