Finishing: Call for Cold or Frost Experiences

[icred]

I am not able to get to my crop for a few days and the weatherman is calling for chance of frost warnings tonight and tomorrow night of about (-1 to -3C) which is about (25 - 32F). Longer term temperature lows are going to be about (+3C to +7C) for the next two weeks which should finish me up. The strain is a Northern Lights mix and is ~30% amber a few days ago. Yes, I know I was pushing the season.

Positives: Mature 6' plants in swamp tubes on wooded slopes. Early sun.
Negatives: (-1C to -3C) frost warnings and rain (2 days) and then sun and warm for two weeks.

I would like to hear from experienced outdoor growers who have dealt with cold temperature snaps or light frost possibly with any similar strain.

I did harvest a few oz of popcorn so it's not a total loss should the worst happen.

 

[THC123]

if your trichs are 30% amber i would certainly harvest now

 

[powerrobbie]

I would harvest now if possible if it was going to be that cold and wet and my plants were already that far along.

 

[argoagro]

Leave some at least, don't take all, even if you leave 10% leave something.

 

[cave]

ya i agree with argoagro because if you leave them for that much longer they may mold with that weather. also all growth stops below 10 degrees as far as i know i don't know about resin production but i believe the THC and heads will start to degrade. unless the strain is acclimatized to those conditions you might have a chance but if you leave a few like 10 or 5% then you will know for future

 

[DiiZZii3]

Hey man ur plants will be able to handle a few light frosts, its one hell of a hardy weed

 

[Jeff Johnson]

In n-central Minnesota, I face this like almost none of you. But everytime, I jump the gun and panic over the forecast. Most strains can survive light frosts, and say it does freeze: wack your plants then and cut the losses.

 

[coxswain]

Had a Church plant last year that was sort of forgotten on my guerrilla patch. I didn't expect much of her when I came to cut it down in first days of November. We had at least 10 days period of temperatures below zero deg. C. Expected rotten buds instead I found healthy plant with just few places of bud root. Mainly tips that touched the ground. Smoke was great! Def. leave some on the patch.

 

[D.S. Toker. MD]

Hey icred

I would leave them be if weather is going to be warm and dry for the next few weeks. The temps you gave wont affect cannabis at all. Ive had plants survive without harm 3 consecutive nights of below freezing, (30F) They wont even notice the cool snap. Especially a larger plant. Seedlings in the spring less than 30cm tall can just barely handle a hard frost but a big plant doesnt even wince.

One little tip. NL and often its crosses are a little prone to mould so watch that part of the story closely.

One other little tip: handle those cold wet plants gently. cold loosens the glue that holds on the resin glands, just like when you make hash and use cold water. When its close to freezing the trichs are easy to dislodge. Gently, gently.

 

[icred]

Thanks for the input folks.

Facts: The cold snap is over with the previous night (-1 to -3 over 10hrs) and last night (-1 to -4 over 7 hrs). Ongoing weather is sunny, +15 days and +5 nights with some rain.

I will go out in the next few days and harvest anything that is really ready which should be about 50% of total which should make me feel better.
I will be gentle of the plants as it may be slightly cold in the early morning.

I will leave several smaller (4') and less complete plants in the ground and not go back until early Oct or as the weather dictates.

I will report here on the results of this cold weather experiment (yield, mold, etc.) as there is not much info in the boards to go by.

ICRed

 

[icred]

Please clarify.

Please clarify.

In n-central Minnesota, I face this like almost none of you. But everytime, I jump the gun and panic over the forecast. Most strains can survive light frosts, and say it does freeze: wack your plants then and cut the losses.

So did you have frozen bud? Are you saying that even though it was frozen you could still cut down the plant and it was usable (curable, smokable) or to be thrown out (frozen mush, wasted)?

 

[icred]

Well I couldn't stand it and went and took a look.

Plants are AOK with no mold or damage beyond some lower, larger fan leaves that are yellow.

I did harvest two monsters are they were done just in case things change but everything weather-wise is good for a couple of weeks now. So grow girls grow!

 

[Jeff Johnson]

icred: The first frosts are not going to be that drastic. I have dusted snow and frost off of indicas...since I grow mainly indicas like Maple Leaf Indica and Hashberry, I know they can take abuse.

And yes, the buds were ok. I have seen indica plants frozen in the high 20's. The fan leaves are scorched and wilting, and the buds are ok. You can't leave things if the main fan leaves are wilted...then it is trim and dry time.

Minnesota ain't for the faint of heart. But we get by pretty well.

My laments usually is that I jump the gun. We get some frost, and then I panic, and then wonderful balmy October days come with my plants dried.

As a hedge against disaster, I should have more early strains. I tried Guerilla Gold, but I did not care for it one bit...strong but way too fuzzy, like Hindu Kush.

 

[cfo]

I have a Purple Power that's been flowering for a few weeks now in Minnesota. It's about 6' tall. I have an 8' bean pole stuck in the ground next to the plant. The pole will be used as a support to cover the plant with a blanket/sheet if we have a frost warning and the plant's not done. I also have a Buddy Heater, which runs on 1# propane tanks. I'll put that on the ground under the plant and turn it on low. I've never tried this before but I have confidence it'll work as long as it doesn't get too hot under the sheet.