[BigNoise]

Hello! I'm brand new to the forum, but I have been reading about Hybrids from Hell for a while. Some solid growing going on around here!

I am planning on growing outdoor here in Cascadia/PNW. I am on the WEsT side of the region, which is why various searches led to HFH, searching for mold resistance and shorter flowering, for sativa's especially.

Right now I am thinking about trying Hashplant 2, Wild White, LEB27S, and Monk. Monk is mostly Indica, and the first 3 predominantly sativa, correct?

Any idea how early I could put them outdoors? I'll put up a planting calender for my are if it will help.

[BigNoise]

Bump.

Any advice? Looking at getting an order in soon. Want to run at least 2 sativa dominant strains, and 1 indica dominant strain.

[BigNoise]

Order placed, received. I've got Danish Gold, Monk, Super07, Amnesia x HP2 (ordered Wild White...not sure if mistake, or out of stock...I'm not complaining), and Polish Demon freebies.

Looking forward to this year.

[The English Cut]

Nice glad you got your seeds, I've got some of those on the go at the moment in my polytunnel - Danish Gold, Polish Demon and Amnesia x HP2. I got 3 males from 4 DG seeds and the other haven't shown yet. All looking good though, especially the Amnesia x HP2.

I'd like to try out some of the Wild stuff next year. Couldn't decide between all the various options for this year.

As far as start dates, maybe ask growers in your area? From what I've read here, it seems like if you start them indoors, some of the HFH strains will start to flower if you put them out too early. Apparently if you're starting them outside then it's not a problem. Others may have more to add about this. Personally I'd be starting them indoors and aiming to get them planted out at the start of june as the photoperiod increases approaches the sostice. But that's just me All the best. Peace, TEC.

[BigNoise]

The plan right now is to sprout seeds indoors or in a mini hoop house. 50% chance last frost date is April 9, 90% April 29. It's a really warm winter (so far), so if it's looking like I'll be in the clear come mid/late April, I may start them, but the more conservative plan right now is to put them out early May.

I don't have any lights (yet), so I'll be starting outdoors. I could probably rig up a hoop house heated by a portable heater if nights are still cold in early May. I've read 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit is best for germination rates, so I may go that route.

[MariJuanita]

I've grown many MANY of Esben's varieties over the last 5-6 years, maybe more - I'm between 45 and 46 N lat, Portlandia.

Yes, many of HFH varieties are difficult to keep in vegetative state for very long indoors without some of them auto-ing. Those fast northern outdoor genetics are strong in Esben's hybrids.

Give them plenty of root space as root crowding is a guarantee the plant will start flowering indoors. But generally, if I keep them in larger pots and veg them at 17 hour of light (up to 17.5), I can start to decrease light schedule in small increments about 2 weeks before putting them outdoors (May 15 - June 1st) and all is good. But its still possible 1 odd plant could auto on your when put outdoors.

Conversely, you could simply germinate indoors and get the seedlings well rooted and strong, then put them right outdoors to grow and veg using sunlight (no need for added artificial light). The little plants will sense the small increase is duration of daylight each day and veg out nicely. I haven't put plants out earlier than May 1st using this method. But its produced the largest HFH specimens outdoors for me by going this route.

hth

[BigNoise]

Thanks MariJuanita, I was hoping I'd hear from you.

Germinate then immediate outdoor transplant in early May is more than likely the route I'll go. If I put them out small I might cover them with some plastic cup/milk jug/cellophane mini greenhouses that they can grow out the top of, if it is still cool at night.

What size pot should I start them in that will allow 2-4 weeks of growth if necessary before transplant?

[The English Cut]

Good idea, I use 5 or 8 litre water bottles with the bottom cut out, leave the lid off the top so the plant can breathe. I've found that you need to remove them before they day gets too hot or they get way too hot with too much condensation and they will suffer. So it's fine if you're seeing your plants every morning and night but might not be a great idea in a guerilla situation.

As for the pot size, I had some of mine in 3L pots for 2-3 weeks and while they didn't really fill the pots with roots in that time, they did alright considering it's early spring here so conditions aren't exactly optimum, so later on in warmer weather I reckon they'd be perfect.

[MariJuanita]

First pot size -- For HFH gear and other varieties loaded with FAST outdoor genetics

I will put my little freshly sprouted seedlings into a 2 gallon pot and that gives them plenty of time before I need to worry about root crowding. I can usually take them 6 weeks at least in the 2 gallons. And then, since I germinate fast outdoor genetics a little later indoors than the rest, I can usually just take them from the 2 gallons right outdoors to plant in the ground.

[The English Cut]

Originally Posted by MariJuanita

First pot size -- For HFH gear and other varieties loaded with FAST outdoor genetics

I will put my little freshly sprouted seedlings into a 2 gallon pot and that gives them plenty of time before I need to worry about root crowding. I can usually take them 6 weeks at least in the 2 gallons. And then, since I germinate fast outdoor genetics a little later indoors than the rest, I can usually just take them from the 2 gallons right outdoors to plant in the ground.

In the main growing season I tend to use 2 gallon (8 litre) pots for the same reason, I don't need to worry about them outgrowing the pot too soon, but if they were only going to be in the pot for 2-3 weeks they'd be a nightmare to transplant, too much loose soil and not enough root, which is why I suggested the 3 litres. It all depends on how long between germination and planting in the ground. Personally I'm uncomforatble putting anything too small out at the mercy of slugs and snails, I like to know a plant can get a bit chewed and still have enough leaves to hardly notice.