A few questions getting better yields

I know this type of question is probably the most asked thing so I apologize in advance for beating this horse. So I am about done with my second grow. My first grow was fast buds autoflowers of tangiematic and six shooter. Both strains finished fast in 9 weeks from seed to cut. My yields were pretty small. I got between 50 and 70g per plant so nothing impressive. They claim 70 to 300g per plant. I am using COB's at 35w per sqft so I have plenty of light running 18/6. I also am using 5 gl airpots and Fox farms happy frog soil. For nutes I run the full line of Roots Organic. I did struggle with root ph a bit and what looked to be calcium deficiency. My second grow is of fastbuds autoflowers tangiematic and girl scout cookies. I am running the same setup, but did better with root ph and addressed the calcium deficiency . My yields look like they will be the same.

I am trying to increase my yields a bit. Any advice on my setup would be much appreciated.

This run I want to grow Green Crack and Pineapple express. I was thinking of running photoperiod seeds instead of autos. My big question is what breeder should I use? And when they claim something like 450g per square meter how long do you veg them to get that kind of yield? They always give a flower time, but what is the standard veg time? And if I am growing in a 7 ft high tent that max plant height could be 6ft when do I flip them to 12/12? And what can I roughly anticipate for yields with the height and veg times? I am trying to decide if it's worth it to go with the longer grow cycle of the photos versus the autos. Thanks for any help. Sorry for the long post.

I think if you build a super soil you'll get better yeild.

I think your max plant+ container height is 4.5/5' with 7' tent maybe a little more bc I'm not familiar with the light ( heat out put or light intensity).

Not sure about your breeder question.

I definitely think a photo vs auto is going to up the yield. But I don't know how long to veg that strain.

I don't know anything about growing in soil, nor am I familiar with Roots Organic. But, I would go with photoperiod fem seeds instead of autos so you can control the veg stage. How is your environment? Do you top your plants? You might want to consider a scrog - that will yield the most for your space. I wouldn't pay any attention to what the breeder's claim regarding potential yield or flowering times.

What are typical veg times? Is veg to half your max height a good starting point?

I haven't done any training because I read a few things thathat say not to train autos because they can't handle the stress.

they'll about double in growth over the flower period

That is correct that training autos is not worth the time. Their flower and veg times are hard to judge when one ends and the other begins so best to let them go all natural. I do agree with switching over to photoperiod plants at the same time. I tried autos when I restarted back up only to gift most of the seeds away I had leftover that were autos. Regular plants allow much more control over what your plants are doing and makes everything much easier in my opinion. From memory, the autos are not as heavy feeders though too, and this is a common mistake most growers make- over feeding. Really if you want more yield, switch to photoperiod seeds. The THC content is usually lower with autos too but I don't keep up with genetic breakthroughs of autos which do happen and they have come a long way in the last 5 years. Either way, have fun be safe.

Thanks for all the info guys. I really hope someone chimes in with some breeder advice. I just picked green crack and pineapple express because they are both supposed to be high energy buzzes which is my favorite. Obviously I would like a higher yield strain also. Is 4 weeks of veg time then the claimed 8 weeks of flower going to produce good yields? This adds 50% more time per run so I would need 50% more yield to make it worthwhile. Is that a realistic expectation for me?

If you want large yields, photoperiods, Topping/FIMing, LST, Mainlining and ScrOG is the way to get it. Basic LST is easy - you just top or FIM when they grow the fourth or fifth node, then you use soft garden ties to pull them over horizontal. See how to mainline a plant here:

http://www.growweedeasy.com/mainlining-nugbuckets

And ScrOG here:

http://www.growweedeasy.com/scrog-tutorial

Veg while scrogging and supercropping to keep the height down, when your screen is 70-80% filled you switch. See pics of my canopy here:

http://imgur.com/SCWZzvj
http://imgur.com/8VfhS7W

Those were taken last Saturday, today they are quite a bit bigger, with lots of flowers starting. I've been supercropping the fastest growing colas to try to maintain an even canopy. I may try to add in some undergrowth lighting as well, rather than doing the defoliation thing. Doing that would require me to lay on my belly and my fat ass is just too big for that.

TAGrows said:

Thanks for all the info guys. I really hope someone chimes in with some breeder advice. I just picked green crack and pineapple express because they are both supposed to be high energy buzzes which is my favorite. Obviously I would like a higher yield strain also. Is 4 weeks of veg time then the claimed 8 weeks of flower going to produce good yields? This adds 50% more time per run so I would need 50% more yield to make it worthwhile. Is that a realistic expectation for me?

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With good lights (which you have, I think), and good growing techniques its not unrealistic to get 1 gram per watt of light. There really is no "standard veg time" you veg for as long as it takes to get the plant to the size you want. I vegged my clones for about 60 days - but I did have a period of slow growth due to PH and nutrient deficiency issues. Once I got the PH straightened out, and got them on CalMag, they exploded. Without those issues, I probably could have flipped them somewhere between 30 and 45 days.

The big drawback with autos, is that when you DO have PH and nutrient issues it greatly decreases yield. With Photos you can keep them in veg longer to compensate for such things.

Ok. My tent fills the area it's in so I may not be able to go too crazy with the SCROG because I won't be able to water and feed the stuff in the back because I won't be able to reach it.

I have COB's from timber so I hope they are as good as everyone claims. 1g per watt of COB?

TAGrows said:

Ok. My tent fills the area it's in so I may not be able to go too crazy with the SCROG because I won't be able to water and feed the stuff in the back because I won't be able to reach it.

I have COB's from timber so I hope they are as good as everyone claims. 1g per watt of COB?

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A realistic goal to shoot for - very attainable with good growing techniques and plant training.

nfhiggs said:

A realistic goal to shoot for - very attainable with good growing techniques and plant training.

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What would be a very rough realistic estimate for veg time to get 1g/watt with training etc? 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 10 weeks, 12 weeks.

it just takes as long as it takes, in DWC back when I was able to veg id have big enough plants to end up with 4-5' tall plants within two weeks after the roots hit water, about three to four weeks from seed.

dirtWeevil said:

it just takes as long as it takes, in DWC back when I was able to veg id have big enough plants to end up with 4-5' tall plants within two weeks after the roots hit water, about three to four weeks from seed.

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Yeah I understand it varies. That is why I'm just asking for a rough estimate. Good technique and luck will make it shorter. Bad technique and luck longer. I just don't want to spend 12 weeks in veg and 8 weeks in flower to double the yield I can get in 8 weeks with some autos.

TAGrows said:

Yeah I understand it varies. That is why I'm just asking for a rough estimate. Good technique and luck will make it shorter. Bad technique and luck longer. I just don't want to spend 12 weeks in veg and 8 weeks in flower to double the yield I can get in 8 weeks with some autos.

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30-50 days i recon would be a guestimate. Each strain and grow is different. More veg= higher yield.

Remember a plant has to mature before it can flower and that takes approx 30 days.

I haven't grown in soil in a long time but three to four weeks is a pretty good veg period from what I remember, 12 weeks sounds like a lot unless you're growing big trees i would think. Keep in mind that's three to four weeks after it gets past seedling phase, not from seed

You say your fast buds weren't the greatest yields at a 9 week chop ?
All my fast buds recommended 70days (10 weeks) and that's obviously in perfect conditions ..

So basically how did you come to the conclusion "Done" at 9 weeks ?
Not being a nob just curious how you managed to finish them a week earlier then the breeder reccomendation

@TAGrows ive got a green crack on the go if ever wanna look , also it's my understanding from fast buds there Pineapple Express is a little sensitive to N so maybe something to take into consideration

Learn how to grow, that will increase yields. There's no magic advise. Take care of your plant and she will take care of you

the estimates you see on breeders pages are almost always for a sea of green grow under a 1k light, if you are using any other technique, or a smaller light, you aren't going to get their estimate.