When to Harvest Answer & Pics

[SlammaJamma]

So this is a story about a recent first indoor harvest of World of Seeds Medical Collection Northern Lights x Big Bud. I have to say I do not know how long it flowered because it went from outdoor to indoor for flower. BUT that is why im posting this. I will say that I am a "informed nube" as I have read a whole lot but just finished my first harvest. This plant I had to harvest by the looks of it since I had no idea when it began flowering. Since I didnt know I figured id harvest the plant over a 2 week period. Branch by branch. The first buds I cut had a mostly clear some milky and very few amber trichomes. It was super airy and a gram looked likean 1/8. The calyxs had not even begun to swell. Pistols shot up and split and turned orange. I thought it was done. Notice that in these pictures.

After these pics pistols shot up 2 more times over the course of 2 more weeks, the calyx's swelled, and the buds hardened. Notice the difference.

Don't cut your plant two weeks early!
That is all.
-SJ

 

[Maj.Cottonmouth]

This might be useful but it sounds like you already learned a lot about when to harvest. Experience is the best teacher.

 

[SlammaJamma]

Yes I have seen that. What I was trying to show is the fact you need to see the calyx's swell, hairs die back, and watch the trichomes to know when to harvest. you cannot just consider one of these but all three to harvest when fully ripe.

 

[dankydoodle]

Yes I have seen that. What I was trying to show is the fact you need to see the calyx's swell, hairs die back, and watch the trichomes to know when to harvest. you cannot just consider one of these but all three to harvest when fully ripe.

Calyx are my general indicator. I don't even get excited until I see the ones on the very tip of the main bud sweel up, and show few white hairs. Then the trichomes become my focus. Yes I agree with SlammaJamma, well put.

 

[guestaweed]

so for how many weeks did you flowered the first ones b4 harvestin? 7 or 8?
and the second batch? 10?

 

[SlammaJamma]

I don't know how long they flowered. Just that the second pics are of the same plant harvested 2 weeks after the first pics. Thats the difference 2 weeks make at the end of flowering.

 

[qbert]

I have a hard time really seeing if the trichs are clear or cloudy .. amber's a bit easier, but only a bit. I can't seem to get as clear and perfectly magnified view as that image shows. But calyx swelling and pistil changes do help clue us in.

 

[the gnome]

1st timer here and I'm trying to detemine as well.
I have 4 strains,
using a 30X loupe I see one has clear heads and about 10% amber, none are milky?
i thought it went clear-->milky---> amber??