Planning first Outdoor Guerilla grow...need some pointers and suggestions.

Hello everyone. I have a little experience and information from growing inside with my husband and I'm wanting to branch out and do something outside. I'm from Ohio and wondering when the best time would be to put my ladies in the ground? I have access to clones of a few different strains (Plushberry, Querkle, Sour Bubble, Dumpster, GDP, Free Leonard) and planning to put about 10 plants out in various locations. I'm thinking wherever I end up putting the ladies I'll probably be able to tend to them once a week (possibly more depending on location). I'm planning on trying to use a supersoil mixture with essential nutes. I'm thinking about trying to create reservoir by possibly pooling the rain water to some sort of tub in the ground (any suggestions or ideas on this or would it be unnecessary?). I'm trying to think pro-actively and would also like to know about any problem bugs or concoctions I may be able to mix up to prevent bugs and animals from hurting my ladies. I plan on taking cuts soon and vegging them for a few months before I put them in the ground (also should I put them in the GROUND or possibly keep them in large pots?) I'm open for any suggestions or ideas at this point. How much do you think I would realistically get out of 10 plants outside being a first time Guerilla Grower? I'd like to plan on around 5lbs so should I think of doing more? Thanks guys

5lb from 10 plants is possible with enough veg time, big enough holes, enough sunlight, and a little luck. You'll probably want to put them outside around May 15 since by then it is probably after the last frost in OH.

I'd say minimum 2.5'x2.5'x2.5' holes filled with a soiless mix (promix, sunshine mix etc) or the soil of your choice. Keep in mind, that is going to be quite a bit of digging and will require a lot of soil.

Rough estimate, cut clones begining of April. By mid April they should be rooted and mid May would be a month veg. The more veg time before taking them outside the better. It increases their chances of survival and the plants will be bigger before they start flowering late July/early August.

It's good you are thinking about this now. Gives you plenty of time to prepare and scout for potential plot sites. I'd recommend putting them in at least 2 locations so if one spot is found it isn't a complete loss.

Genetics are very important when growing outside. You want to make sure whatever strains you choose will finish in time and some strains are just more suited to outdoor growing than others.

I actually plan on taking clones in the next couple of weeks and they will veg inside with my other plants until I put them in the ground in May. It's going to be a lot of work digging but I'm up to it. I'm looking at spots at a few locations, but probably won't know what will be best until everything fills out in the spring and I can see where my ladies are gonna be able to get the most light without being seen. I have a few different strains and Sour Bubble and Dumpster seem like they would be the best candidates (I could be wrong, but they don't seem too finicky). None of the strains I plan on using go too long, but I am going to see if Plushberry or Querkle can do anything because I'm a sucker for some flavorful candy smelling weed. Hopefully planning this far in advance I can get it all together because I'm sure it will be a tidy sum for all the soil and materials I'm going to need. Just wanting to do it well so I'm not wasting my time and risking myself for something that ends up trash.

If you start them in the next couple weeks, they're going to be too big to move when May comes around. That's 6 months away.

Rj41 said:

If you start them in the next couple weeks, they're going to be too big to move when May comes around. That's 6 months away.

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So do you think I should wait and start them around January-February? I didn't even really give that thought, but my husband did mention something about that just a few minutes ago to me. I guess maybe I'm going overboard on the vegging because I just want healthy strong plants. Thanks this is the kind of info I want. I have been reading about ways to keep bugs, worms, animals away and some people say to urinate around the area...Is this true? Just wondering I really don't plan on trying to walk around the woods with my pants down lol. Anybody have a favorite way to keep the pests away? How often should I spray my plants for preventative measures?

I know I took some cuttings before harvest, but had to give them away. I just wanted to save some mommies for spring clones, but thy were getting to big, had to go, dont really have any way to flower effectively here.

super soil mix, and big holes is the best advice, a deer fence or similar is a big help. watch out for rippers, they got me for a lil bit this year. fukn fukrz.

Yeah they would be enormous if you started them now. Every guerrilla grow is different, so it is hard to say when you should start. If they are too big they will be harder to transport so you need to think about how big you want them and go from there. Lots of variables. I think that's what makes guerrilla growing and outdoor growing in general so much fun.

If you are going to be starting out from seed, I would start around Jan/Feb. Once they are big enough take one clone from each plant and keep track of which clone came from which plant. Once the clones are rooted put them into flowering. That way you'll know which of the original plants are female and they can serve as your mothers for the season. If it were me I'd flower those clones out and find ones with the pheno or phenos I was looking.

Keeping pests away can be difficult at times. A lot of people have trouble with deer. Unless you build a 10' tall fence around your plants, anything you do is just going to be a deterrent really. I've heard people say liquid fence helps. I don't have a problem with deer so I don't use it. For me, it's been small rodents like squirrels and chipmunks. They dig at the roots toward the base of the stem. I think they are more or less attracted to the fresh, loose soil so I've been digging and filling the holes about a week before the plants go out. Also hyrdated the soil too if it rains so that's less water you need to hump out or collect the day you transplant. I make my own spray out of cayenne pepper and garlic powder. Put about a teaspoon of each into about a pint of water and let it sit for a day or two shaking it periodically. I strain the solids out and load into a sprayer bottle. I spray all around the plants every time I'm out there for at least the first month. I've gotten it on the plants and it never seemed to cause any damage. If anything would take a nibble out of one of those leaves would get a mouth full of cayenne and garlic. Urinating around them is a myth. If I gotta go when I'm out there I usually do, but I don't do it specifically.

With bugs, prevention is the name of the game. I've used Safer 3 in 1 with pretty good results. I think it's most important early on when they can't handle losing a lot of foliage as well. You can never seem to stop bugs completely, so it's more about keeping damage to a minimum. I usually spray them about once a week or after it rains since it washed away fairly easily.

Hi MaryJ

First, and most important, are those strains going to ripen fully in your area? I checked out the Plushberry and it does not give an outdoor harvest date, but one of the descriptions does say indoor/outdoor, but no actual harvest date, or even harvest month.

Has anyone grown any of those strains outdoors locally? Find out which of your strains will finish and concentrate on those strains. Test the other strains by putting a few of them in containers just to test the outdoor harvest date. If they ripen properly, then the extra smoke is just gravy, and you can grow them full size next season.

I just do not want to see you put in all of that hard work, and then have the frost and the fall weather decimate your garden at the very end...that really hurts. I know because I have been there when I first started outdoors years ago growing northern california strains in northern illinois.

Good Luck

Vinnie Kaz

MaryJsmoke said:

So do you think I should wait and start them around January-February? I didn't even really give that thought, but my husband did mention something about that just a few minutes ago to me. I guess maybe I'm going overboard on the vegging because I just want healthy strong plants. Thanks this is the kind of info I want. I have been reading about ways to keep bugs, worms, animals away and some people say to urinate around the area...Is this true? Just wondering I really don't plan on trying to walk around the woods with my pants down lol. Anybody have a favorite way to keep the pests away? How often should I spray my plants for preventative measures?

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You are roughly at the same latitude as I am. If you put plants in the ground in May, you're asking for trouble. Insects are my worst enemy when planting that early, so now I don't. Plus, if you wait until June all of the tree leaves will have filled in. I learned this one the hard way, that nice sunny spot in May wasn't so sunny in June my first grow up North. Look for tree lines and plant on the South side of them to shelter in the Fall from storms as well. Also, I noticed you mentioned vegging for 3 months prior to transplanting...you might want to re-think that unless you intend on hauling very large plants to your final sites. I break seed around April 1st and put in the first week of June or even a bit later. Guerrilla grows are a lot of work, I'm only planning on maybe 6 plants next Summer. I avoid planting near water sources intentionally due to 2 legged creatures, so every year I wind up hauling water in the heat for at least one stretch. Soil preparation is a must, or your final product may look and smell great...but you'll be disappointed with the THC levels.

Good luck!

vinniekaz said:

Hi MaryJ

First, and most important, are those strains going to ripen fully in your area? I checked out the Plushberry and it does not give an outdoor harvest date, but one of the descriptions does say indoor/outdoor, but no actual harvest date, or even harvest month.

Has anyone grown any of those strains outdoors locally? Find out which of your strains will finish and concentrate on those strains. Test the other strains by putting a few of them in containers just to test the outdoor harvest date. If they ripen properly, then the extra smoke is just gravy, and you can grow them full size next season.

I just do not want to see you put in all of that hard work, and then have the frost and the fall weather decimate your garden at the very end...that really hurts. I know because I have been there when I first started outdoors years ago growing northern california strains in northern illinois.

Good Luck

Vinnie Kaz

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Thanks for the info and thoughts. Inside the Plushberry and Querkle seem to go for about 52-56 days I think. Although the sour bubble produces a lot and seems to be pretty resistant to issues I think the pheno we have goes for around 60-65 days. I can definately order seeds and have done so before with great result. Does anyone have any suggestions of seeds good for outdoor? I think I might like a kush...I also like the girly fruity weed if anyone knows a good one.

Sunbiz1 said:

You are roughly at the same latitude as I am. If you put plants in the ground in May, you're asking for trouble. Insects are my worst enemy when planting that early, so now I don't. Plus, if you wait until June all of the tree leaves will have filled in. I learned this one the hard way, that nice sunny spot in May wasn't so sunny in June my first grow up North. Look for tree lines and plant on the South side of them to shelter in the Fall from storms as well. Also, I noticed you mentioned vegging for 3 months prior to transplanting...you might want to re-think that unless you intend on hauling very large plants to your final sites. I break seed around April 1st and put in the first week of June or even a bit later. Guerrilla grows are a lot of work, I'm only planning on maybe 6 plants next Summer. I avoid planting near water sources intentionally due to 2 legged creatures, so every year I wind up hauling water in the heat for at least one stretch. Soil preparation is a must, or your final product may look and smell great...but you'll be disappointed with the THC levels.

Good luck!

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Thanks so much for the suggestions. I will make sure I try to time transplanting until after the trees fill out so I can make sure my ladies get enough sun. I'm seeing now that starting them right now is definitely too soon and they would be much too big to get anywhere. I've thought about maybe gathering rain water with a tarp and redirecting it to some sort of reservoir...anybody think this is a good, bad, unnecessary idea?...would it attract animals? I know it's going to be a lot of work and I probably won't get what I would like, but I think in the end if I produce a decent amount of good weed...i'll be happy and feel a sense of fulfillment and hopefully do even better the next time

MaryJsmoke said:

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I will make sure I try to time transplanting until after the trees fill out so I can make sure my ladies get enough sun. I'm seeing now that starting them right now is definitely too soon and they would be much too big to get anywhere. I've thought about maybe gathering rain water with a tarp and redirecting it to some sort of reservoir...anybody think this is a good, bad, unnecessary idea?...would it attract animals? I know it's going to be a lot of work and I probably won't get what I would like, but I think in the end if I produce a decent amount of good weed...i'll be happy and feel a sense of fulfillment and hopefully do even better the next time

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Nothing beats growing your own, something most of us dreamed about when we were all in High school etc. A few years ago I became overzealous in January and popped a ton of beans, like about 50!. I thought I could slow them all down a bit, by May I was giving them away. Which was a good thing b/c I would have needed a pack mule of some sort to haul water. If you're considering an open tarp, I'll assume you have no concerns about discovery/theft?. If that's the case, you can do soil prep up until the ground freezes...now is a good time actually.

Prolly not what u wanna hear but heres my input. Stik to indoor I'm not to far from u n i got busted with planting small gardens(less than 10) plants no larger than 6 ft. Its insane the tech leo uses for tracking growers: ground sensors, motion cams, n they dont just chop em down n go now they wait til almost harvest n bust ya. So unless ur medical don't do it. Hate to see a fellow grower busted, check out the outdoor journals if ya don't beleive me you wont find many finished with smoke reports, unless they're in Cali or other med state.

taekwondoguy said:

Prolly not what u wanna hear but heres my input. Stik to indoor I'm not to far from u n i got busted with planting small gardens(less than 10) plants no larger than 6 ft. Its insane the tech leo uses for tracking growers: ground sensors, motion cams, n they dont just chop em down n go now they wait til almost harvest n bust ya. So unless ur medical don't do it. Hate to see a fellow grower busted, check out the outdoor journals if ya don't beleive me you wont find many finished with smoke reports, unless they're in Cali or other med state.

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How exactly did they catch you? Did they stake out the grow? Could be days, if not weeks until you came back. More details if you don't mind.

taekwondoguy said:

Prolly not what u wanna hear but heres my input. Stik to indoor I'm not to far from u n i got busted with planting small gardens(less than 10) plants no larger than 6 ft. Its insane the tech leo uses for tracking growers: ground sensors, motion cams, n they dont just chop em down n go now they wait til almost harvest n bust ya. So unless ur medical don't do it. Hate to see a fellow grower busted, check out the outdoor journals if ya don't beleive me you wont find many finished with smoke reports, unless they're in Cali or other med state.

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Ground sensors and motion cams?, having a hard time buying that one.

I had parked my truck for few hours while i was scouting spots for a few hours on a gravel road. Just so happened ranger came by as i was leaving, asked me if i was ok and thought i might've broke down. I said no just checkn 4 cell signal(i had my phone out n he caught me by suprise while i was warming up truck) n he said ok jus checkn n went on. Keep in mind this was 2-3 months before i put any out. Afterwards i NEVER parked my truck or anything just had best friend drop me off n pick me up. Same guy(didn't knnow that at time) pulled over my friend in truck on way to pick me up 4 tail light out june/july. Come harvest time after my 2nd round of cutting some down, i have backpack full of freshcut 3 plants get pulled over by one and another 2 car n truck comes up immeduiately after. I first think ok just stay calm we used turn signals n stopped at stop sign, but they come out guns drawn. After we get out we talk they seperate us n ask tons of shit they tell me that shit about ground sensors and they got video. Didn't really beleive em at first but they told me what i'd been wearing last time and what days they had on motion sensors that sent them time and date evertime i went out there(watch boarder wars they use same shit). And y would i be tryna bullshit ya? ya can take my advice or not, its not gonna do me any good. Ya can easily grow enough indoors(much easier than geurilla too ur personal use).

somae thing i use to make sure i dont get my stuff s tolen....... first never enter on the same path never go on goverment land. sec walk tell you cant walk anyfather. one of my best spots is 40 yd from a road. i walk in from anohter road over 2 miles away. just because i dont have to park my car near buy. and always take something with you. fishing pole book about mushrooms hunting camera something as a cover. and if you do get caught dont deny it. just tell them i was out hiking found this shit. times are tough i saw dollar signs i m losing my house havvnt eatin in 2 days. i thought it was the answer to my prayers. thwere not going to let you go. but it will get out of some of the charges. and you gotta go to a jury good luck

taekwondoguy said:

I had parked my truck for few hours while i was scouting spots for a few hours on a gravel road. Just so happened ranger came by as i was leaving, asked me if i was ok and thought i might've broke down. I said no just checkn 4 cell signal(i had my phone out n he caught me by suprise while i was warming up truck) n he said ok jus checkn n went on. Keep in mind this was 2-3 months before i put any out. Afterwards i NEVER parked my truck or anything just had best friend drop me off n pick me up. Same guy(didn't knnow that at time) pulled over my friend in truck on way to pick me up 4 tail light out june/july. Come harvest time after my 2nd round of cutting some down, i have backpack full of freshcut 3 plants get pulled over by one and another 2 car n truck comes up immeduiately after. I first think ok just stay calm we used turn signals n stopped at stop sign, but they come out guns drawn. After we get out we talk they seperate us n ask tons of shit they tell me that shit about ground sensors and they got video. Didn't really beleive em at first but they told me what i'd been wearing last time and what days they had on motion sensors that sent them time and date evertime i went out there(watch boarder wars they use same shit). And y would i be tryna bullshit ya? ya can take my advice or not, its not gonna do me any good. Ya can easily grow enough indoors(much easier than geurilla too ur personal use).

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So who went to jail?. Some have children here and such and cannot afford the risk of growing in their own homes. Why were you growing somewhere where rangers patrol to begin with?...sounds like you were in a National Forest near the Mexican border. You were probably spotted planting by someone w/binoculars, then the little camera went into a tree.

First rule when scoping sites etc, always have a concrete reason for being there in the first place. Your best friend should be a camera, you are a nature lover taking photos at all times. Your second mistake was not booby trapping the grow, not the ones intended to cause injuries(never a good idea)but rather to detect if anyone has approached the plants. I like to use branches I place at certain angles that have to moved to get through to my ladies. They never think to place them in their exact spots upon leaving. Another rule, never plant near water, no matter how tempting it is. Water inevitably attracts fishermen and other unwanted 2 legged-creatures.

taekwondoguy said:

I had parked my truck for few hours while i was scouting spots for a few hours on a gravel road. Just so happened ranger came by as i was leaving, asked me if i was ok and thought i might've broke down. I said no just checkn 4 cell signal(i had my phone out n he caught me by suprise while i was warming up truck) n he said ok jus checkn n went on. Keep in mind this was 2-3 months before i put any out. Afterwards i NEVER parked my truck or anything just had best friend drop me off n pick me up. Same guy(didn't knnow that at time) pulled over my friend in truck on way to pick me up 4 tail light out june/july. Come harvest time after my 2nd round of cutting some down, i have backpack full of freshcut 3 plants get pulled over by one and another 2 car n truck comes up immeduiately after. I first think ok just stay calm we used turn signals n stopped at stop sign, but they come out guns drawn. After we get out we talk they seperate us n ask tons of shit they tell me that shit about ground sensors and they got video. Didn't really beleive em at first but they told me what i'd been wearing last time and what days they had on motion sensors that sent them time and date evertime i went out there(watch boarder wars they use same shit). And y would i be tryna bullshit ya? ya can take my advice or not, its not gonna do me any good. Ya can easily grow enough indoors(much easier than geurilla too ur personal use).

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Well that's a terrible thing to have happen man. What kind of charges are you looking at? I feel much safer overall than having it in my own home though.

My question is did you actually SEE these alleged tapes? Police do that kind of stuff all the time in order to draw out a confession. Say they have DNA, fingerprints, video, etc, when they really don't. They are under no obligation to be honest with you with, well, about pretty much anything. Yes you were still caught with a backpack full of fresh pot, but without confessing to planting and growing those plants your lawyer might have been able to work a slightly better deal for you. He probably already told you that though. Either way they were staking you out. I'd be more concerned with the friend and his part in all this. I dunno, it just seems like every stroy hear about someone getting made or even getting ripped had a "partner."

Don't mean to be giving you the grand inquisition here, just saying...

i hunt in ohio. those rangers are crafty. i went in to a spot one time at 430am. came out for lunch and went back tell dark came out late it was a far walk. then the next morning when i came out for lunch there where 10 rangers about to come in. they said they marked my tires with chaulk to check if it moved. i didnt drive far and the chaulk was in the same spot. they thought i was laost for a few days. they will also watch people in the chops out there from far away with spotting scopes. i would never go on goverment land. a chop is a large lumber off area. ohio is full of them. and the govermnet watchs them. and watchs the traffic on the road. like i said i would never plant hear. some people do ok but they dont park they walk from there house for hours. or bike also coming out at your truck isnt a good idea walk up the road. i have had a few hiding in the bush next to my car. to amubush me. i always leave my pack in the woods down the road and pick it up later.