Over time and numerous outdoor crops, I have concluded that there is a significant difference in the shape of resin glands and how well they adhere to the plant during heavy rain. Twice in the past 5 years we have been deluged by rain right at harvest time and I know uk growers and others constantly have to endure this circumstance.

During a heavy rain event at harvest, I noticed my sensi star, which is always totally coated with tall standing trichs was missing a bunch that I could only assume were washed off, while my Maple leaf indica and Dr. Atomic NL seemed to remain covered.

My jewelers loupe revealed the both the MLI and NL had flatter, almost blister like trichs while the stars trichs stand tall on a stalk. Over time, i have noticed that the
blister structured trichs hang on better.

Anyone noticed this? Is it possible that while selecting plants in afghanistan for hashish production that they have also selected for a plant that the glands detach easily? Sativa's seem to have much better adhesion.

Anyone paid any attention to this and have any thoughts?

[BACKCOUNTRY]

I'd consider most NL and MLI as being Afgahni types.......

Gypsys decription in the seed boutique describes the Maple Leaf Indica as "A most interesting Indica strain of which we know that it left Afghanistan already before the Russian invasion."

I have not worked with all versions of Northern lights(some do seem haevy on the Sativa), but most seem to have a pretty good Indica domination in their genetics.

Youre right and i agree with their description. I was just speculating, looking for an explanation in my own mind and at 5:00 am , I probably confused the topic by pitching in Afghani hash. Sorry

What makes me ask the question is that year before last we had record breaking rainfall between mid sept and mid oct. We recieved almost 20'' of rain just at harvest time. Most of my crop, sensi star, endless sky had no trichs left and the potency had been damaged. I had grown both before and new what to expect. Only 2 strains maintained visible trichs and relative stable potency, the ML and the NL. Both had more rounded shaped trichs and had more of a wet appearance as opposed to the fuzzy appearance such as those on the star.

Since that grow , i pay attention to trich development and the weather forecast. Whether or not I chop a strain or wait out the rain and hope for sunshine depends on how attached they look to the leaves of the strain. I believe those with shorter stalks hang on better.

I enjoy growing and learning about this plant .

ANY THOUGHTS!

ALL my growing life a have battled RAINS!
Nothing can be done exept bring them in to cover?
They WILL get washed right OFF FAST and you will
have mids at best????/...it SUCKS to say the least?
Try having 20 to 40LBS ready and then seeing a rain
like a FIRE HOSE STYLE WASHING i have many times..
Do anything you can to protect your crops from rains!
PERIOD.

[donutsandwich]

what is there to do to really protect your crops from rain??put a huge garbage bag over it??

[slowster5507]

the best thing i can think of is to construct or buy somthing that can just break the hard hit of rain comin down and killing defensless trichs try to make a cover that is three sided with a roof out of sticks and twine as it will blend in somewhat better than some plastic store bought something. but if u are trying to cover numerous amounts have fun just stand by and b glad mother nature just saved you a watering trip

[RudolfTheRed]

lol, around here people don't worry about rain... we worry about droughts!

Hey Rudolf, we all have our burdens.

Hey everyone,
Just like Lougrew, Ive had so many crops that I either had to harvest before they were ready or I got mediocre bud. If there were strains that didn't wash off as easy you can bet I would be there, This issue has effected my results / potency more than any other single issue of my grows. I can grow it well, harvest it properly, but heavy rain at harvest is something that I have tried to avoid forever. If I could find strains that faired better in rain I would probably grow it. You would think sativa trichs would be much harder to remove due to their equatorial roots..

[simple gardener]

simple but important observation, thanks silverback.
I may not have thought about this until it became a problem...