50 small plants or 5 big ones? - New Growers - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

TychoMonolyth · 12-07-2017, 10:42 PM

When looking at yields, is it better to:

Start seedlings in May for June transplant outdoors
or
Start seedlings in December, get them big, then move them outdoors

Mikell · 12-09-2017, 06:43 PM

Poke around for someone at your latitude/local. Breeder Brad and a few others are in your area and likely have journals.

Six monthes of veg will produce a ridiculous beast.

Mate Dave · 12-09-2017, 06:57 PM

What varieties do you want to use? Have you a plant limit? How long is the season? Do you have protection?

50 that produce the same as 5 if that is the case it's a no brainer I'll take the 50. There is way less work/time involved in making the grow produce = more free time. Easier soil science & if one goes tits up you loose less.

MedResearcher · 12-09-2017, 07:09 PM

Basically a large factor in your yield is your total canopy space, as in square feet or square meters.

Imo, it is far easier to use more younger plants to fill a canopy than fewer old plants. Besides easier, it is also a more efficient use of inputs: water, fertilizer, labor, etc...

Also, when a plant has everything it needs including vigor and health the rate of growth is insane. You want that insane growth during flowering. If you start a plant very early, it grows huge, then its health declines right before flowering, you will end up with a lot of stems and crummy flowers.

Agree with Mikell, someone local will have the best start dates to acomplish what you are after hopefully.

Here in Nor Cal, December is way to early. April 1st, is plenty early enough for a giant tree. Last year we started a round on April 1st, then another round of seeds on April 15th. The later starts caught up to the older ones with ease, used less fertilizer and were overall easier to keep healthy. One of the April 1st starts hit like 8.3# not counting small flowers, while one of the April 15th starts was around 7.4#. Although truely I think the difference was in the genetics/phenotypes not the amount of veg time. They both were to big, and used excess inputs imo.

More plants has other benefits as well. If you loose one out of ten big plants to mother nature, it hurts.. loose three or four and its even worst. Loose 1 out of 50, or even 4 out of 50, thats less than 10% loss.

Could always do a little of both, side by side. Couple giant trees for fun, than a patch with a bunch of younger starts.

Growing large trees, was important to stay out of trouble if your limited by plant count. With the laws changing, it is becoming a lost art. It reminds me of big wave surfers. Really awesome to see, not for everyone though, and not always practical.

Mr^^

lamenamenumbers · 12-09-2017, 07:15 PM

The main thing to consider before yield is genetics that will finish before the cold, rain and snow come. There is nothing more heart breaking than busting your balls in the bush only to see that the mold fairy beat you to the finish line. And she works quick. I'd rather have a handful or tried and true mighty mites or guerilla gold out in the bush than one monster that may not be done by the middle or end of September. I think a lot of the genetics that finish properly here in Canada have some auto flowering traits. So if you start something with auto traits early it may well start flowering before you even bring it to the great outdoors? This is a semi-guess about semi autos, I'm sure someone will chime in with better advice. Don't spend money on some fandangled hype strain from Cali, pick up a few varieties proven to finish in your area from a Canadian breeder. And if you do want to start early, crack some beans veg them, take cuts, sex them and know you are planting ladies and not wasting time on the fellas.

TychoMonolyth · 12-09-2017, 09:27 PM

As a kid, I had connections to old timers who used to supply the local biker's inventory (SChoice). But they're all long gone. I have 0 connections to the scene today. I see the odd one now and then, but asking them about it is a sure way to get shot. lol. (Beware of strangers, and acquaintances who have disappeared for long periods and reappear asking questions. Just something I picked up un-patched.)

I live between Ottawa and Montreal (45Lat), so I'm not looking to grow redwoods. lol. By big, I should have said 50 Autos or 5 Photoperiod.

I like the Autos for obvious reasons, and I plan on growing some simply because I can stagger my harvest. I like Indica's because they're short and dense, but I like the Sativa high, so I'm probably going 60/40 Indica.

I have secure and spring fed room for 500 in 20-30 good flood planes with great cover. But am probably only doing 50-75.

I've analysed about 500 strains so far looking at this latitude for resistance to pests, mold and cold. I've whittled it down to about 20. I'll post my choices here for opinions when I get back home next week. I've done tons of reading and research, and one small test grow, but academics mean squat in the real world.

TychoMonolyth · 12-09-2017, 09:39 PM

And finding something without a shit load of leaves in the colas would be nice. I've seen some plants that were pretty bad. 5 plants, not so bad. 50 would be a nightmare to trim.

Complete Noob · 12-11-2017, 06:12 PM

50 plants like seriously do you have space for 50 plants outdoors? A month inside and then transplant outdoors would be 50 full size plants growing outdoors. That's an awful lot and you sound pretty new at this but if you have space I would certainly try it

But do you even have enough space for 5 nice size cannabis plants?

Complete Noob · 12-11-2017, 06:15 PM

And then your asking should you start some in December, veg them until when June?? A six month veg bro? That sounds a little ridiculous. I've never grown outdoors but I have indoors and you will have lots of space problems growing any kind of strain for 6 months indoors without cutting the shit out of it every two weeks which would be counter productive in the time you would be begging you could flower out two full harvests indoors

TychoMonolyth · 12-11-2017, 07:54 PM

Typos:
"spring fed room" should have been "spring fed forest"

Ya. I'm rural. About 450 acres of mixed bush (a watershed).

I certainly don't intend to start in December. I thought I could. But mid April or May maybe.

I'd be starting them in a heated greenhouse. But they can't be too big either because I still have to carry them to several spots.

What I'm really trying to ask is, would 2 Autos be equal to a Photo yield wise
or is that like asking how long a piece of string is?

12-07-2017, 10:42 PM	#1
TychoMonolyth Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Lat 45n. Ottawa Montreal corridor Posts: 651	50 small plants or 5 big ones? When looking at yields, is it better to: Start seedlings in May for June transplant outdoors or Start seedlings in December, get them big, then move them outdoors
	Quote

12-09-2017, 06:43 PM	#2
Mikell Dipshit Know-Nothing Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Van Isle, BC Posts: 4,973	Poke around for someone at your latitude/local. Breeder Brad and a few others are in your area and likely have journals. Six monthes of veg will produce a ridiculous beast.
	Quote

12-09-2017, 06:57 PM	#3
Mate Dave Propagator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ex Vivo Posts: 1,725	What varieties do you want to use? Have you a plant limit? How long is the season? Do you have protection? 50 that produce the same as 5 if that is the case it's a no brainer I'll take the 50. There is way less work/time involved in making the grow produce = more free time. Easier soil science & if one goes tits up you loose less. __________________ "The universe is comprised of 2 things Hydrogen and Ignorance"
	Quote

12-09-2017, 07:09 PM	#4
MedResearcher Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 561	Basically a large factor in your yield is your total canopy space, as in square feet or square meters. Imo, it is far easier to use more younger plants to fill a canopy than fewer old plants. Besides easier, it is also a more efficient use of inputs: water, fertilizer, labor, etc... Also, when a plant has everything it needs including vigor and health the rate of growth is insane. You want that insane growth during flowering. If you start a plant very early, it grows huge, then its health declines right before flowering, you will end up with a lot of stems and crummy flowers. Agree with Mikell, someone local will have the best start dates to acomplish what you are after hopefully. Here in Nor Cal, December is way to early. April 1st, is plenty early enough for a giant tree. Last year we started a round on April 1st, then another round of seeds on April 15th. The later starts caught up to the older ones with ease, used less fertilizer and were overall easier to keep healthy. One of the April 1st starts hit like 8.3# not counting small flowers, while one of the April 15th starts was around 7.4#. Although truely I think the difference was in the genetics/phenotypes not the amount of veg time. They both were to big, and used excess inputs imo. More plants has other benefits as well. If you loose one out of ten big plants to mother nature, it hurts.. loose three or four and its even worst. Loose 1 out of 50, or even 4 out of 50, thats less than 10% loss. Could always do a little of both, side by side. Couple giant trees for fun, than a patch with a bunch of younger starts. Growing large trees, was important to stay out of trouble if your limited by plant count. With the laws changing, it is becoming a lost art. It reminds me of big wave surfers. Really awesome to see, not for everyone though, and not always practical. Mr^^
	Quote 2 members found this post helpful.

12-09-2017, 07:15 PM	#5
lamenamenumbers Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: under fir and cedar Posts: 94	The main thing to consider before yield is genetics that will finish before the cold, rain and snow come. There is nothing more heart breaking than busting your balls in the bush only to see that the mold fairy beat you to the finish line. And she works quick. I'd rather have a handful or tried and true mighty mites or guerilla gold out in the bush than one monster that may not be done by the middle or end of September. I think a lot of the genetics that finish properly here in Canada have some auto flowering traits. So if you start something with auto traits early it may well start flowering before you even bring it to the great outdoors? This is a semi-guess about semi autos, I'm sure someone will chime in with better advice. Don't spend money on some fandangled hype strain from Cali, pick up a few varieties proven to finish in your area from a Canadian breeder. And if you do want to start early, crack some beans veg them, take cuts, sex them and know you are planting ladies and not wasting time on the fellas. Last edited by lamenamenumbers; 12-09-2017 at 07:28 PM..
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

12-09-2017, 09:27 PM	#6
TychoMonolyth Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Lat 45n. Ottawa Montreal corridor Posts: 651	As a kid, I had connections to old timers who used to supply the local biker's inventory (SChoice). But they're all long gone. I have 0 connections to the scene today. I see the odd one now and then, but asking them about it is a sure way to get shot. lol. (Beware of strangers, and acquaintances who have disappeared for long periods and reappear asking questions. Just something I picked up un-patched.) I live between Ottawa and Montreal (45Lat), so I'm not looking to grow redwoods. lol. By big, I should have said 50 Autos or 5 Photoperiod. I like the Autos for obvious reasons, and I plan on growing some simply because I can stagger my harvest. I like Indica's because they're short and dense, but I like the Sativa high, so I'm probably going 60/40 Indica. I have secure and spring fed room for 500 in 20-30 good flood planes with great cover. But am probably only doing 50-75. I've analysed about 500 strains so far looking at this latitude for resistance to pests, mold and cold. I've whittled it down to about 20. I'll post my choices here for opinions when I get back home next week. I've done tons of reading and research, and one small test grow, but academics mean squat in the real world.
	Quote

12-09-2017, 09:39 PM	#7
TychoMonolyth Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Lat 45n. Ottawa Montreal corridor Posts: 651	And finding something without a shit load of leaves in the colas would be nice. I've seen some plants that were pretty bad. 5 plants, not so bad. 50 would be a nightmare to trim.
	Quote

12-11-2017, 06:12 PM	#8
Complete Noob Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 137	50 plants like seriously do you have space for 50 plants outdoors? A month inside and then transplant outdoors would be 50 full size plants growing outdoors. That's an awful lot and you sound pretty new at this but if you have space I would certainly try it But do you even have enough space for 5 nice size cannabis plants?
	Quote

12-11-2017, 06:15 PM	#9
Complete Noob Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 137	And then your asking should you start some in December, veg them until when June?? A six month veg bro? That sounds a little ridiculous. I've never grown outdoors but I have indoors and you will have lots of space problems growing any kind of strain for 6 months indoors without cutting the shit out of it every two weeks which would be counter productive in the time you would be begging you could flower out two full harvests indoors
	Quote

12-11-2017, 07:54 PM	#10
TychoMonolyth Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Lat 45n. Ottawa Montreal corridor Posts: 651	Typos: "spring fed room" should have been "spring fed forest" Ya. I'm rural. About 450 acres of mixed bush (a watershed). I certainly don't intend to start in December. I thought I could. But mid April or May maybe. I'd be starting them in a heated greenhouse. But they can't be too big either because I still have to carry them to several spots. What I'm really trying to ask is, would 2 Autos be equal to a Photo yield wise or is that like asking how long a piece of string is?
	Quote