Sleepy Hollow Canyon-2011

[CanniDo Cowboy]

Sleepy Hollow- A Season In Review

Alrighty then fellow gro-bros...The tea barrels are empty, the air pumps have gone silent and the plants have finally given up the last of their bounty. So, let's begin to wrap this thing up. Most everything is curing and I'm finally out of the trim chair. Still have some minor snippin to do here and there but not like the 16 hr days I was putting in when the crops were coming in hot n heavy from the field. I'll be putting together an overall evaluation of the Sleepy Hollow in this post and with things still left to do, I'll spread it out over the next week or so.

I'll be sharing what I knew and what I thought I knew goin in and what I now know which is a damn sight more than what I thought I knew, if that makes sense. I'll give a quick overlook of my strain choices/performance, what I did right and as equally important, the things I did wrong and ways to improve both. In the end, I hope the Sleepy Hollow saga gives some of my less gro-battle hardened compadres some tips and ideas as to how to pull off a successful season without losing your shorts, your mind and any friends you might have had before you started. If nothing else, I think my message here is that not everyone can do this sort of thing and for many reasons but there are very few reasons not to try and if you do decide to saddle up for the ride, it will most likely only be as tough as you make it. That, and I believe overall success is directly relative to how big of bite out of the gro-apple you want to take...

Before I get started, I just want to thanks all those who followed along, offering encouragement when I needed it, and advice when I didnt. LOL The members here at ICMAG are truly- a band of brothers.......CC

 

[GP73LPC]

cool...

got any pics of cured bud?

how much do you think you yielded?

are you gonna try to automate watering next year?

 

[Slangheat]

Awesome CC... my ass is still in the trim chair!

Congrats on reaching the finish line, can't wait to hear more from ya.

 

[hamstring]

CC
First off congrats there were many doubters when the thread first started including myself but as you managed your thread it was obvious we weren’t dealing with a novice and on top of that you are able to verbalize your thoughts and experiences very well nice job just missing one thing---I cant wait to hear about the final overview and your thoughts on the strains you have grown this season i know I will learn a thing or two, i mean a thing or two more than I already have from your thread.

 

[TB Gardens]

Can't wait for the final updates!

I never doubted you brother ;-) ain't nothin a workin man can't do

 

[CanniDo Cowboy]

Alrighty then, the 'hay" is in the barn, the scissors are finally coolin down and it's time to reflect back on the overall, Sleepy Hollow effort: Location, strain choices & smoke reports, successful grow methods and some of the other methods that just ended up being methods of madness. I managed to gather a bunch of shoulda-coulda-woulda's over the summer and will jam them in my jeans for next year. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give the Hollow a fattie 7. I would have given a 10 but then I wouldnt have anything to improve on next year and I definitely have areas to where I need to improve.

So, lets see what we're talkin about here: Below: The Sleepy Hollow, nekkid and waiting...

First, the Sleepy Hollow location. Well, it wasnt the perfect site in the fact that midway into Aug, the garden began losing sun on the south side. I planted 8 plants on the southern slope running east and west (left side of upper photo) and 11 plants on the north side (right side of photo). While the southern slope did receive enough sun to get to a respectable flower stage, I think the cola development was slighted a bit by not having full sun thru Oct. Also, the stand of trees at the west end of the Hollow (top of photo) prevented late afternoon sun all season, probably an hour or so which doesnt sound like much but if you figure an hour a day from May to Oct, it's quite a bit. Nothing catastrophic but it could have been better. Not having grown here before, it was an EWAG (estimated wild ass guess) that the Hollow would get full sun and for the most part it did. I have to remind myself that the other reason for choosing the location was the security benefit. It's tucked away in an area that cannot be seen by prying eyes in that you have to be right on top of it before you know it's there. Very important. I remember when I chose the spot on my property, my thinking was I would gladly sacrifice a little sun for the exposure security of it's location. And in the end, that is azactly what happened.

The below photo was taken long about Aug. Overall, the plants did receive enough sun and depending on the strain, I think all grew to respectable sizes. The shortest plant, an OG Kush, topped out at around 6 ft and the tallest, a Blue Dream, was well over 11ft. Widths varied but 7ft in dia. was the smallest girth. So, overall, plant size was very good considering the sun exposure vs the visual garden security trade-off. Flower/colas size/quality? Well, we'll get to that...Next season, I wont plant the southern slope. At least I'm pretty sure. Instead, I'll be adding plants to the northern hill. That will be a bit tricky because I'll need some sort of privacy buffer because the higher up the slope the plants are, the more visible they become. And that just isnt a trade off I'm willing to make...

The below 3 photos pretty much sum it up: So far so good, certainly nuthin to get too awful nit-picky about...
Southern slope - left rear of the Hollow

Partial view from the canyon floor (lol)

Northern slope- entrance to the Hollow-right side

So, now that we have an idea of the lay of the land, and the respectable and certainly acceptable eventual size of the gals in our gro-brains, I'll move on to appraising the inner-workings of the Hollow. The set-up/mechanics of the operation. Things get as little more involved here 'cause number one, I wanted to select the best planting location, within the Hollow, for each strain in relation to it's characteristics. Example: I planted the Sativas ie: (Blue Dream) on the norther slope because I knew they would be late finishers and would need all the sun they could get and there would be more sun on the north slope late in the season. I planted Indicas ie: LA Con, Grandaddy P, Querkle and Odyssey Kush on the southern slope because I knew being Indies, they would finish in early Oct and because they develop faster than the Sativas, my hope was they would mature quick enough that the diminished sunlite later in the season would have minimal effect on bud development. It worked out OK but as I said earlier, the flowering/bud full potential did suffer a bit.

OK, methods and madness. Way back in the beginnings of my Sleepy Hollow memoirs, i went on record to say that although I was using the Smart Pots, I didnt like the look of them just sitting there on the ground and therefore decided to bury each and every one. I further stated that I thought that they did nothing to aid in garden stealth- It's hard to maintain any stealthiness with ya have a bunch of giant black bags dotting your hillsides. LOL

At the time, I even believed and so stated that burying the pots would help minimize watering due to the pots being insulated by dear mother earth. Well sir, out of sheer stubbornness and being no earthly good at giving up at anything, I dug holes for 2 weeks in earth that only dynamite could love. Yea buddy, I got er done...But here's the thing, actually several things about all that: First, the bags get pretty much hidden by the plant being grown in it. Duh! Who would have thought? Second, and most important as I was to find out early on, the insulated pots probably did require less water being set into the soil but as it turned out, that might not have been such a good thing.

IMO, the pots need to "breathe" which was non-existent with burying and the wet-to-dry cycle was completely thrown off because with the bottoms of all my holes resembling something close to potters clay, I suspected the water at the bottom of the holes was not seeping into the native soil quick enough, if at all, to maintain healthy wet/dry cycles. The reason I suspected I might have a drainage problem was because during the early veg stage, quite a few of the plants began exhibiting abnormal leaf yellowing. Yellowing that results from poor drainage. So, I had to contend with buried pots that had a normal wet/dry cycle in about the first 8 to 12 inches of soil and yet try to somehow strike a watering balance with the bottom 2 thirds of the pot that was not draining well, if at all. While the plants were fine in the end, I wouldnt want to play the watering guessing game I played all season long again. Ever!

Nobody ever accused me doing things half-assed but this would have been a good time to at least think about it...It's a clean job but unfortunately, serious overkill.

Next season: All the Smarties will be above ground. Anything more than that with Smart Pots is just goin up fools hill. While burying them is an admiral feat, it serves no real purpose other than keeping a fella from doin things that really make a difference. LOL Above ground, the pots will breathe and the wet-to-dry cycles wont drive me nuts or put the plants in possible peril. And of course, I for one will dig the no digging...

The Sleepy Hollow Strain & Smoke Review
(All my strains were grown from clones)

First, my strain/smoke report disclaimer, of sorts: and I just gotta say this: My strain and smoke report is based on the level of my own med growing knowledge/level of expertise (I would like to think somewhere between intermediate and advanced) and IMO, any strain/smoke report such as mine and others may or may not reflect the true characteristics and or full potential of any given strain. An accomplished builder may have no problems building a house while a inexperienced builder may struggle with the same project and even perhaps finish with a crappy outcome. Just sayin... I dont think any 2 growers will have the same results because no 2 accomplished growers grow the same and regions alone can effect strain/plant performance which would have to include: degree of difficulty growing, average yield, mold, flavor and potency. Simply stated, I would have to tell you exactly what nutrients I applied and when I applied it and how much, how and when I watered, my exact soil composition and you would almost have to be growing next door to me in order to get identical results, regionally speaking. So, really, what good is my strain/smoke report if you cant grow moss on the north side of a tree trunk? LOL Alright, alright! I'll submit a report but dont blame me if your plants die in week 3 or your end results look like something a dog left on your lawn and tastes about the same...LOL

Strain - Blue Dream (Sativa)
Degree of Growing Difficulty - Very little although pretty serious support planning is required because of potential size. Even with adequate support, the plant can be vulnerable with early rains due to abnormally large cola spars. With the proper feeding regime and the right planting system, the strain produces phenomenal plants.
Average yield: Somewhat varied per plant - Over-all height average on 5 plants was 10ft and personal grow techniques resulted in large size colas but with average weight yield. I was somewhat off on the flowering stage nutrient requirements which would have resulted in heavier buds. Adjustments will be made next season to insure a better cola size/weight ratio.
Mold?: Minor due to 4 days of rain 5 days before initial harvest
Potency: 9-10 By far, the best out of every strain I grew this season. Organic growing apps and proper cure resulted in bringing the best out of the strain. Strong BD aroma, smooth taste and a heavy cerebral medicine.

Strain - Romula (Indica-cali x white rhino)
Degree of Growing Difficulty- None. Fast grower in the veg stage, developed super size bud sites and large, long spars. Also requires fairly stout support if you get it to the 8ft height range.
Average Yield- Similar to the Blue Dream, it needs a special diet during the cola stage to produce real weight. Large colas but somewhat airy due to lacking specific flowering stage nutrient requirements. My bad.
Mold? - Very little but the airy colas may have contributed to lack of
Potency- 9-10 Almost as good as the Blue Dream. Definitely in the 9's. Outstanding aroma, smooth taste and very medicinal for all degrees of pain management.

Strain - Grand Daddy Purple - (100% Indica)
Degree of Growing Difficulty- None. One of the easiest strains to grow for any level of expertise assuming you know how to water, feed and have some degree of flower stage management knowledge.
Average Yield - With a decent flowering weight gain regime, GDP is very weighty. An almost automatic "packer".
Mold? - You have to watch GDP for possible mold issues due to the dense bud formation characteristics, especially if you experience early rains.
Potency - 8-9 While not an exotic, it has always been my assertion the GDP is one of the workhorses of the industry. It's consistently very potent with a nice look and has the easily recognizable GDP aroma. It's a purple standard and IMO, an almost bullet proof starter strain for folks who are just learning to grow their own meds.

Strain - LA Confidential - (100% Indica-OG Kush x afghan indica)
Degree of Difficulty Growing - None. The 2 LA's I grew bounced right up and both finished at around 7ft with nice 6ft girths. Very foliar, semi-dense flowers. A typical Indie, it doesnt require to much fussing and it really likes a strong flowering regime.
Average Yield- Mine didnt put on as much weight as I would have liked. I think the Kush side of the strain requires a little tweaking of the diet to insure a good density. Mid to semi-upper level weight with larger leafy colas than actual yield. Allowing for a few minor tweaks to its diet, a pleasure to grow.
Mold- None
Potency- 8-9 The LA has it all. A very different and strong aroma from the OG Kush/Afghan cross, a nice look and a heavy nite time relaxer.

Strain -Querkle - (80% Indica, purple erkle x space queen)
Degree Of Difficulty Growing - Another real easy grower. It will take just about anything you throw at it. It can handle both a very high nitrogen veg program as well as high percentage flowering stage mixes.
Average Yield - Super leafy colas with semi-dense buds. This plant could also use a bit of diet tweaking during the flower run. I felt the purple side of the cross wasnt as prominent as it might have been. I grew 2 of the Q's and both plants were very consistent in growth tendencies and yield but actually weight harvest on both plants was less than expected based on the large size of the plants.
Mold- None
Potency - 7-8 Above average and very consistent. The look is very good with the prominent orange hairs, complimented with a strong piney aroma.

Strain - Odyssey Kush (90% Indica 10% Sativa)
Degree Of Difficulty Growing - None. From start to finish, the strain did it's thing. Typical Kush-like, very hearty and healthy thru out the season
Average Yield- Good. Again, typical Kush. Very large and leafy colas but the weight ratio was off due to my flowering regime being off a tad. IMO, Kushes take a little more knowledge to really bring the best out of the plant in regard to achieving dense buds. But once there, the formula can be applied to all the Kush strains and I look forward to reaching that plateau because they are my favorite.
Mold- None
Potency- 7-8 Again, a bit above average, very steady with the nice Kushy aroma. It's not a strain I would most likely grow again simply because there are so many other more well known Kush strains out there that I believe are in the 9's and 10's.


The big wrap up/finish:
My overview of the Sleepy Hollow has gotten quite lengthy but it is my hope that somebody or somebodies will take something or some things from my report and apply whatever is applicable to him or her. While results may vary, there is a basic formula for success. Foremost, you have to try in true earnest. Second, you have to love the plant for all it's amazing qualities and the history of culture it truly represents. And you have to expect and overcome failures, disappointments and times when you wonder if any of it is worth the time, headaches and hassles. Whether youre a townie or a country boy, the business of growing can take you to the moon and back or reduce you to a babblin idiot, blowing snot bubbles. And so it should be, I reckon...Thanks again to all who followed along and contributed to the Sleepy Hollow effort. It's been a hoot...and I'll damn sure see y'all again next season...yer gro-pard - CC



And so it is, the seasons final act. The fire was lit and as the plant stalks burned and smoke swirled up towards the heavens, I offered my grateful and humble appreciation to the grow-Gods for blessing me with a wonderful bounty, for keeping me and the Hollow safe from all harm for 7 long months and finally, for giving our planet such an amazing plant that does so much for the mind, body and spirit. Thanks guys...CC

 

[AlexTrebek]

Wow. 5 stars. 10 out of 10. sensational.

 

[paulo73]

You made it all worthy!

You made it all worthy!

Just want to take a sec and thank ALL who have taken time to post comments, insights, kind words of encouragement and reps here on the Sleepy Hollow thread. Thanks, everyone! CC

 

[McDank8O5]

yeaaah buddy! good closing post! look forward to your work next season

 

[GP73LPC]

just thinking out loud...

i've always wondered about growing outside and how the color of cannabis stood out and can be spotted by LEO.

this pic clearly shows how much greener the cannabis is than the surrounding vegetation...

in my area of the country it would stand out in mid summer too...

just wondering if more of a lime colored sativa would reduce it's visibility some...

like i said, just thinking out loud. these comments have nothing to do with your beautiful sleepy hollow canyon...

 

[budman678]

great update. everything looks delicious. have you done smoke reports? i would love to take a close look at the querkle...gonna be running some of that soon.