Harvest time determination- Hairs or Trichomes?

Harvest time is coming for my five outdoor ladies- I have been monitoring trichomes e/o day for the past two weeks. On two plants (one is a clone of the other) about 1/3 of trichomes are cloudy, on two others (seeds from the same bag) about 2/3 cloudy & have only have seen 1 amber trichome between the two of them. All look to be indica/sativa hybrids but that is the extent of knowing their genetics. Fifth plant is a sativa and is looks to be about about 2 weeks away.

Doing some research yesterday on another site (https://www.growweedeasy.com/) that is very helpful- a post mentioned to judge harvest by the percentage of hairs that change from white to red. I have always harvested using the trichome observation method.

Here is the issue- the plants with 2/3 cloudy trichomes have about 80% white hairs; the plants with 1/3 cloudy trichomes have about 95% red hairs. All have very plump buds/cola's that keep calling my name when I inspect them. Weather has finally turned cool (65F degree days/ 50F degree nights) here and leaves are starting to turn a little purple.

What is your preferred method to determine best time to harvest?

Lots of people seem to think the trichome inspection method is best. I personally wait untill basicley every white stigma is fully receded and brown. Also squeeze the buds every few days and wait for them to get as hard as genetically possible. You can even stager your harvest to let the undergrowth firm up.
I think looking at trichomes is overrated. Just my opinion.

Dont squeeze buds....

When they look done they will be, ignore trichs

Kingrow1 said:

Dont squeeze buds....

When they look done they will be, ignore trichs

Click to expand...

I just squeeze them when it’s an outdoor tree and I really don’t care about them. But yes don’t squeeze your AAA buds too often.

Thing is most people who look at trichomes are looking at sugar leaves and not the calyx.
If you wait til the pistils have dried and receded and you checked the trichomes they will be perfect.

Many of us dont even use a scope anymore. You know when it's done by the look. The buds will swell, pistols will die and recede, you will have swollen calyxs.... everyone now of days cuts way to early. Be patient.

Bobby Long Buds said:

Lots of people seem to think the trichome inspection method is best. I personally wait untill basicley every white stigma is fully receded and brown. Also squeeze the buds every few days and wait for them to get as hard as genetically possible. You can even stager your harvest to let the undergrowth firm up.
I think looking at trichomes is overrated. Just my opinion.

Click to expand...

I never thought to use the squeeze test- I did last night and the "red hair" plant buds are a lot firmer than the other plants. (Don't worry- I didn't squeeze too hard, just enough for resistance.) I will harvest those two when I get home this afternoon. No need to stagger- I clipped the plants when young and each has four long buds and limited bottom growth.

Ya its not just that ‘the hairs turned orange’. Its more that the ‘hairs have receded into the calyx and the calyx has swollen’

i check with those strains that just seem to keep throwing but otherwise as everyone else has said, brown and receeding, the buds even take on a slightly different colour.
majority on RIU seem to cut early. I can understand why they do especially in indoor. Extra week or two a cycle is an extra harvest a year.