How do you know when to harvest?

[DesertPlants]

This is my first grow. I have been working long and hard on this and I want to make sure I harvest at the right time. So, how do I know when to actually harvest?

I am growing white widow. Just one plant. The pictures below show what she looks like now. She has been in flowering since August 19th.

 

[kraw420]

The best and most accurate way of knowing when your plants have reached peak maturity and are ready for harvest is by trichome colour. Do you have a 30x-60x microscope or jewelers loupe? If not it is very hard to do this without one. It requires high magnification to see the tiny trichome heads colours. When the trichomes are clear, this means they are undeveloped and immature. When the trichome color turns milky/cloudy, this means the trichome has reached its peak potency, when the trichome heads start turning from amber, to dark brown to black, is when you need to pay attention. Black trichomes means the trichomes mturity has passed and the THC has degraded. Amber means its still within maturity but for not much longer. I personally aim to harvest at a 10% amber 90% cloudy/milky for a more energetic, head cerebreal high, If you enjoy the more body stone, couch locking buzz, you would aim for more of a 50/50 mixture of amber to milky. I do not recommend going past a 50/50 mix as THC will be degrading daily from this point on.
Pistil colour is not a accurate way to gauge maturity and harvest times so I do not recommend that.
https://www.420magazine.com/gallery/data/500/when-to-harvest_1_.jpg

I should add thats trichomes are constantly forming and growing, maturing and degrading. Due to this you will never get say, 100% Milky/Cloudy trichomes, you will always notice new spots developing.
Always gauge trichome colour on the section of the BUD, do not gauge colour on the fan leaves as they seem to mature earlier than the bud.

 

[kraw420]

Please check out the following section, great read for beginners and it has just about everything you will need to know to get going.
From how to grow, to grow room design and set-up, odor control, lighting, nutrients, harvesting, curing, everything.

How to Grow Marijuana Everything You Need to Know

 

[DesertPlants]

Thank you both.

 

[Four20KusH]

The first sign of amber and the plants are done for me and no more then 10% amber.

 

[Hiddenkoncept]

Still looks a bit early to me, pretty sure white widow needs between 8-10 weeks of flowering but depends in which white widow you have.

Like kraw said get the jewelers loupe and wait until they are all a nice milky colour!
Well done so far on your first grow

 

[OldSkunkman]

Use a microscope 60x, it does not cost much. this is really helpful.you can find one on the internet

 

[Hiddenkoncept]

I paid £4 online for mine, I use it all the time. Even when buying bud from locals, I break out my loupe to see if its early or not