Harvesting question time one or all?

[Jamesparks]

First time growing, and from all that I read you’re supposed to watch the trichromes to determine harvest, which I have the right magnifier to do. But are you supposed to look at every bud or just the big ones to determine trichromes? There are a ton of buds if you’re supposed to look at everyone! And if the trichromes are right do you just harvest that one bud or all them?

 

[Bdubs]

Yo. Trichomes on the leaves are an entirely different deal. Focus the trichomes on the buds. Milky white. Or slightly amber. Depending on what kind of bud you’re looking for.

Multiple plants, you may consider different harvest times. But, essentially you pull them all when you reach the trichomes you want on the best buds.

70% amber hairs? Start checking trichomes.

If they are milky, post up pics in the jewelers eye and we can make recommendations for you.

 

[Bdubs]

From. First glance I see you may have some time remaining as I see a lot of white hairs.

 

[Jamesparks]

Yo. Trichomes on the leaves are an entirely different deal. Focus the trichomes on the buds. Milky white. Or slightly amber. Depending on what kind of bud you’re looking for.

Multiple plants, you may consider different harvest times. But, essentially you pull them all when you reach the trichomes you want on the best buds.

70% amber hairs? Start checking trichomes.

If they are milky, post up pics in the jewelers eye and we can make recommendations for you.

I don’t know how I can possibly get a pic. This microscope thing is very hard for me to keep steady and focus and I can barely keep it still to focus on the trichromes. Is it ok to use or is there something easier?

 

[Bdubs]

A jewelers loop can be put up to the phone camera and take decent photos.

 

[quirk]

I don’t know how I can possibly get a pic. This microscope thing is very hard for me to keep steady and focus and I can barely keep it still to focus on the trichromes. Is it ok to use or is there something easier?

I purchased this unit for close up pics/video. I had to get an after market stand but it was cheap and functional. Last pic is my Picasso like pressed rosin puck under scope.

 

[Jamesparks]

I purchased this unit for close up pics/video. I had to get an after market stand but it was cheap and functional. Last pic is my Picasso like pressed rosin puck under scope.

Wow that’s amazing. I’ll check it out. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Captspaulding]

Wow that’s amazing. I’ll check it out. Thanks for sharing!

Those things are great! I think just from eyeing it you are looking at 5ish weeks left on the stalk. Looking good buddy! Great job for your first run!

 

[Choppr]

Full of white Pistils, they are weeks away from ready - the white hairs will shrink turn red/brown, then you can start looking at trichs...

 

[Jamesparks]

Thanks for the input. Much appreciated. It’s been quite the learning experience and much much respect for all you growers, or should I say farmers, scientists, analysts, etc. the list goes on.

 

[Choppr]

@Jamesparks this works better for checking Trichomes than the microscope noted above....fits on any phone- and not so shaky

Amazon.com

 

[Jamesparks]

@Jamesparks this works better for checking Trichomes than the microscope noted above....fits on any phone- and not so shaky

Amazon.com

Thanks, I’ll check it out. In the mean time I ordered the AC Infinity’s Jewelers Loupe.
Hopefully it’s easier to use than the microscope I have.

 

[jdog22]

i got a awesome zoom thing for my camera from the hydro store! 80 bucks but 100% worth insane quality

 

[trustyagut]

Looking great, they're going to be really nice in a month. Definitely get a 40-60x loupe with the led lights in them. Takes 2 seconds to check them then

 

[mothy]

People need to stop using super zoomed in pics to try to determine if the plant should be chopped. You need to look at the WHOLE PLANT! Has the plant even gone through the "fade" yet? The fade is important, because it means that the plant has been using the last amount of nitrogen in its leaves, so you don't end up with excess nitrogen and chlorophyll in your buds during curing. If you harvest before the fade, you may have issues purging the chlorophyll and "hay" flavor from your buds. So that is step 1, step 2 is look at your pistils. Are you seeing new white pistils that are long and straight? Or are you seeing mostly orange/brown pistils and the white ones are only a few and they are deformed? If all the pistils are white, don't chop, if most are brown / orange, you can move on to looking at trichomes. You don't goto your doctor with a bullet wound and have him zoom all the way into your armpit to give you a diagnosis? Stop zooming into trichs!

 

[Jamesparks]

People need to stop using super zoomed in pics to try to determine if the plant should be chopped. You need to look at the WHOLE PLANT! Has the plant even gone through the "fade" yet? The fade is important, because it means that the plant has been using the last amount of nitrogen in its leaves, so you don't end up with excess nitrogen and chlorophyll in your buds during curing. If you harvest before the fade, you may have issues purging the chlorophyll and "hay" flavor from your buds. So that is step 1, step 2 is look at your pistils. Are you seeing new white pistils that are long and straight? Or are you seeing mostly orange/brown pistils and the white ones are only a few and they are deformed? If all the pistils are white, don't chop, if most are brown / orange, you can move on to looking at trichomes. You don't goto your doctor with a bullet wound and have him zoom all the way into your armpit to give you a diagnosis? Stop zooming into trichs!

Thanks for sharing that. Huge learning curve for me. Much appreciated!

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

First time growing, and from all that I read you’re supposed to watch the trichromes to determine harvest, which I have the right magnifier to do. But are you supposed to look at every bud or just the big ones to determine trichromes? There are a ton of buds if you’re supposed to look at everyone! And if the trichromes are right do you just harvest that one bud or all them?

There isn't a single correct answer to your questions. Much of the harvest time decision depends on what the grower wants from the crop, and knowing that takes experience. Some prefer an early harvest, and some prefer a late harvest. I've done it both ways. Mostly, I like the mellow body high of a later harvest, so I try not to rush to harvest. The species and strain also matter, though.

Buds near the top of the plant will ripen sooner than lower buds, so some growers will harvest the top buds and leave the lower buds to ripen. That's been too much work for me so far in my growing.

I don't look at every bud. I only look at some of them. I also don't just look at the buds. The pistils and leaves, etc. matter too.

 

[cannafarmer420]

Regardless you have a 2 weekish window where its ideal imo I just get it close trichome wise and then pick a day that is convinient for me to harvest