Climate

Marijuana Horticulture

by Jorge Cervantes

Outdoor grow shows are dominated by climate, soil, and water supply whether you are planting in a remote mountain patch, a cozy garden in your backyard, or on your balcony.

Microclimates are mini climates that exist within larger climates. Maps are available of these areas. Many maps such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Hardiness Zone map, detail limited climactic boundaries. The map divides North America into ten zones plus zone 11 to represent areas that have average annual minimum temperatures above 40F and are frost free. Look into detailed microclimate maps for your grow zone.

Temperature, rainfall, and sunlight vary widely across the globe, providing unique growing environments and countless microclimates. Look for specific information for your climate at local nurseries and in regional gardening books and magazine or through the department of agriculture in your area.

Coastal climates like those found in the Northwestern United States, British Columbia, Canada, Northern Coastal Europe, and the United Kingdom, etc, are cool and rainy. Annual rainfall most often exceeds 40 inches and can be as high as 100 inches! Winter blows in early in these areas bringing a chilling rain and low light levels. The more northern zones experience shorter days and wet cold weather earlier than the southern zones. Growing outdoors here is challenging because the temperature seldom drops below freezing, which contributes to larger insect populations. Some of these cold coastal rainforests are packed with lush but invasive foliage and fungal growth brought on by the cold and damp.

Clay soil with a low pH is common in moist coastal zones.