The Great Outdoors

[oragrow]

Since it took until early March for me to realize that none of the seeds I made are good candidates, I had a real late start looking for seeds from local producers. I feel lucky though, I did find some. I've already received my photos from Oregon Green Seed; Dream Catcher (a Blue Dream cross) and Willamette Valley Pineapple -- I have always been curious about "Pineapple" crosses. And I have a few seeds left over from last summer; LSD, and a the last few "Mystery" seeds that have done so well for us.

I also have three auto's on their way from Southern Oregon Seeds, it will be my first time growing autos. They list about 50 autos on their website, they still had a half dozen strains left when I got there. I went with; Mohan Ram, Blue Mammoth, and Dark Devil. Those are my backup, since they should finish nice and early (long before the wind and rain show up) without any light dep.

Speaking of light dep, I'm a little nervous about it. From what I gather the best bet is around July 1st, cover the plants from about 6pm - 10pm. I've read its better not to keep them covered all night, that just traps in moisture, which makes sense to me. It looks like it's going to be 9 weeks (hopefully not longer) of summer -- July 1st through the first week in September -- where I can't travel, even for an overnight. My wife teaches and does some summer classes, but will be off for most of August... currently she's planning a 3 week road trip without me, since I'll be here covering and uncovering the girls and unable to leave. That's a tough one.

I thought some more about planting seeds straight into the ground... and then I thought about a bird coming along and picking off my $8.25 (each) seeds, or a garden slug eating the baby before it even has a chance to establish itself. So I decided against it, at least this year. When I have hundreds of my own seeds that I've made, I'll play with them more, but for now the ones I've bought are too few to risk.

I see that you have a nice selection of seeds. Picked up Hell Raiser OG seeds from a dispensary that sells Archive Seeds in Portland or drive over to their store . Probably start a couple plants to finish in pots later this year.

Speaking of potting up seedlings, I use the seed starter flats then re-pot to 4" pots, after around 7-14 days usually see roots out the bottom, same for the 6" pot , after that 1 gal planters then in a week or two they show their sex.

 

[Humanrob]

I see that you have a nice selection of seeds. Picked up Hell Raiser OG seeds from a dispensary that sells Archive Seeds in Portland or drive over to their store . Probably start a couple plants to finish in pots later this year.

Speaking of potting up seedlings, I use the seed starter flats then re-pot to 4" pots, after around 7-14 days usually see roots out the bottom, same for the 6" pot , after that 1 gal planters then in a week or two they show their sex.

Hell Raiser OG sounds like a solid strain (Five Zero Trees seems very particular about the seeds they sell). It looks like it has a long flower time, are you going to run those outside or in?

I used to do a similar up-potting routine, but I'm trying to cut down on my transplants to reduce the instances of root stress, so recently I've been going from Rapid Rooters right into 1 gallon pots, and then from there into the ground or their final pots.

 

[oragrow]

Hell Raiser OG sounds like a solid strain (Five Zero Trees seems very particular about the seeds they sell). It looks like it has a long flower time, are you going to run those outside or in?

I used to do a similar up-potting routine, but I'm trying to cut down on my transplants to reduce the instances of root stress, so recently I've been going from Rapid Rooters right into 1 gallon pots, and then from there into the ground or their final pots.

Hi Humanrob, Yes, it is. Going to start them later this summer outside have free veg light, then inside and scrog I think .

It is a lot of work for sure, esp with large number of seedlings, teens.
Those seedlings are going to live outside in a couple of weeks or so.

 

[Humanrob]

Hi Humanrob, Yes, it is. Going to start them later this summer outside have free veg light, then inside and scrog I think .

It is a lot of work for sure, esp with large number of seedlings, teens.
Those seedlings are going to live outside in a couple of weeks or so.

Last summer I started some outdoors and then moved them indoors (to avoid fall rain), and had some major issues. We had such a long wet spring that I only got to hit them with BT once, and apparently that was not nearly enough. While late summer/early fall temps dropped outside, slowing down the growth and progress of worms on the plants that stayed outside, the ones I brought inside had no birds, no natural predators, and lot's of warmth night and day. That turned into a 'perfect storm' for the worms, and by harvest time one plant was so infested that it was a total loss (none of the ones outside were unsalvageable). I've heard from other growers that last summer was an especially bad year for worms.

It sounds like you are using a tried and true method you've done before, just sharing my experience in case it helps.

 

[oragrow]

Crazy about the worms,I never saw any. I did rely on natural predators from http://marchbiological.com/beneficial-insects/green-lacewing/ . having a yellow jacket nest close by helps. I will order from them again, 1 thing I noticed last year about marchbiological , placed my order for 14.75 and was charged 1,475 . I called and was told the he just started using a new software package where it doesn't automatically put in decimal points. I would just call and verify my order and the price. I did see the lacewings crawly throughout my buds wonder if I smoked any.

 

[Humanrob]

Crazy about the worms,I never saw any. I did rely on natural predators from http://marchbiological.com/beneficial-insects/green-lacewing/ . having a yellow jacket nest close by helps. I will order from them again, 1 thing I noticed last year about marchbiological , placed my order for 14.75 and was charged 1,475 . I called and was told the he just started using a new software package where it doesn't automatically put in decimal points. I would just call and verify my order and the price. I did see the lacewings crawly throughout my buds wonder if I smoked any.

Thanks for the link! I stick with organic when I find organic works. One thing someone pointed out to me is that we need to be careful about native and non-native bug species. Even with things like lady bugs and praying mantis, there are some types that are naturally found in our region, and others not. I try to get my bugs at places like Portland Nursery, because I think they pay attention to that stuff, looks like Brad is local too! Nice.

 

[Humanrob]

Each year my outdoor has been less from clones and more from seeds. It looks like I'll be growing 100% from seeds this summer. A few autos, and a bunch of non-feminized photos.

Periodically, limited supplies of seeds are arriving at OGS. I got an email (sent at 1am this morning) telling me that a strain I was interested in was back in stock. By the time I got online at 7:30am, they were out of stock again. But a few others had popped up, and the temptation was too strong, and now I have three more on the way. I'm definitely going to have to do some breeding, its the only way to justify this "investment" in seeds. If I get a good system going for selective breeding, this can keep me going for years... at least that's what I'm telling myself to take the sting out of the cost. A year ago it never occurred to me to breed, boys were a waste and I pulled them as soon as they showed. Times have changed, I'll adapt.

 

[sandhill larry]

I thought some more about planting seeds straight into the ground... and then I thought about a bird coming along and picking off my $8.25 (each) seeds, or a garden slug eating the baby before it even has a chance to establish itself. So I decided against it, at least this year. When I have hundreds of my own seeds that I've made, I'll play with them more, but for now the ones I've bought are too few to risk.

That makes sense. I did a handful of my Peach seeds on a gallon pot, then transplanted about 35-40 seedlings into a big patch. The first night something rooted up about 15-20 of them. I put 20 odd into cups and put out for my Spring Crop. Cold killed them all. Valuable information gained though.

 

[sandhill larry]

Each year my outdoor has been less from clones and more from seeds. It looks like I'll be growing 100% from seeds this summer. A few autos, and a bunch of non-feminized photos.

Periodically, limited supplies of seeds are arriving at OGS. I got an email (sent at 1am this morning) telling me that a strain I was interested in was back in stock. By the time I got online at 7:30am, they were out of stock again. But a few others had popped up, and the temptation was too strong, and now I have three more on the way. I'm definitely going to have to do some breeding, its the only way to justify this "investment" in seeds. If I get a good system going for selective breeding, this can keep me going for years... at least that's what I'm telling myself to take the sting out of the cost. A year ago it never occurred to me to breed, boys were a waste and I pulled them as soon as they showed. Times have changed, I'll adapt.

There is nothing like having plenty of seeds. It's a big stress reliever. Plus pollen chunking is fun. Lets you play Zeus.

 

[oragrow]

Each year my outdoor has been less from clones and more from seeds. It looks like I'll be growing 100% from seeds this summer. A few autos, and a bunch of non-feminized photos.

Periodically, limited supplies of seeds are arriving at OGS. I got an email (sent at 1am this morning) telling me that a strain I was interested in was back in stock. By the time I got online at 7:30am, they were out of stock again. But a few others had popped up, and the temptation was too strong, and now I have three more on the way. I'm definitely going to have to do some breeding, its the only way to justify this "investment" in seeds. If I get a good system going for selective breeding, this can keep me going for years... at least that's what I'm telling myself to take the sting out of the cost. A year ago it never occurred to me to breed, boys were a waste and I pulled them as soon as they showed. Times have changed, I'll adapt.

It will be interesting on how the autos turn out. Same here on OGS notification . For me it is a need to be sustainable to have decent seeds acclimatized to my yard and save $.

 

[Humanrob]

There is nothing like having plenty of seeds. It's a big stress reliever. Plus pollen chunking is fun. Lets you play Zeus.

I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to keep the boys. I have an option to keep them at my brothers, but he's got a busy life and has historically neglected plants I've given him (he also lives too far away for me to be able to participate in their care once there). I'm considering trying to put them in a tent inside, but I've had really bad luck bringing plants inside that have lived outside. I'm sure there are options I haven't thought of yet, how do you keep them separated?

 

[oragrow]

@Humanrob , I checked OGS and the seeds were out yesterday, in stock now. Maybe the same for you

 

[Humanrob]

I realized that if I do light dep as part of the master plan, then when the boys show and I take them to my brother's he'd have to continue with light dep or they could/would go back into veg (I think?!). That would be a problem, he's not set up for that.

So, the current plan is to grow two sets. One set will be in the ground, planted late, espaliered, light dep'd, boys culled and composted -- shooting for a bud-filled early harvest. The other set will be in pots, and 100% for seeds. I'll take the boys to my bro's and leave the girls here but just out exposed to the weather. Since they will be for seed from top to bottom, I don't think PM or some mold will really be an issue -- or would it? It would be a test of the OGS claims about mold resistance, in any case.

Reality check: would seeds be negatively impacted by late season mold on the plant?

 

[sandhill larry]

I realized that if I do light dep as part of the master plan, then when the boys show and I take them to my brother's he'd have to continue with light dep or they could/would go back into veg (I think?!). That would be a problem, he's not set up for that.

So, the current plan is to grow two sets. One set will be in the ground, planted late, espaliered, light dep'd, boys culled and composted -- shooting for a bud-filled early harvest. The other set will be in pots, and 100% for seeds. I'll take the boys to my bro's and leave the girls here but just out exposed to the weather. Since they will be for seed from top to bottom, I don't think PM or some mold will really be an issue -- or would it? It would be a test of the OGS claims about mold resistance, in any case.

Reality check: would seeds be negatively impacted by late season mold on the plant?

The Rotten Stinking Bastard was just that. Well, a bitch, but you get the picture. A real stinker that attracted worms then had lots of rot. Even what was too bad to try to save for cooking, I saved the seeds. I grew some in my Spring Crop and they seemed normal.

The Hurricane Head FP had a little PM. I did wash the bud when I cut it. It was only later that I found out about washing PM bud with a weak H2O2 solution. These seeds did alright too.

 

[sandhill larry]

Not sure about the light deb males going back into normal sunlight hours. If they were close to opening, I think you could go ahead and harvest the pollen. Just keep them as far away from your yard plants as possible while you are waiting for them to open.

 

[Humanrob]

A quick 'shout out' to fellow Oregonians, how's your summer grow plans looking?

@WV: Jetson @DG1959 @oragrow @Dear ol" Thankful Grower! @Organja @papapayne @jacbpdxpdx @Amshif87 @petert @slow drawl @Dr.D81 @stsin ...

I'm sure there are others, feel free to join in. I hope you're all doing well, and I'd love to hear your plans for the summer grow, if you're getting started already, what strains you're going to grow...

We had a bunch of Oregon-based threads last year, maybe some more will pop up before long?

 

[oragrow]

http://www.evergreengrowers.com/
Another local resource in Clackamas for organics.
thank you @backtracker

 

[Humanrob]

http://www.evergreengrowers.com/
Another local resource in Clackamas for organics.
thank you @backtracker

Another great resource -- thanks for that!

 

[Humanrob]

As the season grows closer and I contemplate the day-to-day ritual of manual light deprivation, I'm checking my commitment because if I start, there is no going back. I'm curious about what other people's experiences have been in terms of doing manual light deprivation? Is it the kind of thing you've done once but would never do again -- or maybe once you did it, it became part of your process and you'll never go back to stressing out about fall weather?

The current plan is that from July 1st - Sept 7th (+/-) I'll be pulling some sort of double-thick (?) tarp over a row of hoops every evening at 6pm, and then back off at 10pm. My yard actually has a lot of ambient light at night, between street lights and various neighbor's security lights and our own motion sensor lights. Since the plants will never know full darkness I'm thinking that if my cover is not 100% blacked out, it should still work. I imagine consistency would be the primary goal. I'm also considering starting even earlier, for instance getting the plants in the ground May 15th (instead of June 1st) and starting the light dep around June 15th.

The part that concerns me is the "what if" factor, like; what if for some reason I miss a day? Would one day throw the crop back into veg? If something goes wrong and they go back into veg, there won't be time for them to revert to flower again, so that would be a total loss.

 

[sandhill larry]

I don't think one day would cause it to re-veg. But I have heard you want to keep your times the same, or it might lead to hermie problems.

I hope you are home at those times. It would be tough for me to do. Since I work nights and weekends, I would have to dep in the AM. Non-optimal from what I hear. 2+ months is a long time to be tied down to a set time.

But then those golden arms cost like they are made from gold. Making an early crop would be nice.