How do you decide harvest day, by the color of the trichomes, or the pistils?

Hi gang,
My first grow is getting close to harvest time. I see different growers use different indications to decide on when to harvest: Some go by the pistils, others pay close attention to the trichomes. I have 10X and 20X loupes and a 30X microscope and I see the trichomes clearly. I don't know if I can really see slight changes in the trichones.

Here's a couple of photos from yesterday, day 38 since going to 12/12 light. I have noticed lots of calyxes appearing and growing rapidly in the last few days, can this be used to help judge the best harvest time?

Do these look like they will be ready in the next week or two?

Trichomes are the only real judge of ripeness of your buds. Check them with your 30x and look for the heads of the trichs to be clear/cloudy/amber. You want mostly cloudy with a tad of amber. I think you got awhile to go.

i recieve otherworldly visions showing me when i need to harvest.









https://www.rollitup.org/harvesting-curing/28072-harvest-time-tutorial.html












youve got at least 3 weeks left.

looks heavily seeded.

Seriously, it looks seeded? I got the males out of there pretty quickly! Can you tell me why you believe that, or are their other opinions?

Vanayakananda said:

Seriously, it looks seeded? I got the males out of there pretty quickly! Can you tell me why you believe that, or are their other opinions?

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the calyxes look huge, like they have a seed in them. though i have seen strains that have fat calyxes.

You are freakin' me out, dude!!! I have been sooooo careful! And it looks to me that there are already a ton of trichomes obvious without a microscope. Won't a plant going to seed production have much less trichomes?
Thanks again everyone, this site is invaluable!

Vanayakananda said:

You are freakin' me out, dude!!! I have been sooooo careful! And it looks to me that there are already a ton of trichomes obvious without a microscope. Won't a plant going to seed production have much less trichomes?
Thanks again everyone, this site is invaluable!

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no, a seeded plant will simply have seeds. it will be just as good, except it will have seeds.

your first picture on the top of the cola, pinch one of those big swollen calyxes and see if it has a seed in it.

I would often wonder when the plant was done till one early winter I found a very small plant outback that must have been dropped as a seed some how. It was small and had budded and was about to die due the cold weather approching. but one look at it and it was like a sign from God. the plant was ready and all you had to do was look at it. After all the time spent with a scope and looking at the hairs it was clear to me now. the plant is ready when it looks ready.

I have never took a plant before it was ready since that day. Its just that clear now.

bakeddude said:

Trichomes are the only real judge of ripeness of your buds. Check them with your 30x and look for the heads of the trichs to be clear/cloudy/amber. You want mostly cloudy with a tad of amber. I think you got awhile to go.

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Exactly what you should do. I say 70% cloudy and 30% amber. But that is just my preference.