I know that its messes with the hormones when you pick buds early(7 weeks in on 8-9 week finishing strains), but if its between that and buying another $60 eighth... My question is how bad is it really, and if you had to what would be the best technique; picking the little ones from the bottom which receive little light, or going for the ones that look the most mature?
i always took some early samples from the lower branches sometimes i would even pick them and put them directly into the oven to dry them. they didnt taste as good but got me really stoned. so you should try it ;D
Buy the eighth. I used to cut plants early and take "samples" but quick drying buds never seems to work. I tried every techinique from blowdryers to microwaves to ovens they dont work! youre still going to have to dry and cure it in order for it to smoke right so you still got plenty of time before you actually should smoke it. dont let youre hard work go to waste cause you rushed it. trust me bro when you cut it early and smoke it and realize you totally just wasted 3-4 months, its the worst feeling ever! sorry if i seem pushy im just really trying to spare you lol... but like i said having been there i understand the "im sure theyll be fine" mentality...
I have done this and yes the bud taste like grassy shit weed, but you still can get high. I personally do this as opposed to buying a sack it just feels wrong with all the dank in front of my face. I intentionaly leave a few bottom branches for this purpose only, I still dry it for a week before setting it ablaze, it still taste like crap but like I said it just feels wrong buying a sack. If you know another grower by chance you can always work out a front and trade as well.
I'm in wk-7.5 and and doing it, I dry with a technique I picked up on GC, I use a 40w CFL, the size of the bud you poached determines how long, 20 min is about average, tastes way better and smoother than any meds from the dispensaries. I like to roll a pc. of foil around it leaving the ends open and place in the center of the CFL. Start getting medicated bro, S.S.
I was thinking about testing my lower buds too.. then I got the if it tastes like shit i will have wasted those 3 months thought (as pointed above). find some low grade, you'll get a taste of heaven when you smoke yours.
To be honest, I cut about half the plant off one time and dryed it in my grow room. I cut the plant half way down. I left the rest to see if it gets bigger, which it did. The I made a wooden box with no top or bottom and hung it about 8-10 inchs about the heater in my grow room (I drow in my shed). Took 2 days to dry and tasted grand. They were cheap seeds so there wasn't much bud but it got me really stoned. Much better than the weed I can buy in Ireland.
He wasnt talking about a partial harvest so the rest would get light and ripen. He was talking about cutting some off so he can smoke it because he doesnt want to wait 2 more weeks for harvest time instead smoke 7 week bud And drying in 2 days is bad. Its far too quick locks the cells up and with it chlorophyll...bad taste. Shoot for a 7-10 day dry.