Gradual harvest or the whole plant?

I think it depends on your situation. If you’re on a schedule to get as many flower cycles in a year, with a full room, you’re not going to waste the time letting the little buds mature. Why wait on grams when you could be growing more pounds! However, if you only are growing a few plants and want to get every gram out of them, then it might be worth while. Or if you’re growing multiple strains and do it to the ones that finish the earliest.

 

I prefer to harvest whole plants rather than a gradual harvest. Tried the gradual thing once and didn't find it to have as significant returns for the additional time required. Easier to have another clone ready to pop in the same soil, and then you get the benefit of turning all the undergrowth (along with trim) into concentrates or edibles! Win win, imo.

I also prefer to have whole plants when it comes to drying because my environment is difficult to keep in the humidity range that I'd prefer -too dry. Whole plants take longer to dry so the flowers don't get too dry too quickly. Whole plant hangs with branches tied outwards to get some air between the branches and flowers. A more humid environment may get massive mold or botrytis problems if they tried this so this is def individual.

 

For me, I SCROG and prune to an open canopy allowing light down to the lower buds some call popcorn. I’m harvesting the whole plant as usual for me.
The lower buds are as fat and sugary as the tops.
Saturday I’ll snap Pics before cut and a full length stem. I’ll show you this weekend.