First timer getting ready to top - advice pls?

[Nectarivorous]

Hi all, up to day 28 since germination on my Green Crack girls, and I'm at the point of looking to top my biggest girl. I have a photo where I've tried to get the general canopy and node structure.

There is so much information out there and it differs so greatly. I got some great advice from one of my questions on another thread, to the effect that I should be cutting off above the 4th node while the 5th is developing, leaving a bit of stem for the new connection to thicken around. Others will say wait for it to get 6-8 and cut back to 2 or 3!? Bear in mind I'm a beginner so I'm looking for safe and reliable. I guess my question is does the 4th node thing tend to be a good safe bet? Fourth node at centre of picture showing growth of 5th above:

If so would I be looking to get it happening at the stage it is now before it spends any more time building that 5th and 6th? Or would you suggest pinching the growth out between those fifth leaves, the developing 6th node??

Any advice appreciated! Peace and blaze.

 

[growsince79]

It doesn't matter much either way. I top after 4 and remove the bottom 4 branches, leaving 4 top branches. Do you want hundreds of little buds or several large colas?

 

[Nectarivorous]

It doesn't matter much either way. I top after 4 and remove the bottom 4 branches, leaving 4 top branches. Do you want hundreds of little buds or several large colas?

Err the latter :) I'm topping after 4 now, there is good space before the 5th so can leave enough behind. I'm with you, I want those 4 tops. Do you wait until just before flowering to take lower branches so they can be used for growth during veg? Or take them early?

 

[Nectarivorous]

 

[growsince79]

Err the latter :) I'm topping after 4 now, there is good space before the 5th so can leave enough behind. I'm with you, I want those 4 tops. Do you wait until just before flowering to take lower branches so they can be used for growth during veg? Or take them early?

I do short veg. I cut them when i flip - a week after last top.

 

[Nectarivorous]

I do short veg. I cut them when i flip - a week after last top.

Nice. I'm taking it all pretty steady being my first grow, but plan is to LST the main tops and then probably use large holed trellis net to create an even canopy then lollipop before flipping to flower. Just working from a combination of my own reading and YouTube viewing combined with help from good folks like yourself.