To top or not to top when growing outside?

Ok guys, we're nearing the point where my (completely 100%) legal outdoor grow needs to either be topped or not and I find myself unable to decide. Topping (in theory) keeps the height down but that's not an issue here (and since I'm vegging for 8 weeks before putting them outside to veg a lot more, that's also possibly not true), and topping would result in a wider spread for the plants which *could* be an issue as they're rather limited by (non height) space and I'd much prefer they keep their arms and legs to themselves this time around to make it harder for rippers to access them (and to make harvesting a bit less maze-like.)

Thoughts? I guess after writing this out, I'm leaning towards all natural and seeing what the 10 plants throughout the rear garden give me.

Top everything early n often.

Are you sure it's 100% legal ?

TWS said:

Are you sure it's 100% legal ?

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Yup, I live in a free state and have a medical license, unless I end up with more than 71 more pounds from the plants I'm completely legal (state wise anyways)

A free state ?

Just knock them girlies sideways and make em grow horizontally along the ground like a fuckin vine. You'll get tops from every node on either side of the plant without ever cutting them. if you have the room, just low stress em IMO

I'd top these babes

but putting them outside now

will result in them falling too bud real fast,

unless you bring them in at night ?

an outside light may prevent that

but you still need to deal with the cold?

good luck

TWS: Yup, I live in a state where people are free to grow, possess, and use cannabis (recreational and medically)
MRS: Not a chance of going sideways, I have infinite height, but a very limited amount of depth and width (also I'd like to be able to get in to the garden )
Vos: We still dip into the freezing temps, and I don't want to do an outside light this year (it seemed rude to the neighbors last year but I had already planted them into the ground so I provided an extra month and a half of light.) This year they're being trained on 14 hours of light for vegging, and will go outside when we hit 14 hours of natural light (late april for this location), once they're outside I'll not top or do anything aside from support and guide the various branches in certain directions (and feed / neem)

if some look like they may get super tall i would probably top. i like a more contained bush that wont need a ladder or anything at some point . though i have had main trunks split; but if support is good i guess that shouldnt be an issue. what node do most people top at for outdoor initially?

Do you have height restrictions?

If not, it won't matter if you top or not.

TWS said:

A free state ?

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no such thing

Rayne said:

Do you have height restrictions?

If not, it won't matter if you top or not.

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Nope, none at all, really, there's more restriction on width than height. Last year in the garden the tallest of the girls was somewhere north of 12 feet (I want to say 14, but I never got out the ladder and tape measure) If it really doesn't matter on the end result that's a good reason not to do any chopping aside from taking a few clones off the bottoms.

stsin said:

Nope, none at all, really, there's more restriction on width than height. Last year in the garden the tallest of the girls was somewhere north of 12 feet (I want to say 14, but I never got out the ladder and tape measure) If it really doesn't matter on the end result that's a good reason not to do any chopping aside from taking a few clones off the bottoms.

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A few years ago I toped a sativa at the 3rd node and planted it outdoors it got 5 ft tall (before i killed it with fire) and looked like 2 side by side sadly it was a male

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stsin said:

Nope, none at all, really, there's more restriction on width than height. Last year in the garden the tallest of the girls was somewhere north of 12 feet (I want to say 14, but I never got out the ladder and tape measure) If it really doesn't matter on the end result that's a good reason not to do any chopping aside from taking a few clones off the bottoms.

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more tops moore meds.I top every plant at least 4 times and every linb.ky.

Do half and half I see which you prefer, I think that might be what I do this year