Oregon Rec. Grow

[WV: Jetson]

It's a New Year (cock-a-doodle-do!) I know I'm getting itchy...

 

[sandhill larry]

It's a New Year (cock-a-doodle-do!) I know I'm getting itchy...

I'm not looking forward to the dead space between my Spring crop harvest and when I start my full seasons. Even though I bitch about carrying water, I like it better if I have something going on.

 

[Organja]

We just took out the last big cola I saved from a late spring indoor run of GG#4, and compared it to bud from the clone I took from it and grew outdoors last summer. As usual, the indoor was frostier, denser, and people say a bit stronger high but that's not surprising since it was able to go as long as it needed (the outdoor plants were all taken down at their earliest possible time because of worms and mold/PM). It was also "prettier", with lots of orange hairs. The outdoor, as usual, tasted and smelled better. In general the outdoor produces quantity on a whole other scale, and can cost significantly less to grow... but that only works if I can keep them out there long enough to finish them. I'm finding that without a greenhouse, that's not really working for me.

If I build a serious greenhouse and run one outdoor group with light dep to have enough sun and season to grow Sativas and Sativa-dominant hybrids, then I would gladly give up the extra $$$ in electric bills it takes to run an annual indoor. That's actually some big "ifs", but it could happen. Until then I'll probably keep doing one winter indoor, and keep appreciating what it has to offer.

It seems more and more people are aiming to that direction. Me as well. Since I don't sell anything, it's all an expense until I reap that reward. Sometimes even then, the expense doesn't justify the end. Living and learning!

 

[Organja]

i said why are you wasting your time growing outdoors w.o. using a greenhouse the rest was for this thread too. u just misread bro

Yeah y'all, don't you see the plants in nature all cuddled up inside a nice sterile greenhouse? Lol nah man. If you can't grow it outside a greenhouse, it sounds like the strain isn't cut out for your environment naturally. Therefor superficial environments suck bad greenhouses become a necessity to force grow plants that aren't adequate to grow in that environment.
Seems like an added expense as well as a giant flag in your yard that signals you are growing herb.

I probably sound like a dick. Cuz I am.

 

[Humanrob]

Yeah y'all, don't you see the plants in nature all cuddled up inside a nice sterile greenhouse? Lol nah man. If you can't grow it outside a greenhouse, it sounds like the strain isn't cut out for your environment naturally. Therefor superficial environments suck bad greenhouses become a necessity to force grow plants that aren't adequate to grow in that environment.
Seems like an added expense as well as a giant flag in your yard that signals you are growing herb.

I probably sound like a dick. Cuz I am.

There are two attributes that help a lot when growing on the wet side of Oregon -- plants that are naturally mold/PM resistant, and plants with a short flower cycle. From what I've read, Sativas tend to be more fungi resistant and Indicas tend to have a shorter flower time. There are definitely people growing hybrids for both characteristics, but with pheno variation it's not an exact science. Then there are other factors; if I found a plant that was perfect for the climate and finished flawlessly giving me several pounds of meds -- but produced a sleepy physical high -- that medicine would not work at all for my patient. I'd have a years worth of worthless meds.

The bottom line is that where I live is definitely not an optimal cannabis growing environment. That's not going to stop me. I'll do whatever it takes.

 

[Organja]

There are two attributes that help a lot when growing on the wet side of Oregon -- plants that are naturally mold/PM resistant, and plants with a short flower cycle. From what I've read, Sativas tend to be more fungi resistant and Indicas tend to have a shorter flower time. There are definitely people growing hybrids for both characteristics, but with pheno variation it's not an exact science. Then there are other factors; if I found a plant that was perfect for the climate and finished flawlessly giving me several pounds of meds -- but produced a sleepy physical high -- that medicine would not work at all for my patient. I'd have a years worth of worthless meds.

The bottom line is that where I live is definitely not an optimal cannabis growing environment. That's not going to stop me. I'll do whatever it takes.

Hope you know I wasn't directing at you HR! I have a shelter logic greenhouse myself!

 

[boxcar_landracer]

I'm doing the groundwork for a potential grow on the wet side of Oregon. That said, it will be my first go at greenhouse growing (outdoor grower previously). It seems that the argument of when and how to use supplemental lighting in this set up is pretty obvious. My concern with growing in a wet climate is controlling humidity in the house. Hot days boost transpiration and raise the RH inside. And as we all know Oregon is a soggy bitch come fall harvest times. So my concern is that even with proper ventillation and circulation, i will just be bringing humid air in from outside hence not really resoving the RH issue. I understand that greenhouses can get slammed with PM and mold so this seems to be more pressing than supplemental light concerns. Thoughts......

 

[slow drawl]

I find that most strains I've grown just flat out will not reach maturity without a GH.
Like @Humanrob I prefer to grow Sativa doms. I feel you need a tightly built greenhouse with a dehumidifier, cooling, heat, ventilation, and a good pest management program to grow sativas here. Oh and a sunscreen for those really hot days. The heat is your enemy during the summer months not humidity. I don't usually need my dehumidifier until Sept. It's been quite a learning curve to get it dialed in for me. If you have all these available you can find a balance that should work for you.

 

[Fogdog]

Another year, another grow. Last year, I grew Mastodon, four plants produced enough for about 60 years of smoke at my pace. Good smoke and am happy with it. This year, I'm not concerned about production and will experiment with something different.

We are interested in growing high CBD weed but photoperiod CBD seed takes even longer to ripen than Mastodon, an Indica dominant, 50 day flowering period (also, unfortunately no longer available) hybrid. I'm not interested in putting up a greenhouse, so, what to do? I figured I'd try autoflower and see what happens.

This year, I'll grow Grass O Matic Med 1.0, purchased from Southern Oregon Seeds. Three seeds, 30 bucks plus shipping and handling . In my defense, I'll claim ignorance and I wanted to learn something about autoflower genetics. With my order, they sent 5 AK47 autoflower. Not that I wanted them but I'll grow one out to fill out my legal four. All are autoflower, Feminized. Not expecting pounds like last year, probably only a few ounces, but my use is really low so that's OK. The convenience of being able to harvest before the weather turns is attractive to me.

The MED 1.0 packet states 60 day life cycle and AK47 states 70 days. Seeds were started using paper towel method beginning on 5/17. By 5/19 all 8 seeds had germinated. I placed in loose potting mix over a seed warming mat in my barn. The plan is to keep them under artificial light in a warm environment for about four more weeks then set them out in the garden. If all goes well, should be ready for harvest at end of August before the rains.

QUESTION to anybody with knowledge of autoflowering plants. Should I keep the lights on 24/7 and then just transplant them or should I replicate the hours of light that they will see when they are put outside on or about 6/19?.

 

[Humanrob]

Another year, another grow. Last year, I grew Mastodon, four plants produced enough for about 60 years of smoke at my pace. Good smoke and am happy with it. This year, I'm not concerned about production and will experiment with something different.

We are interested in growing high CBD weed but photoperiod CBD seed takes even longer to ripen than Mastodon, an Indica dominant, 50 day flowering period (also, unfortunately no longer available) hybrid. I'm not interested in putting up a greenhouse, so, what to do? I figured I'd try autoflower and see what happens.

This year, I'll grow Grass O Matic Med 1.0, purchased from Southern Oregon Seeds. Three seeds, 30 bucks plus shipping and handling . In my defense, I'll claim ignorance and I wanted to learn something about autoflower genetics. With my order, they sent 5 AK47 autoflower. Not that I wanted them but I'll grow one out to fill out my legal four. All are autoflower, Feminized. Not expecting pounds like last year, probably only a few ounces, but my use is really low so that's OK. The convenience of being able to harvest before the weather turns is attractive to me.

The MED 1.0 packet states 60 day life cycle and AK47 states 70 days. Seeds were started using paper towel method beginning on 5/17. By 5/19 all 8 seeds had germinated. I placed in loose potting mix over a seed warming mat in my barn. The plan is to keep them under artificial light in a warm environment for about four more weeks then set them out in the garden. If all goes well, should be ready for harvest at end of August before the rains.

QUESTION to anybody with knowledge of autoflowering plants. Should I keep the lights on 24/7 and then just transplant them or should I replicate the hours of light that they will see when they are put outside on or about 6/19?.

I'm in a similar situation on many of your points. Thought about a greenhouse, light deprivation, etc., and after all the pondering and planning we're just putting them out and letting them go bare naked and natural. I'll spray them until they start to flower, but then whether or not they make it through will be up to the weather and genetics.

We ended out with two high CBD strains this year, first time I'll be growing those. When I purchased from OGS they had a special (spend $150 or more) and the freebie they threw in was Cheri's Gift, which IIRC has about a 1:1 THC:CBD ratio and a "45-52 day" flower period. I also bought some Cannatonic clones that I'm growing indoors in a new grow space, so I have no idea how that will go (probably 10 weeks on those). Late September I'll let you know how the Cheri's Gift does fully out in the elements.

We had a surplus last year too, I think I made 5 batches of ice hash. We're smoking some, but most is in the freezer at this point. If the summer crop fails or falls short, we'll tap into that.

As I've probably said too many times, I'm also tired of losing plants or not having them finish because of the fall weather, and in response to that as a back up I'm also going to grow a handful of autos for the first time (although none are CBD, I'll have to look for that next year). I got my autos from Southern Oregon Seeds also.

Here's to a good season!

 

[Humanrob]

QUESTION to anybody with knowledge of autoflowering plants. Should I keep the lights on 24/7 and then just transplant them or should I replicate the hours of light that they will see when they are put outside on or about 6/19?.

I don't have direct experience with this (yet), only bits and pieces I've picked up in the auto section of this site. As usual, I have not found absolute agreement on anything, and what one person says never to do another claims great success with. That said, what I came away with is that all plants can use some "down time", and running autos at 18/6 or 20/4 is possibly better than 24/0.

Also, I read a lot of talk that autos don't like to be transplanted... and then I read many accounts of people who regularly transplant them (at least when they are young). Apparently if the transplant shocks them, since their lifespan is sort of a predetermined amount of time any lost grow time is just lost growth. So if you are going to transplant them, I suppose be extra careful. I'm going to try and put my autos directly outside. I'll put the seeds in Rapid Rooters, and drop those into holes I've filled with good potting soil, and see how that does. I've collected a bunch of clear plastic 2-liter bottles that I've cut the bottoms off of, and I'll use those to protect the sprouts until they are big enough to hold their own. If starting them that way doesn't work, I'll let you know -- if you're not starting until late June, I'll surely know by then.

As far as putting them out, tomorrow the weather is supposed to get cooler (high in the low 60's) so I'm putting mine out on Thursday morning (05/25). I'm putting out single seeds of various strains. If for some reason some don't pop, I'll have time to put out others in their place. My goal is to have these finish as early in the season as is reasonable.

 

[Fogdog]

I don't have direct experience with this (yet), only bits and pieces I've picked up in the auto section of this site. As usual, I have not found absolute agreement on anything, and what one person says never to do another claims great success with. That said, what I came away with is that all plants can use some "down time", and running autos at 18/6 or 20/4 is possibly better than 24/0.

Also, I read a lot of talk that autos don't like to be transplanted... and then I read many accounts of people who regularly transplant them (at least when they are young). Apparently if the transplant shocks them, since their lifespan is sort of a predetermined amount of time any lost grow time is just lost growth. So if you are going to transplant them, I suppose be extra careful. I'm going to try and put my autos directly outside. I'll put the seeds in Rapid Rooters, and drop those into holes I've filled with good potting soil, and see how that does. I've collected a bunch of clear plastic 2-liter bottles that I've cut the bottoms off of, and I'll use those to protect the sprouts until they are big enough to hold their own. If starting them that way doesn't work, I'll let you know -- if you're not starting until late June, I'll surely know by then.

As far as putting them out, tomorrow the weather is supposed to get cooler (high in the low 60's) so I'm putting mine out on Thursday morning (05/25). I'm putting out single seeds of various strains. If for some reason some don't pop, I'll have time to put out others in their place. My goal is to have these finish as early in the season as is reasonable.

Thanks for the feedback. Right now, I'm using florescent light, 18/6 on seedlings that are less than a week from germination. I might put the seedlings out in a couple of days. I'll poke around the forum and internet to help inform my decision. From what you say, people get mixed results using the method I'm trying. What I'm trying is pretty much conventional for photoperiod -- start seedlings inside and move them out after a few weeks.

It will be interesting to compare notes. My seedlings are doing OK. It looks like one of the three GOM MED seedlings isn't going to make it due to damping off. One of the five AK47 autoflower hasn't risen above soil surface yet but it's been only three days since the seeds cracked and I put them under a thin layer of potting soil. Everybody else looks good. It's a tiny sample size but I'm satisfied with the seed germination rate and seedling health from CBD Crew (MED) and Southern Oregon Seeds (AK47 auto). The GOM MED 1.0 seedlings aren't growing as fast as the AK47 in the first few days.

https://cbdcrew.org/varieties/cbd-medgom-auto/

 

[Humanrob]

Thanks for the feedback. Right now, I'm using florescent light, 18/6 on seedlings that are less than a week from germination. I might put the seedlings out in a couple of days. I'll poke around the forum and internet to help inform my decision. From what you say, people get mixed results using the method I'm trying. What I'm trying is pretty much conventional for photoperiod -- start seedlings inside and move them out after a few weeks.

It will be interesting to compare notes. My seedlings are doing OK. It looks like one of the three GOM MED seedlings isn't going to make it due to damping off. One of the five AK47 autoflower hasn't risen above soil surface yet but it's been only three days since the seeds cracked and I put them under a thin layer of potting soil. Everybody else looks good. It's a tiny sample size but I'm satisfied with the seed germination rate and seedling health from CBD Crew (MED) and Southern Oregon Seeds (AK47 auto). The GOM MED 1.0 seedlings aren't growing as fast as the AK47 in the first few days.

https://cbdcrew.org/varieties/cbd-medgom-auto/

All good information, thanks for sharing that.

I got some colloidal silver and I'd like to try and breed some of the autos I picked up. I got either 3 or 5 seeds of each strain and I'll grow one of each this summer and breed from what's left (of the ones I like). True breeding seems to be about being selective and taking the best ones from as large a group as possible, far from optimal but I'm just going to work with what I have and see how it goes.

 

[sandhill larry]

True breeding seems to be about being selective and taking the best ones from as large a group as possible, far from optimal but I'm just going to work with what I have and see how it goes.

I was thinking about this today {as I was hoeing in the garden} A friend of mine will get 2 or 3 10 packs of four of five strains and pop every one of them. He tries to find the best male and female of each strain, then does several crosses. Lucky for me, he will sale a few seeds of each cross to recoup his costs. At about $1.50 per seed.

My seed making is more like, I have a male of this strain and a female of that strain. It would be good to have some more seeds, so. . .

 

[Humanrob]

I was thinking about this today {as I was hoeing in the garden} A friend of mine will get 2 or 3 10 packs of four of five strains and pop every one of them. He tries to find the best male and female of each strain, then does several crosses. Lucky for me, he will sale a few seeds of each cross to recoup his costs. At about $1.50 per seed.

My seed making is more like, I have a male of this strain and a female of that strain. It would be good to have some more seeds, so. . .

I don't have that much room, even in one gallon pots 30 plants wouldn't fit in my tents and would be over my "count" limit. I just want to accumulate a seed stash for my own use and bartering and trading. My first couple of years of growing was all from clones, now that I've grown some from seed, I'm on the fence about which I like better.

 

[sandhill larry]

I don't have that much room, even in one gallon pots 30 plants wouldn't fit in my tents and would be over my "count" limit. I just want to accumulate a seed stash for my own use and bartering and trading. My first couple of years of growing was all from clones, now that I've grown some from seed, I'm on the fence about which I like better.

I do everything outdoors, so it is a challenge. I have about 11 new strains I really need to try. That is before I try any of the crosses I made. I don't have time to care for that many, so I will have to make some hard decisions.

I do get a clone from a buddy now and again, but for the most part, seeds is my only choice.

 

[Humanrob]

I do everything outdoors, so it is a challenge. I have about 11 new strains I really need to try. That is before I try any of the crosses I made. I don't have time to care for that many, so I will have to make some hard decisions.

I do get a clone from a buddy now and again, but for the most part, seeds is my only choice.

There are so many strains out there now! And more every day. For the most part, for the seeds I have I want to breed them with the same strain and not make any new crosses. For instance I got a bunch of seeds from OGS, and having had a few emails back and forth with the owner/founder, she takes great care in making her crosses. I respect the work she's put into that, I doubt my F1 newbie creations would improve upon her stable lines.

Sometimes I wonder if they are like mutts, and after a few generations of "inbreeding" from one "pure bred" line it might strengthen the genetics to mix in something new... but I have no idea if that notion holds true in this realm.

 

[sandhill larry]

There are so many strains out there now! And more every day. For the most part, for the seeds I have I want to breed them with the same strain and not make any new crosses. For instance I got a bunch of seeds from OGS, and having had a few emails back and forth with the owner/founder, she takes great care in making her crosses. I respect the work she's put into that, I doubt my F1 newbie creations would improve upon her stable lines.

Sometimes I wonder if they are like mutts, and after a few generations of "inbreeding" from one "pure bred" line it might strengthen the genetics to mix in something new... but I have no idea if that notion holds true in this realm.

I want to do some of that too. With the bought stuff especially. I have tons of seeds from my strains, so no need to make any seeds from them.

I have heard good things about OGS. I second the thought that nothing I could cross up would be to their standards. But I have to have seeds to grow, so I make seeds when I can.

I like the mutt line of thought. My Jack Carlos Cross strains are like mutts, but they has been grown here in NW Florida for 30 odd years. It is sativa dominate and can get tall and wispy if not trained. But it smells so sweet and doesn't have a fraction of the problems I've had with new strains. I made one bag seed cross with it last season, Big & Stinky X CP1. I ran a couple of them in my Spring crop, and they did well. In fact I used one of them to make another cross, {Powernap X Sinmint Cookies} X {B&S X CP1}. I will run some of both of them, and see what they do. I will breed some of the other strains to CP1 too.

 

[Fogdog]

I want to do some of that too. With the bought stuff especially. I have tons of seeds from my strains, so no need to make any seeds from them.

I have heard good things about OGS. I second the thought that nothing I could cross up would be to their standards. But I have to have seeds to grow, so I make seeds when I can.

I like the mutt line of thought. My Jack Carlos Cross strains are like mutts, but they has been grown here in NW Florida for 30 odd years. It is sativa dominate and can get tall and wispy if not trained. But it smells so sweet and doesn't have a fraction of the problems I've had with new strains. I made one bag seed cross with it last season, Big & Stinky X CP1. I ran a couple of them in my Spring crop, and they did well. In fact I used one of them to make another cross, {Powernap X Sinmint Cookies} X {B&S X CP1}. I will run some of both of them, and see what they do. I will breed some of the other strains to CP1 too.

Off topic, sort of. How do you store your seeds and how long do they remain healthy and viable?

I ended up with about a cup of seeds from my Mastodon grow. I've kept them at room temp (until recently, between 58 and 65 F) but out of light since my harvest last fall. Now that OGS isn't going to sell that line anymore I'm thinking of setting them into storage until I need them but it could be several years. . .

 

[sandhill larry]

Off topic, sort of. How do you store your seeds and how long do they remain healthy and viable?

I ended up with about a cup of seeds from my Mastodon grow. I've kept them at room temp (until recently, between 58 and 65 F) but out of light since my harvest last fall. Now that OGS isn't going to sell that line anymore I'm thinking of setting them into storage until I need them but it could be several years. . .

I used to freeze them, but lost all my old strains when a breaker tripped in a farm shed {in the middle of summer}, and I didn't know it until months later. Now I just keep the choice ones in a closet. It's always 74F in the house. I do have my lesser strains {which I have lots of seeds from} in a workshop cabinet. I have them in small ziplocks, then all of the bags in a colored plastic jug. It does get hot in the summer and cold in the winter, but so far I've had really good germination rates.

But if I was really looking to keep them for years, I would go with the fridge or freezer. The freezer is very dry, so you need to make sure you have airtight bottles or bags to store them in. The fridge can be wet, so make sure you include a couple of those silica bags that soak up the moisture. I've used seeds 5-7 years old out of the freezer and had pretty good luck with them.

Since you have so many seeds, try a third of them in the fridge, a third in the freezer and a third at room temperature. Then ten years from now you can have a seed test, and see which worked best.

I have heard the very best way to store seeds are in the buds. I've never done this for longer than a year.