Harvest Time: A Tutorial

[fdd2blk]

please do not post in this thread until you see the happy plumber. thanks.



i've been trimming for 12 hours non stop so please bear with me.



we will start with ripeness. most people say to check your trichromes with 30X magnification. i have other ways. when buds are done they look "done". the appearance of the bud changes. the leaves start to hook upwards and become hard and crispy. the calyxes will swell and the hairs will turn brown. you can see a golden tinge to the bud leaves. this is the amber crystals. they start to turn amber on the leaves first.



not ready..........





ready.......

View attachment 29325




notice the difference? it's pretty easy to see once it occurs.

 

[fdd2blk]

now it's time to start cutting. i never cut the whole plant. i'm working with large plants so i don't want to bite off more than i can trim. i typically take 1 to 2 branches at a time. i start where the plant appears to be ripest. by cutting only one branch i can stop at any time. if i start trimming and decide i may be a little early then i just stop. i also do not like to EVER lay my buds down for prolonged periods. it causes the leaves to stick to the bud and becomes difficult to trim.


so i start with 1 branch....


i trim it down to manageable sized pieces. i find a lot of fatigue when trimming is from trying to hold up huge limbs while trimming. i like mine small.....



i like to leave little handles......

 

[fdd2blk]

i will be making hash so i do not want ANY fan leaves. only resin covered leaves are saved. so next i go thru the whole pile and trim all the fan leaves. any leaf that has a stem is remove. i cut the leaf stem back all the way down to the stalk. i don't like little pokers sticking out.....

 

[fdd2blk]

now we are ready to trim. i go mad. i like to get down in there. i use spring loaded scissors. any resistance and i back off on the snip. it takes awhile but eventually you can get a feel for it. i like to lay my scissors flat and trim all leaves flush.......

 

[fdd2blk]

now it's time to hang. i run strings where ever i can. from the rafters is working this year. i simply hook the bud over the string.....

 

[fdd2blk]

now we wait.......

i like to let the outside of the bud get crispy but not the stem. i like to start the cure with the stems still bendy. i let the bud dry until it is smokable. if i can smoke a doobie and it stays lit yet the stems still bend without snapping then i know i am at the perfect time. i cut all my large branches and buds down to small nuggies.........

 

[fdd2blk]

once cut down it goes into jars. the jars are then sealed and placed in a cool dark room. i let them sit over-night. the next day i take the jars from the dark room and open them. the bud should be wet again. if it is extremely wet i dump it out for a day. if it is moist but not damp then i simply leave the lid open for the day. at the end of the day i close the lid and start over. i continue to do this until the bud has reached the moisture level that i so desire. some like dry crispy buds, others prefer them gooey. once you have reached the moisture level you desire you can seal the jar and store. the longer stored the more the bud will cure. i like to leave mine on the somewhat moist side because it dries a little every time i open the jar to remove some. by the time i get to the bottom it is usually crispy.








it is a good idea to check your buds well before storing long term. excess moisture can cause problems.

 

[fdd2blk]

i think that covers it. i hope.




post away...............................

 

[Kant]

are those all branches from your tree of life?

 

[natmoon]

Very nice looking jars,i feel like a kid in a sweet shop trying to decide which jar is the best lol.
Lovely crystalized nuggets great posts i love the pics,im well into bud porn hehehe
P.S. cant belive someone posted into your thread when youd asked them not to,i also laughed when i saw you'd deleted it
I will grow some of your raft one day i reckon and cross it with my own shit and see what comes out.

 

[Kant]

When you said happy plumber i was expecting someone like this

 

[fdd2blk]

When you said happy plumber i was expecting someone like this

mine's riding a "hand-crafted" fdd horse.

 

[Kant]

since when do plumbers ride horses?

 

[starchland]

oh my bad i get it now happy plumber, nice diy.

 

[fdd2blk]

oh my bad i get it now happy plumber, nice diy.

it's okay.


thanks. i'll be at it for a few days so if any one sees anything i missed..........

 

[starchland]

next up is a long term storage solution...

 

[fdd2blk]

next up is a long term storage solution...

i've kept mine in jars in a cupboard or closet for over 9 months.

 

[natmoon]

it's okay.


thanks. i'll be at it for a few days so if any one sees anything i missed..........

Well i noticed that you dont sweat them but i suppose not many people do anymore,to be honest i dont even know if it really makes any difference to potency and flavour or not.
I will try some this time unsweated and my usual sweated and see if i can tell any difference

 

[starchland]

I guess as long as its air tight and dark and cool then it can last for awhile. also what about freezing or vacuum sealing?

 

[fdd2blk]

Well i noticed that you dont sweat them but i suppose not many people do anymore,to be honest i dont even know if it really makes any difference to potency and flavour or not.
I will try some this time unsweated and my usual sweated and see if i can tell any difference

sweating? please clarify. i can think of several different things you are thinking of. thanks.

I guess as long as its air tight and dark and cool then it can last for awhile. also what about freezing or vacuum sealing?

i've never tried freezing but my wife has a new vacuum sealer.