Predicting harvest day - advice needed please

Hi there!

So, I am asking mostly with reference to my two autoflowers. Having past the breeder's stated harvest day (not that I was expecting it to be done by then), and the buds only just now starting to pack on some weight (they are, unfortunately, under 12/12 because I don't have a separate tent for the autos and have two monster photos in there too), I am now wondering when to do certain harvest-date-related tasks, such as upping the PK, and indeed starting the one week pre-harvest flush.

They both still have all white pistils.

What are the signs I should look for to give me an idea that I am 3, 2 or 1 week from harvest please? I understand how to tell when they are ready for chop, so I don't need that info, just info on predicting the date a few weeks in advance.

Thanks in advance.

I have struggled with this also.. Keep an eye on the pistils, I think, like you are... 12/12 may extend the necessary time to maturity. I am not sure. Wish I could be more help. Do you have any pics?

No pics I'm afraid. I was worried that 12/12 would extend the grow. I can cope with a lower yield as they are just freebies that I'm growing so I will have something to smoke sooner, as I can no longer afford to buy marijuana. Down to my last 1/2 oz so I've not smoked at all this week (first time with any days off for about a decade) in an effort to keep some in reserve as I've no idea when these girls will be done.

I could hazard a guess that the earlier of the two (a La Diva with a labelled duration of 45 days, pshaw, it's 50 days old today and all the journals I've seen of people growing it have said 60-65 days) will be ready in about 2 weeks, but I'd like to know how the experienced growers take the decision to begin the flush, as I'm stabbing in the dark.

I had already done a search, but some craftier use of search terms pulled up this https://www.rollitup.org/t/when-do-you-start-flushing.321338/

Basically, two respondents say to start flushing when the pistils start to turn brown / orange, as we had suspected.

Yea, as long as you still see white pistils I guess just keep her going.. I was ready to pull mine, but while looking at a blown up pic I saw that she still had lots of new pistils.. Autos present a special challenge in determining done-ness.

Thanks Sunny, this is useful to know, so I'm looking for ALL brown pistils before I flush, not to start flushing at the first sign of brown hairs?

I'm at 11.5 weeks and stillll have white pistils.. All yellow leaves.. I really don't see much happening so I will pull her in a few days..

Yes 12-12 will cause a small yield and prolong finish. I run lights on at night. Put autos in at night and outside in day. I said before auto trics are weird. If you have all cloudy and leaves are yellow finish them out with just water for a week and chop.

Thanks Da Mann.. I wish I could put outside, that's a good strategy. This may be my last run of autos. I'm not sure I see the advantage for my situation. I'm pretty happy with my yield though. More buds than I 've ever owned in my life I'm guessing a few ounces. I really have no idea what to do with it all

sunny747 said:

Thanks Da Mann.. I wish I could put outside, that's a good strategy. This may be my last run of autos. I'm not sure I see the advantage for my situation. I'm pretty happy with my yield though. More buds than I 've ever owned in my life I'm guessing a few ounces. I really have no idea what to do with it all

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I am sure you will find something to do with it.

I am of the opinion that if you have more weed than you can smoke before it starts to degrade (about 6 months), then make hashish out of it. It's probably the greatest privelege of being or knowing a grower, that you get to make the finest cannabis concentrates possible. If I could smoke only that, I would never touch buds again (other than to make more hash). Why smoke plant matter when you can have *just* the active content?

Thanks for the info folks. Shame I can't put my girls outside guess I will have to wait with baited breath...