Effortless Outdoor: Plant Now, Harvest Later

A temperate climate, access to some wild outdoors and an adventurous spirit make the perfect combination for seeing what the cannabis plant is capable of doing on its own. With some luck and patience, you could turn a secluded spot in the forest into the most effortless grow-op conceivable to stoners.

Consistent yields, great efficiency and premium quality ganja requires attention to detail and a lot of trouble-shooting. The effort into making primo buds pays off, but it doesn’t acknowledge cannabis’ ability to grow and thrive against all adversity in the wild. For a great excuse to go out hiking in in the forest, this easy project could have massive returns if you find the perfect spot to grow.

Germinate some seeds in little pots under compact fluorescent or LED lamps with 18 hours of light and 6 of darkness. Once the pots become root-bound, the plants should be between six inches and a foot tall and about a month will have gone by. You might even see some roots popping through the drain hole on the bottom of the pots, a sign that transplanting needs to happen soon or else root-rot could ensue. Now it’s time to take them on a hike.

Pot plants need sunlight, but when it comes to planting small plants in the forest and not coming back to see them until they’re all grown up, your main concern will be providing a consistent source water. Don’t bother with fertilizers or irrigation; find a ravine or a deep gully full of brambles and thickets for your best shot at water and fertile soil. If you manage to plant them after the last frost but before Spring’s vegetation kicks into full force, you’ll have easy access to an area that would otherwise be treacherously surrounded by vegetation.

To make this simple grow plan work you need to have clever scheduling. Check the Farmer’s Almanac to see when the last frost is and germinate your seeds around a month before that. A late harvest might run into the first frost of the Fall, so make sure to pick indica or indica-leaning hybrid. These strains finish flowering in mid to late September so they ripen before cold weather creeps in. Don’t arouse suspicion by visiting the plants often. Visit them in mid-August to see if they’ve started growing white pistils and start counting down from then. 8-9 weeks later visit them again ready to harvest. The trichomes should be milky at the bare minimum but if most of them are still transparent you may have to give it another 5-7 days.

If you plant next to waterways even small amounts of fertilizer or synthetic pesticides can harm the aquatic ecosystem. Most importantly, try and leave the forest they way you found it. Not only will it help the plants stay hidden, but also an unpolluted forest is what allows you to safely grow a few plants to begin with, keep it that way. Happy growing!

Photo credit: Ed Borg Delta 9 Labs