Preparing to Harvest Your Outdoor Crop – What You Will Need

Preparing to Harvest Your Outdoor Crop – What You Will Need

You are 3-4 weeks away from harvesting your outdoor crop. You have watched your plants grow from precious cannabis seeds into towering 2-metre-tall monsters. Before you know it, the time to harvest will be around the corner, and making sure you have everything you need ready will give you a much-needed advantage on harvest day. 

In this article, I will explain when the right time to harvest your outdoor crop is, signs to look out for, and provide a checklist of equipment you should have ready to make harvesting your outdoor weed plants as smooth as possible in 2025.

When Is the Right Time to Harvest Your Outdoor Weed Plants?

There will be five different ways to determine when the right time is, and when you combine all of them together, you will have a reasonably good idea of when the optimal harvest window is. Below is a short list of what signs to look out for so you know you are getting closer and closer to the big day.

The Harvest Date

The first thing to note is the harvest date provided by the breeder or seed bank. However, the harvest date is only a guide and will not always be the exact date. There can be reasons why an outdoor plant may take longer than the recommended date, such as its phenotypes, size, and climate.

Trichome Maturity

The maturity of the trichomes should be assessed using a magnification tool. When you can inspect your trichomes up close using a lens, then you will see if the trichome heads are clear, cloudy or close to amber. Typically, harvesting when your trichomes are 80% overcast and 20% amber is the ideal time.

Swollen Bracts and Calyx Development 

How big and fat your buds are will be one of the easiest ways to know if you are close to chopping your ladies down. Not all stains will produce dense and compact buds, so inspecting whether the bracts are swollen and stacked is one easy way to determine bud ripeness. If you notice mould growing on your buds, cut them away with scissors and discard the buds.

Resin Production

We all love frosty and resinous plants, especially when you can save all the high-grade leaf and sugar trim for making top-shelf hash. During the final 7 days of flowering, your plants should have resin forming on the smaller leaves surrounding the buds and, in some cases, on the fan leaves.

Pistil Color Ratio

The pistils are the hairs that grow on the buds. During the last 2 weeks of flower production, the hairs will begin to turn orange or brown. You should wait until the hairs are 85 – 90% orange or brown before harvesting.

What About Hermaphrodites and Seeded Buds?

420Seeds advises that Hermaphroditism in plants essentially means that the plant has both male and female reproductive organs. This occurs naturally, typically due to environmental stress, but there is also a certain level of genetic predisposition involved. 

If you notice that your plants have become seeded, then you can keep those buds for making hash and extracts. You do not want to be smoking seeded buds!

What Equipment Will You Need Before Harvesting

Below is a list of all the equipment you will need before chopping your plants down and bringing them inside. Ensure that you have prepared all items from the list below in advance.

• Hanging Hooks
• Disposable Latex Gloves
• Drying Net
• Isopropyl Alcohol
• Gardening Shears
• Drying Tent
• Carbon Filter
• Extractor
• Digital Hygrometer
• Small-Sized Fan
• Sharp Trimming Scissors
• Trim Tray
• Plastic Tubs
• Sticky Labels
• Humidifier 
• Dehumidifier 

The Optimal Drying Conditions

When drying your outdoor cannabis buds, you will want to try to create the optimal drying environment. Below is a list of the ideal drying conditions that will produce the best flower.

• Hanging Plant Dry Time = 14-21 days
• Drying Net Buds Dry Time = 14 – 21 days
• Drying Temperature = 60 Degrees Fahrenheit
• Humidity Level = 60%

My Final Thoughts

Preparing your drying room in advance will be the recipe for success and make the dying stage as easy as possible. If you find mold on your plants, be prepared to discard those buds, as they are not safe to consume. 

On the other hand, if you see powdery mildew on the leaves, then you should discard them as well, and under no circumstances make hash with them. Good luck harvesting and drying out your outdoor crop this year!

Feature image: This huge plant will need to be hung upside down inside a dry tent. Photo credit: Stoney Tark.