drying outdoor weed, outdoors, in Holland?

Hi folks;

I live in Holland and I'm growing 3 plants in a clearing in a nettle patch, plants that someone gave us. I'm a complete novice at this. They've been growing for nearly 3 months now.

I think they're starting to flower, but I've been receiving conflicting advice on how to proceed. So I have a couple of questions.

First, I've been told that once the buds are growing I should keep the rain off the plants. Is that necessary? I can build a temporary plastic roof over them if I must, but I'd prefer not to.

Secondly, the drying. Our buildings and outhouses are close to the road, so I'd rather dry 'on location' if possible. Reading online that the biggest threats while drying are bugs and fungus, I plan to build a cardboard box about 2' square and 3'-4' long, open at both ends but covered with a gauze or fine netting to keep the bugs out, with rows of sticks inside to hang the buds from. We have a pretty reliable westerly wind here so I plan to put the box on a table somewhere in the shade oriented east to west and allow nature to do it's work. Maybe spin the box through 180 from time to time for even drying.

Is this a sound plan, and do I need to build a rain roof for the plants?

I'm happy to post pics, can I link to imgur on these threads?

cheers in advance!

If your plants are starting to flower do not fret! Rejoice! It is a good thing, in 6-12 weeks depending on the strain you will be done with your harvest. I think that sounds like a fine drying idea, it should dry pretty evenly and slow like that. Remember you dont want them buds to dry to quick, you will get the dreaded "hay and grass" smell. The end all to a great harvest.

Growingforpeace said:

If your plants are starting to flower do not fret! Rejoice! It is a good thing, in 6-12 weeks depending on the strain you will be done with your harvest. I think that sounds like a fine drying idea, it should dry pretty evenly and slow like that. Remember you dont want them buds to dry to quick, you will get the dreaded "hay and grass" smell. The end all to a great harvest.

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Thanks for that. And what do you think about keeping off any rain until harvest time? Is that necessary do you think?

if you get heavy rain that you may think will sit on the buds overnight
just go out and shake the water off the buds

forgot to add its to try and deter bud rot or mold

tekdc911 said:

forgot to add its to try and deter bud rot or mold

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Thanks for the input, I'll leave them au naturelle for now and give them a good shaking if it rains.

toodle-pip!