When to chop?

[ClearBarbedFunk]

in the NE US, you guys have quite a bit more humidity then here outwest, but i cover plants when it gets into the 30s, as mentioned above i use a bedsheet, and clear plastic when i run outta sheets.

just tossed over the plants, air still gets around the plants from the bottom, and thru the sheets.

never lost nothin to frost, and have had many plants withstand a snow.

we dont suffer with mold here.

CBF

 

[sgka]

you should be straight after a few frosts. last year i waited about 3 or 4 and my remaining plants that toughed out the frost were some of my best. days in the 30s are a clear sign that its pretty much time to chop. or if it gets to about 25 at night id take mine down. just me though

 

[MajLeeStoned]

Depends on how cold it gets for how long and the strain but generally yes they will survive some frost. I've found erroring on the side of late harvest is preferred to early. Unlike indoor, there is no rush to chop cause you cant stat a new crop till spring.

Harvest no Kind before its time!

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

keep in mind that growing drastically slows or stops completely at temps 50 degrees and lower. if you aren't getting above or near....i would say 55 during the day. i would then say chop chop time.

 

[bongcritter]

Interesting SmokeyTheBear....so you are saying it its not getting to 50-55 then its useless to be growing and I should just chop now???

Also, is it true that you can let bud out for light frosts at low 30s like 32 and such, but at 27 degrees for a long period thats when it gets screwed? Thats what I was told in my thread. I'm starting to worry now, I want to harvest when the bud is totally ready but I don't want to have to worry about frost either....

Help would be awesome...

 

[Kushed]

What Im wondering is how bad would a light frost damage the plants? And how much time before the sun rises should i go out and water them? Is an hour adequate time?

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

light frost won't hurt a plant. from my own experience. if i see the temperatures are going to be 35 or lower at night for a pro-longed period, i will just cut everything good down. if you hear on your local weather station that there is going to be a hard frost, i would suggest cutting the buds down. i have left plants out in temps below 30 and they survived but it was a shitty plant and the buds weren't worth a fuck. it was just a test and i didn't really care about the plant.

 

[bongcritter]

What do you consider a "pro-longed period"?? Is that one night? Or 24 hours+??

And just to clarify 29 to 32 degrees is a "light" frost, where 28 and below is a "hard" frost?

If light frost won't hurt a plant, as you say SmokeyTheBear, then why do you cut when temps are below 35? Shouldn't you cut when they are below 29 or 30?

I'm just confused, and not sure what to do. I don't know if my plant is totally ready yet, but I don't think it's going to make it to the optimal finishing time anyhow due to frost coming up in 2 weeks or so.

So, I'm just not sure what I'm gaining or losing here. My plan is to leave it up for another week, and chop it on October 7th-8th. Will this extra week make that much more of a difference? Or should I just chop now?

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

hard frost can happen when the temps are anywhere in the 30's. if the temps are that cold you will only really gain more potency not much more weight. it's up to you.

 

[Kushed]

well I already know my plants can take temps as low as 33 but its also very warm during the day. Their all still doing fine but ya all Im after is potency not weight, I like the trichromes nice and amber and their still an 80/20 ratio of cloudy to amber.

So if it gets too cold and my plants get fucked up by the frost is the bud just junk then or what? And what about the technique where you water your plants before the sun rises? How long will this work for?

 

[mosess187]

try bcseeds.com nomaad.....i think the strain is called high altittude, very expensive here tho!!!

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

if the plant takes too many frost it will lose all potency. this happened to me with one plant 2 years ago. it needed more time so i left it out. i didn't realize how many frost there actually were. i gave all of it to my friend and he said it wouldn't get him high. he smoked a whole eighth and felt nothing. so be careful.

 

[Kushed]

So could you tell the plant was damaged visually? I really need to let my plants go at least one more week, has anyone had experience with watering their plants before the sun rises?

 

[Pistil_Party09]

i had the same dilemma today and decided to cut...10% amber trichs but whatever its supposed to get around 37 tonight. my room stinks.

 

[Kushed]

Well Im not sure on your region etc, but my ladies have survived several nights with the temps in the upper 30s, but also daytime temps are 70-80+ and lol yah im sure your room smells nice and dank right now.

 

[bongcritter]

It's getting to 32 degrees tonight...

Should I chop? Or will she survive?

 

[beer batter]

This article of ask Ed from cannabis culture answered the question what is the best time of day to harvest, nostradamus would pick things just before dawn according to this history channel episode I'm watching he was also an herbal alchemist.

 

[slider420]

What about 4 days of rain on the way & real cool temps to boot???? Chop before rain or after?? It might not get real warm after the days of rain.... Don't want MOLD.... PEACE

 

[jwm]

Take it early, if need be, imo...A little bit of something is better than a whole lot of nothing...I'm in the same boat...I need another 10 days-Mine are changing over, thickening up but I'm now getting periods of rain w/ sun...As long as you don't get frost at night, and are getting some sun during the day, I'd let 'em go....The weather forecasts these days are fairly accurate 2-4 days out. Keep on eye on the weather..I check several times a day, 4 different weather agency's...

good luck-

 

[slider420]

The weather is going to shit fast..Bow Season starts On Oct 1st.. & fuckers are running around everywhere.. Putting up tree blinds & all kinds of shit... Crazy Traffic in the Boonies