Live in a legal state and like the occasional toke? There’s never been a better time to get yourself some weed seeds for outdoor growing. Read on and learn how to grow weed in a garden.
WHY SHOULD YOU GROW CANNABIS IN YOUR BACKYARD?
Cannabis legalization means home growers are finally stepping into the light, free to cultivate their plants as nature intended. If you’ve been wondering ‘can you grow weed in your backyard?” the answer is most certainly yes.
So why grow weed outside instead of indoors? Here are some of the many benefits.
COST
One of the main benefits of growing weed plants in your backyard is the reduced cost compared to indoor cultivation. The sun provides all the energy necessary, eliminating the cost of electricity spent on lighting.
YIELD
Indoor cannabis is limited by the height of your area, meaning plants only get so big. Growing weed in your backyard provides enough space to raise humongous specimens in optimal conditions.
ENVIRONMENT
Growing weed outdoors is all-natural and uses the sun’s rays. Indoor setups consume lots of electricity, negatively impacting the environment.
WELLNESS
Growing weed outside is also good for your body. Gardening gets you up and moving under the sun. As well as being great exercise, gardening relieves stress, calms nerves, and boosts your mood.
PLANNING AND PLANTING
Ready to learn how to grow weed in your garden? Read on for all the important info.
Growing weed outdoors isn’t any harder than raising tomatoes or other fruit-bearing crops. While it all boils down to a few simple principles, here are a few factors to consider before getting started.
MEDIUM
This is what you plant your seeds in. People usually grow cannabis outdoors in soil.
While it’s possible to plant directly in the ground, it’s not always the best idea. Your local soil may not be optimal for cannabis cultivation, and there’s also the risk of pre-existing pathogens.
Pathogens are bugs, viruses, or fungi that attack plants through the root system. To avoid these potential problems and provide your plants with a suitable medium, it’s best to use rich, sterile soil.
Cannabis thrives in loamy soil, a mix of sand, silt, and clay. You’ll find loamy potting soil in your local garden center, or experienced gardeners may make it themselves.
POTS
Use 5–10 gallon pots. Avoid ones made of heavy clay or terracotta. They absorb a lot of heat from the sun, which dries out your plants’ root systems. They’re also difficult to move.
Plastic pots are better but still heat up in direct sunlight. The best option is to use fabric ones. These stay cool, drain well, and provide superior airflow to the roots.
STRAIN
Cannabis comes in countless varieties, broken into three main categories; indica, sativa, and hybrid.
Indicas originated in the Middle East. They’re short, bushy, and highly resilient. They’re also more tolerant of cooler conditions, making them ideal for growers in more northern locales.
Sativas emerged in East Asia and prefer hot, sunny climates. This cannabis variant is slender and tall, with thin branches and elongated buds. If you live somewhere like California, sativas are excellent for outdoor cultivation.
Hybrids contain mixed genetics. They’re harder to characterize, as their growth profile may follow either parent or express a combination of traits from both.
SEED TYPE
The next thing to consider is the type of cannabis seeds to use. Regular cannabis seeds can develop into both male and female plants. Most growers desire an all-female garden, as only females produce buds.
There’s no way to tell the difference between male and female weed seeds; you find out when they start to grow. Feminized cannabis seeds don’t contain any male Y-chromosomes, which means they develop into bud-bearing plants 99% of the time.
CLIMATE
Choose a cannabis variety to grow that’s suitable for the weather in your area. As a general guideline, indicas do better in cooler climates than sativas.
LOCATION
Choose a well-lit spot for your outdoor ganja garden. Some put their pots on wheeled dollies, making it easy to relocate their crops to maximize sunlight exposure.
MAINTENANCE
Cannabis plants have three stages of growth, and it’s up to you to provide what they need at each stage.
The seedling phase lasts for around three weeks. This is where your newly-sprouted plants establish themselves above and below ground.
Once your seedling develops some real leaves, the vegetative stage begins. This lasts until plants experience 12 hours of darkness each day, at which point flowering begins.
Flowering is when your plants develop their bounty of buds. This final phase usually lasts between 8–12 weeks, depending on the strain.
FEEDING
Cannabis requires different amounts of nutrients as it grows. You get the best results using a set of nutrients from a reputable company. These are specially formulated to deliver adequate nutrition during each phase of growth.
PEST CONTROL
Pest control is something outdoor cultivators need to pay attention to. Young plants are especially vulnerable, so keep your seedlings well protected until they strengthen.
Don’t be afraid to use foliar sprays and soil-based pesticides to protect your crops as long as they’re natural.
PRUNING
Keeping your plants well-trimmed promotes healthy, vigorous growth. Regularly cut back large, stretching leaves on the lower half of the plant.
Pruning also helps reduce moisture buildup around developing buds. Too much moisture and insufficient airflow create conditions where mold and mildew can take hold.
HARVEST
So you know how to grow weed in a garden, but what about when to harvest?
Cannabis buds become covered with small hair-like structures called pistils. As the buds mature, these gradually change from a milky white color to a rusty orange brown.
Harvest when half the pistils on your plants have changed color.
Cut the plants into more manageable sections and hang them up in a very dry, dark place. Once the branches snap easily, the drying process is complete. Jar up your buds and allow them to cure for as long as you wish.
GET UP AND GROW
Now that you know how to grow weed in your back yard, what are you waiting for? Get some high-quality cannabis seeds and begin your growing adventure.
Jennifer Gallagher
Jennifer Gallagher, an experienced cannabis grower at SeedSupreme Seedbank. During a 7-year career in the marijuana growing business, Jennifer has gained a high competence in this field. As far as weed is concerned, she knows it all inside out. Jennifer is an expert in pot-growing, as well as cannabis types and their effects. She’s also familiar with all legislation nuances.
