Hi. I just moved to Michigan and am planning my first outdoor grow for next year. I have been growing indoors in, um, a different state, for several years now. Michigan is my home state and I held a Master Gardener's cert for 11 years while living here, so it's not totally new territory for me. This girl likes some sativa and this girl lives in a zone 5b area, which means frost can happen any day now.
With consideration to Michigan laws regarding grow enclosures my thinking is to build a fenced in enclosure which will be on the south side of my home. I will have to put up a privacy fence to prevent visibility from the west, but am otherwise clear. Being fenced or walled in on all sides, my idea was to add 6mil greenhouse covering when the weather cools. I should be able to hold off frost well into October. I can add a fan and venting once weather forces me to keep it covered 24 hours a day.
Even though we won't see less than 12 hours of sunlight until September 25th, my understanding is that the natural reduction in daylight hours will kick off bud development in August. Still, i plan to grow a variety- probably 2 each of 6 different cultivars in order to see what works and what doesn't, aiming for 8-10 week flowering Sativas, as well as a few indicas. And of course I will get a headstart indoors.
So, basically, my question is, for those with experience growing in the north - and maybe specifically with what i am planning, what am i missing? What can I expect? My biggest concern is bugs. But, having grown in only a controlled environment, I fully expect suprises.
Many thanks! Lia
With consideration to Michigan laws regarding grow enclosures my thinking is to build a fenced in enclosure which will be on the south side of my home. I will have to put up a privacy fence to prevent visibility from the west, but am otherwise clear. Being fenced or walled in on all sides, my idea was to add 6mil greenhouse covering when the weather cools. I should be able to hold off frost well into October. I can add a fan and venting once weather forces me to keep it covered 24 hours a day.
Even though we won't see less than 12 hours of sunlight until September 25th, my understanding is that the natural reduction in daylight hours will kick off bud development in August. Still, i plan to grow a variety- probably 2 each of 6 different cultivars in order to see what works and what doesn't, aiming for 8-10 week flowering Sativas, as well as a few indicas. And of course I will get a headstart indoors.
So, basically, my question is, for those with experience growing in the north - and maybe specifically with what i am planning, what am i missing? What can I expect? My biggest concern is bugs. But, having grown in only a controlled environment, I fully expect suprises.
Many thanks! Lia