I need help deciding if my plants are ready for harvest

[ShaunLR97]

I have been flushing the plants for about 1 week and half, the videos I've watched have taught me that I should have a 40-60% orange hairs but I've learnt that the orange hairs are just dead hairs that's been exposed to the light too much? Maybe BS?

So here are a few pics;

 

[PattyG93]

You do not go by hairs for harvest. You go by the color of the trichomes ( crystal) on the buds themselves.
Clear trichomes = not ready to harvest low THC levels
All cloudy trichomes= the highest level of THC your plant can produce. Some people would start to flush at this stage.
Most people harvest when the trichomes reach 75% cloudy 25% amber. Amber trichomes mean degrading thc levels that give you more couch lock.
By the looks of your plants they are not even close to being harvested. I'd stop flushing and feed. You should buy a microscope so you can get a good look at the trichomes. Hope this helps you.

 

[ShaunLR97]

You do not go by hairs for harvest. You go by the color of the trichomes ( crystal) on the buds themselves.
Clear trichomes = not ready to harvest low THC levels
All cloudy trichomes= the highest level of THC your plant can produce. Some people would start to flush at this stage.
Most people harvest when the trichomes reach 75% cloudy 25% amber. Amber trichomes mean degrading thc levels that give you more couch lock.
By the looks of your plants they are not even close to being harvested. I'd stop flushing and feed. You should buy a microscope so you can get a good look at the trichomes. Hope this helps you.

Damn really no where near? There autos and from seed both strains, Afghan Mass & Sweet Soma from 00seeds, take from 9-10 weeds from seed and it's been 71 days now, the thing is I'm on a time limit now too I need to finish the crop, fry and cure all within 4 weeks now

What makes you think it's not nearly done though? Also I don't have money for a scope at the moment so I can't use that method at the moment

 

[PattyG93]

Well I think they are not done just by looking at the bud. I've been growing for a long time and I can kind of tell from experience. Your buds just don't look very mature to me. If you can take a good pic of your bud and zoom in you should be able to see the trichomes better.

 

[ShaunLR97]

Well I think they are not done just by looking at the bud. I've been growing for a long time and I can kind of tell from experience. Your buds just don't look very mature to me. If you can take a good pic of your bud and zoom in you should be able to see the trichomes better.

Cool I'll try and get a microscope in the next days so I can keep a better eye on it

 

[Troy01]

If money is a real constraint you can get by with a 10X or 15X loupe for $5-10. You need to get down and personal with your bud (not leaf). You will see those beautiful Trich's. Depending on the type of high you want I would shoot for about 30% amber.

I've read about judging harvest time by pistols but don't find it very reliable. You are correct they change color from white to orange or brown when they dry up. Just eyeballing your plants you are probably a good 10 days off or more from flower. As others say the only reliable way to know is get in there and look at your Trich's. You would hate to harvest too early and loose 20-40% of the potential yield. After all the work you have put into your grow - have patience.

 

[Walter melon]

Yeah, if you HAVE to have those dried and cured... I doubt you're going to make that deadline. Those lady's need some food. At least another week before you start to flush just based off of the look of those. Seedbank flower times almost always about 2-3 weeks at least faster than the real world time frames.

 

[ShaunLR97]

Yeah, if you HAVE to have those dried and cured... I doubt you're going to make that deadline. Those lady's need some food. At least another week before you start to flush just based off of the look of those. Seedbank flower times almost always about 2-3 weeks at least faster than the real world time frames.

Good to know man I'll know for next time

 

[pastorbud]

always check the trics, go by them as everyone has said

 

[Troy01]

Once you get into checking out your Trich's with a scope you will be addicted. It's like taking a journey into a crystal cave.

 

[Marzbadrock]

If you have a pair of binoculars you can look through them backwards n put the eyepiece right up to the bud n get a very good look at the trichomes.

 

[Purkle]

If you have a pair of binoculars you can look through them backwards n put the eyepiece right up to the bud n get a very good look at the trichomes.

Did not know that! Good tip . Thanks Marz

 

[Marzbadrock]

Yep, works great. If they are adjustable focus binoculars it works backwards to, zoom in, zoom out and adjust for clarity. Rifle scopes work as well.

 

[Troy01]

If you have a pair of binoculars you can look through them backwards n put the eyepiece right up to the bud n get a very good look at the trichomes.

Interesting. Never heard of that before.

 

[Pyr0]

Fwiw, I'm currently growing an Auto Afghan Mass as well, it popped above ground on 5th Nov. So that makes it around 90 days and I reckon I've at least another 2 weeks to go. Now I've topped mine and temps have been low so I think that delayed flowering for a few weeks.
I never believe the seed companies. Just go by the trichromes.