I am just below 3000 foot elevation, so we have to get used to a few beautiful spring days followed by a few stormy or even snowy days until finally the sun wins out by the beginning of June.
For that reason, I have opted to try starting the seeds under artificial conditions and grow them accordingly until I feel they will be safe to transfer outside.
Outside consists of a fenced orchard that has ample water available supplied by a well. The orchard is fenced against deer. There is a barn with a lean to with a clear corrugated roof that I intend to use to partially cover a few sativa plants once the autumn rain starts.
I am planting directly into the ground. In 2013 I dug some holes and planted some quality seeds from an Internet supplier. It was the first time I grew that wasn't hard scrabble gorilla grow, or small plants under dim lighting. I had what now seems like beginners luck with a bountiful crop that got properly trimmed, cured, and stored.
In 2014 I was too sick to grow. Some nice people gave me some clones, but I didn't treat them right, even letting the watering go at times. I let them go well past the right time to harvest, then left them to dry for many weeks before finally pulling it down and sticking it in big plastic bags.
By 2015 I was feeling better, so I got some more quality seeds. I also re dug holes in the orchard and ordered quality organic ready to use soil home made from a local source. I thought I was buying the last load of last years soil. Instead, what they delivered was a fresh batch of hot, organic composting material designed to be mixed into existing soils. I filled my holes full strength with this hot stuff, then completely blew it by using this stuff to start my seeds in. This horrific mistake combined with a change to freezing morning temperatures on barely protected seedlings gave predictable results. The mushrooms should have given me a hint things were too hot, lol. Again, friends gave me some plants, but as soon as I put them in (fresh) soil, they went into flower so the yield was very small, yet fresh and tasty.