Maine Outdoor 2020 (first timer)

Ladyalthea · Aug 23, 2020

Wow do I feel inferior! I keep reminding myself that I have never done this before and started with half dying clones.

I read earlier that the purpling seems to be from inconsistent watering which would make perfect sense in my case. It certainly doesn't seem to be a mold because I picked it and try to scrape it and it doesn't come off.

We're beginning a flower and I'm pretty excited!

NewEnglandFarmer · Aug 23, 2020

Nothing to feel inferior about--looks like you're doing just fine. I'm just like you, learning as I go. Hoping the weather this fall is kind.

My Tomahawk and Cherry Wine have purple stems too. Same care routine as the others which are green, so not sure whether it's just genetic variation or whether maybe those particular strains are a little deficient in some nutrient. I may try to give them a little extra calcium and magnesium by stirring in some Tennessee Brown Rock and Epsom salts into their water this week and see if that helps.

Silky T · Aug 23, 2020

Gentlemencorpse said:
On that note hopefully some more experienced outdoor growers chime in. My recommendation on the medium revolved more around my general gardening experience than cannabis specific experience. I'm really just an indoor grower looking to dabble in outdoors.

But from what I've seen I'm not sure there's a right answer. Might be best to start with a container grow. Easier to control and as you said, you can bring it in if a gnarly storm is heading our way. I'm planning on a raised bed myself for this season. Best advice I can give is to read a bunch of outdoor grow journals and find one that you want to imitate.

I totally agree on the container method because you can move the plants around. I have 7 plants in 5-gal buckets and have to move them twice a day to get the sun they need. Morning sun for 5-7 hours and they get another 7 out in the middle of the yard. We have had grounds people and cable guys come when those girls are out in the middle of the yard and so far, no kickback. Whew! But I've had to get them out of the rain to keep from getting my watering messed up many times. You can't do that in the ground. Plus you can't do anything about the acidic ground at this point.

Seawood · Aug 27, 2020

Stressful week up here. I found Mites and PM on a few of the plants this week. Caught both early so I don’t think it’ll cause me any issues. Plants have done their stretch and are all officially budding now, thank god. First pic is one of my Remo Chemos that flowered early and reveg’d. Thought it was going to be a dud but it exploded and has 50-60 colas that are 24-28” long. Also a pic showing last year vs this year...quite a difference. Buckle up, the next 4-6 weeks is gonna be a ride...

NewEnglandFarmer · Aug 27, 2020

Seawood said:
Stressful week up here. I found Mites and PM on a few of the plants this week. Caught both early so I don’t think it’ll cause me any issues. Plants have done their stretch and are all officially budding now, thank god. First pic is one of my Remo Chemos that flowered early and reveg’d. Thought it was going to be a dud but it exploded and has 50-60 colas that are 24-28” long. Also a pic showing last year vs this year...quite a difference. Buckle up, the next 4-6 weeks is gonna be a ride...
View attachment 4666776 View attachment 4666777 View attachment 4666780 View attachment 4666781

Sorry to hear of the pests and PM but glad you neutralized the threats early.

Looks like this year was a serious upgrade? You change your methods? Or have some secret formula?!

Nothing much new to report here--things are progressing slowly, although when you check every day (OK, I admit it, multiple times a day!) you don't necessarily see the progress. Waiting for all those pungent odors I hear about but nothing really yet.

The Tomahawk (why is it always the Tomahawk that has issues?) has noticeably more leaf yellowing than any of the others (which have very little). Mostly interior and lower down leaves, but the overall color of the plant is just not as dark green as the others. They're all getting the same diet, go figure. But yesterday morning I gave Mrs. T an extra watering with Epsom salts, potassium silicate, aloe, and a healthy shot of fish hydrolysate to add a little extra N and P. No visible change today, I'll give it another day and then maybe administer another dose. Do some strains just require more nutrients and TLC? She does have some nice looking budlets that are growing slowly but surely so I'm not too worried. Just read everywhere that you want to attend to their every needs during this critical stage.

Keep us posted on your progress.

How's the weather up there? We've cooled off noticeably down here, actually got down to about 50 last night, been a while since we had a night that cool. Sounds like some rain is headed our way this weekend.

Seawood · Aug 27, 2020

Cool here as well. I like it. No secret formula...started germination two weeks earlier, had better lights for the first couple months inside, bigger pots that were fabric vs plastic, better water/feeding schedule and the summer weather was as good as it gets for growing. Based on last years yield, I should pull 2+ lbs per plant if things go well but a long ways to go so no chicken counting yet.

Regarding your yellowing, funny things happen to some strains/plants when they start flowering. I’ve got a chemdawg at my other spot that yellows and drops like 75% of its fans by mid-flower. Shaping up to do the same this year. Doesn’t matter how much or what I give it. It was also my highest yielding plant last year. I’d say don’t sweat it...if it was healthy all along and your others are doing fine, likely just a trait of the pheno/plant. Don’t throw a bunch of food at it over and over If it doesn’t respond....you’ll end up causing more harm than good. Only time I really get alarmed is when the newer growth and sugar leaves show signs of deficiencies. Can’t always go by the fan leaves during flower...you’ll end up chasing your tail.

Ganjapreneur15 · Aug 27, 2020

I am from Maine as well..all your plants are looking great, seems we are all first time growers in this thread. Here is some pics of mine before flower I’ll have to take new ones .. I went threw and cleaned most the fan leafs off now to help with air flow but I’m 6’3 to give you an idea of plant size. Current grow is green crack, c99, brandy wine, blissful wizard , train wreck , white widow, Tahoe og kush and mendo purp

Seawood · Aug 27, 2020

Well you’re killing it for a noobie or a for seasoned grower. Plants look awesome. They say smoking weed isn’t addictive...but they didn’t say growing weed wasn’t....lol.

Sevenleaves · Aug 28, 2020

NewEnglandFarmer said:
Sorry to hear of the pests and PM but glad you neutralized the threats early.

Looks like this year was a serious upgrade? You change your methods? Or have some secret formula?!

Nothing much new to report here--things are progressing slowly, although when you check every day (OK, I admit it, multiple times a day!) you don't necessarily see the progress. Waiting for all those pungent odors I hear about but nothing really yet.

The Tomahawk (why is it always the Tomahawk that has issues?) has noticeably more leaf yellowing than any of the others (which have very little). Mostly interior and lower down leaves, but the overall color of the plant is just not as dark green as the others. They're all getting the same diet, go figure. But yesterday morning I gave Mrs. T an extra watering with Epsom salts, potassium silicate, aloe, and a healthy shot of fish hydrolysate to add a little extra N and P. No visible change today, I'll give it another day and then maybe administer another dose. Do some strains just require more nutrients and TLC? She does have some nice looking budlets that are growing slowly but surely so I'm not too worried. Just read everywhere that you want to attend to their every needs during this critical stage.

Keep us posted on your progress.

How's the weather up there? We've cooled off noticeably down here, actually got down to about 50 last night, been a while since we had a night that cool. Sounds like some rain is headed our way this weekend.

Don't worry to much about some of the lower and interior fan leaves dying off this time of year. It's normal to an extent as the plants mature and bud. Also not all strains are that deep green color, some are a lighter shade of green.

NewEnglandFarmer · Aug 28, 2020

Ganjapreneur15 said:
I am from Maine as well..all your plants are looking great, seems we are all first time growers in this thread. Here is some pics of mine before flower I’ll have to take new ones .. I went threw and cleaned most the fan leafs off now to help with air flow but I’m 6’3 to give you an idea of plant size. Current grow is green crack, c99, brandy wine, blissful wizard , train wreck , white widow, Tahoe og kush and mendo purp

Well done! Your yard looks bone dry...it's been a Sahara Summer here this year, hasn't it?

NewEnglandFarmer · Aug 28, 2020

Seawood said:
Don’t throw a bunch of food at it over and over If it doesn’t respond....you’ll end up causing more harm than good.

Good point...these organic fertilizers are pretty mild but I'm sure it's possible to over do it. Funny how that Tomahawk has been so fussy. But who knows, it may crank some fine buds out when all's said and done. Certainly hope so!

Ganjapreneur15 · Aug 28, 2020

NewEnglandFarmer said:
Well done! Your yard looks bone dry...it's been a Sahara Summer here this year, hasn't it?

You ain’t kidding, been haulin water in to the girls, been rather cool lately and I’m ok with that. Haven’t watered as much. Now that they are flowering it’s rained more of course, worried about mold issues

GrOwThMoNgeR · Aug 28, 2020

Plants at latitude 60 still not flowering other than throwing pistils. Days are still 14hrs+ but it's switching soon to get dark extremely fast. I am over here crossing my fingers as well. I see your flowers so you're going to be alright I hope.

NewEnglandFarmer · Aug 28, 2020

GrOwThMoNgeR said:
Plants at latitude 60 still not flowering other than throwing pistils. Days are still 14hrs+ but it's switching soon to get dark extremely fast. I am over here crossing my fingers as well. I see your flowers so you're going to be alright I hope.

The Chinook Haze is still not there yet...just checked again this morning. Just throwing pistils as you say. Going to be awfully tough to finish her but maybe we'll get lucky with the fall weather.

NewEnglandFarmer · Aug 30, 2020

Week 20 Progress Report: stretch has slowed way down this week on the Chinook Haze and Copper Chem; Tomahawk budlets developing fastest with crystals now visible (trichomes?). Cherry Wine is close behind and Orange Blossom Special right there too. Copper Chem slowly developing its flowers and Chinook Haze still lagging but getting closer.

Had the first good soaking rain we've had in a long time yesterday (remnants of Laura), 2 inches fell at a nice steady rate for about 5-6 hours. Plants will love it--drying out nicely today on a crisp sunny dry breeze out of the northwest (classic New England fall weather--glorious).

Here's the garden this morning (Chinook Haze is closing in on 10 feet, others are 8-9):

Chinook:

Orange Blossom Special:

Copper Chem:

Tomahawk:

Cherry Wine:

Noticed these brown leaf tips on the Tomahawk--this is the only spot. Normal? Is it trying to tell me anything?

Tomahawk is also the only one with more than 1-2 yellowing leaves. Maybe that's because it seems to be the furthest along in the flowering process. Normal and I should just relax, or does it want something?

One more question: no sign of caterpillars, except yesterday I found a very tiny one and it seemed like it was dead. It's been 10 days since I last sprayed Bt, thinking I should do another application this week though. I'm thinking of adding some potassium bicarbonate to the solution (the directions on the Bt say it's fine to mix as long as the product you're mixing with doesn't say not to). From what I understand this will make the foliage and buds slightly more alkaline and less hospitable to botrytis and PM. Any reason not do do this? Anybody have experience trying this?

It's exciting to see these flowers coming along but as they get bigger and thicker, and the weather turns cooler and potentially wetter, I'm nervous about bud rot.

Happy gardening everyone! Hope's the weather's as beautiful where you are as it is here today.

Seawood · Aug 31, 2020

Can’t help you with any experience mixing BT with potassium but it sounds like a great prevention plan. I’m spraying greencure (potassium bicarbonate) weekly now until just before harvest. PM can be a real nuisance if it gets out of control. You can always wash your buds after harvest but it adds more time to an already lengthy process.

Plants at my other site are coming along...one will be ready in probably 3 weeks. The dude that owns the property has an outbreak of PM going on with his plants and he didn’t know. Hopefully my plants remain unaffected. His lawn is full of plantain that is covered in mildew. Not sure if this is the source....

thumper60 · Aug 31, 2020

Seawood said:
Can’t help you with any experience mixing BT with potassium but it sounds like a great prevention plan. I’m spraying greencure (potassium bicarbonate) weekly now until just before harvest. PM can be a real nuisance if it gets out of control. You can always wash your buds after harvest but it adds more time to an already lengthy process.

Plants at my other site are coming along...one will be ready in probably 3 weeks. The dude that owns the property has an outbreak of PM going on and he didn’t know. Hopefully my plants remain unaffected. His lawn is full of plantain that is covered in mildew. Not sure if this is the source....View attachment 4670444 View attachment 4670445

That one looks nice an early does it have a name.THat plantain is good eating when not covered in pm

thumper60 · Aug 31, 2020

NewEnglandFarmer said:
Week 20 Progress Report: stretch has slowed way down this week on the Chinook Haze and Copper Chem; Tomahawk budlets developing fastest with crystals now visible (trichomes?). Cherry Wine is close behind and Orange Blossom Special right there too. Copper Chem slowly developing its flowers and Chinook Haze still lagging but getting closer.

Had the first good soaking rain we've had in a long time yesterday (remnants of Laura), 2 inches fell at a nice steady rate for about 5-6 hours. Plants will love it--drying out nicely today on a crisp sunny dry breeze out of the northwest (classic New England fall weather--glorious).

Here's the garden this morning (Chinook Haze is closing in on 10 feet, others are 8-9):
View attachment 4669106

Chinook:
View attachment 4669107

Orange Blossom Special:
View attachment 4669108

Copper Chem:
View attachment 4669109

Tomahawk:
View attachment 4669110

Cherry Wine:
View attachment 4669113

Noticed these brown leaf tips on the Tomahawk--this is the only spot. Normal? Is it trying to tell me anything?

View attachment 4669116

Tomahawk is also the only one with more than 1-2 yellowing leaves. Maybe that's because it seems to be the furthest along in the flowering process. Normal and I should just relax, or does it want something?
View attachment 4669124

One more question: no sign of caterpillars, except yesterday I found a very tiny one and it seemed like it was dead. It's been 10 days since I last sprayed Bt, thinking I should do another application this week though. I'm thinking of adding some potassium bicarbonate to the solution (the directions on the Bt say it's fine to mix as long as the product you're mixing with doesn't say not to). From what I understand this will make the foliage and buds slightly more alkaline and less hospitable to botrytis and PM. Any reason not do do this? Anybody have experience trying this?

It's exciting to see these flowers coming along but as they get bigger and thicker, and the weather turns cooler and potentially wetter, I'm nervous about bud rot.

Happy gardening everyone! Hope's the weather's as beautiful where you are as it is here today.

Yesterday felt like heaven after this summer.

Seawood · Aug 31, 2020

thumper60 said:
That one looks nice an early does it have a name.THat plantain is good eating when not covered in pm

Eating Plantain? Really...had no idea. Do you steam it or throw in a salad?

The plant in the pic is chemdawg. Not sure on the breeder as I got a cutting a couple years ago from a friend. It threw out just a few seeds and I grew one last year and another this year. No idea if that cut was pollinated or maybe had a bit of hermie going on. The one this year is one I had a light screw up on and flowered back in June. Took FOREVER to reveg so the yield won’t be what I had hoped for but better than nothing!

NewEnglandFarmer · Aug 31, 2020

Surprised to see PM there with how dry it's been this summer. Maybe you've had bunch of rain lately? We have too but in between we've had a lot of sunny, breezy, low-humidity days. Not seeing any PM anywhere around my property. Knock on wood.

I'm going to try mixing in some Potassium Bicarbonate with my Bt spray. Planning to apply at dawn tomorrow--it's been 10 days since the last one.

Do you worry about re-applying right after rain or do you just stick with once per week? Do you stop spraying a certain number of days before harvest?

Definitely not keen on washing buds at harvest time. I know people do it but it just seems counter-intuitive to me--the whole idea is to dry those things out after the cut, right? Being as how this will be my very first harvest, looking to you and other pros on the forum to guide me in this. I've been reading up quite bit and ordered a nice pair of trimming shears. Question is where do I dry everything? Hoping maybe the shed will work, totally dry in there but not temperature controlled. Don't think my wife would allow any of that stinky dank in the house...

By the way your "remote" plant is looking good.

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