First White Widow Grow (Pics) When to harvest?

So this is my first grow and am unsure on how to determine when I should harvest. I've read that there can be many factors that contribute to the harvest decision. Some have said that the clear to cloudy tricomes signifies that a bud is ready while others just go by the color of the hair going from white to amber. It seems like some of the information is conflicting so I tried to take the best pictures to try an give everyone an idea of the progress of my plants. I read that the longer you wait the more of a body high the tricomes will provide, is this true? I prefer the sativa introspective head high as apposed to a indica body high.


Because of where I live I am limited to a 12/12 light schedule so the plants have been on roughly 12/12 from day one. They started from seed ~65 days ago (started germinating on 4/20). Until I saw some pistols I fed them a 1200ppm w/ a pH of 6.0 vegetation hydroponic mixture then bumped up the phosphorus and potassium while reducing nitrogen during flowering. I didn't keep that great of records but they've been flowering for about a 30-35 days. I have two plants one about 36'' tall and the other 48'' with equal development of buds.


Can you tell from the photos about when they would best be harvested? Should I wait another few weeks? I know I need to switch to straight water 7days before harvest to flush out the nutrients so I'd like to plan accordingly.


Thanks

Aloha Putill, I'd wait a bit longer they'll still put on some good weight and trichs... And yes, you'd probably want to harvest earlier for the effect you're looking for as opposed to when they are all amber (It has to do with the thc types converting as they mature). I'd recommend a good magnifying scope to see them with, although the zoom function on a decent digital camera also does the trick I recently found out. They sell some usb microscopes in the 30 dollar range on ebay that you could use to post pics with and let people chime in to find the perfect chop day with you for experience (most everyone tends to chop early their first time- some are impatient and never get over it- lol)... Also, don't forget a good cure makes alot of difference in the final product, I recently read a good thread to perfect curing if you have no experience it would be good to try as it relies on a 30$ hygrometer as opposed to your own senses which would not be trained yet. Google "the Simon curing method icmag"... Good luck and so far you look like you're doing very good for your first time. +rep dude

Putill - Trichy hit it for ya. Girls look great. Like Trichy said they need a few more weeks to put on weight and swell. I use a jewelers lope as I like to harvest at slightly different times depending on strain. Just ran some Jilly and took it to about 5% amber since it's such an "up" strain. Do a search on RIU for curing. In my opinion a correct (good) cure is as important as the grow itself.

Lots of really talented growers on the islands. You will learn lots. Just keep reading.

Hey guys sorry to steal the post but im ALSO growing widow and am worried about my harvest. They're more mature, and plumper than the pics he posted (no offense just using as great reference point. nice pics btw) but it doesn't have much of an odor or density. (smells like tea kinda) I cut it down a few days ago and it's now curing. I have a 1000w, ro water, regular feeding etc. The limbs were all falling straight over due due weight even though i have fans and a net. It looks too fluffy and I already know an 8th is gonna be like a whole ziplock lol. It had 80% brown hairs, and 80% milky trichs. I want those super dense nugs that you can't see through... Thanks all

ps putill, curing is EVERYTHING. Start reading now! And I'd give those beautiful outside babies like 3-4 more weeks because 1, they're outdoor, and 2, they look very white and not too dense compared to what it will be. =) (I also use a loupe 60x magnifying glass to inspect my trichomes to the perfect harvest time, but im still getting that down)

Agreed, weeks anyway.

Get a good mignifier, and go by the trichs.

Try these for a comparison. For a "cerebral" high, I'm waiting another week to 10 days.