by Jorge Cervantes

Step by Step Harvest

Step 1

Stop fertilization 10-14 days before harvest. This will allow plants to use built up nutrients in foliage. Accumulated nutrients in plants cause buds to taste like fertilizer when burned. If you use a “clearing solution” you can fertilize up until the last 3 days before harvest.

Step 2

Do not spray plants during harvest week so there are no unwanted residues on foliage at harvest. Sprays can also linger in dense buds, which may attract mold.

Step 3

Give plants 24-48 hours of total darkness before harvest. Growers who do this say the buds are a little more resinous afterward.

Step 4

Cut or pluck leaves and leaf stems a day or two before harvest. This will speed the rest of the harvest process, and it does not diminish harvest.

Step 5

Use pruners to cut plants at the base or remove one branch at a time. Cut branches into lengths of 6-24 inches. Do not remove the root ball, it contains absolutely no THC.

Step 6

Manicure buds right after harvesting. Trim off smaller leaves around buds that show little resin. Use small, pointed scissors to get into tight spaces in buds.

Step 7

Save all trimmed leaves in a paper bag so they can be made into hash later.

Step 8

Hang manicured branches from drying lines or place on drying racks. Keep temperature at 65-75F with the humidity at 45-55 percent.

Step 9

Feel buds to check for dryness. They should be dry enough to cure in four to seven days.

Step 10

Once buds appear to be dry, they are ready for the final drying or curing.