Fact Checked by Doctor NameHarvesting is the process of cutting, drying, curing, and trimming cannabis plants when they reach maturity.
Proper harvesting maximizes the plants’ potency and aromatic qualities for consumption.
What is a Harvest?
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Cannabis harvesting involves identifying peak maturity in the plants based on the flower formation and trichome development.
Growers cut the entire plant down at the base, hang them to dry slowly, then trim and cure the buds over time.
Facility-scale grows may cut and process the plants in stages. The harvest window typically lasts 1-3 weeks.
When to Harvest Cannabis?
Most cultivators monitor trichome color and opacity to determine optimal harvest timing.
The peak harvest window is when the trichome heads begin turning cloudy white or amber and before they turn dark brown.
This coincides with the maximum concentration of cannabinoids like THC.
Sativa strains usually take longer to mature and have a longer harvest window than fast-flowering indices.
Outdoor harvests are typically timed for October before frost sets in.
