[LoveGrowingIt]

Top of the plant ripens first.

That, of course, depends on the shape of the crown that results from training and pruning practices.

The pistils at the apex of a cola usually change color last.

Don't ever harvest based on pistil color, always check the trichomes on the buds with magnification for the best results.

Pistil color only gives you a general sense of how far along it is.

Here on an internet forum, where all we have is a picture of a cola, pistils are our best indicator of ripeness. Observable signs of senescence also indicate ripeness. Checking the trichomes with magnification is most frequently recommended, and I wouldn't recommend not doing it, but understanding that it's not perfect can be beneficial for the grower. There are gradients of ripeness and strains vary in what they tell us. There's not a one-size-fits-all degree of ripeness. Some of us like an early harvest, some of us like a later harvest, and I suspect some of us don't worry about it. At the end of the day, there's a wide window for harvesting. My practice is to watch the pistils till they're roughly 80% to 90% amber before pulling out the loupe, if I use it at all. My take on this issue is that knowing when to harvest is as much or more of an acquired skill as it is a science.

There are trichome ripeness charts available. Here's one.

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

Cool! I'll google it for sure! Thanks for the info!

A good way to start is to compare organic nutrients with synthetic nutrients. The methods are quite different.

 

[Grownsince95]

That, of course, depends on the shape of the crown that results from training and pruning practices.

The pistils at the apex of a cola usually change color last.


Here on an internet forum, where all we have is a picture of a cola, pistils are our best indicator of ripeness. Observable signs of senescence also indicate ripeness. Checking the trichomes with magnification is most frequently recommended, and I wouldn't recommend not doing it, but understanding that it's not perfect can be beneficial for the grower. There are gradients of ripeness and strains vary in what they tell us. There's not a one-size-fits-all degree of ripeness. Some of us like an early harvest, some of us like a later harvest, and I suspect some of us don't worry about it. At the end of the day, there's a wide window for harvesting. My practice is to watch the pistils till they're roughly 80% to 90% amber before pulling out the loupe, if I use it at all. My take on this issue is that knowing when to harvest is as much or more of an acquired skill as it is a science.

There are trichome ripeness charts available. Here's one.

View attachment 2397838

Can you give an example of how pruning practices would affect ripeness, besides the benefit of a uniform canopy ripening more evenly? It still ripens top down no matter which way you shake it. You couldn't find a grower on this site who's buds on the bottom of the plant we're ready first before the tops.

Can you also give an example of the strains that "vary in what they tell us"? I am not aware of any cultivars that have trichomes that behave differently.

 

[cannafarmer420]

Cool! I'll google it for sure! Thanks for the info!

Check out my buds if you want to see what it can do, good luck