Harvesting Top Buds Early vs. Whole Plant Harvesting
Ever wonder why some people harvest the tops of their plants and allow the rest of the plant to finish for another week or two?
It’s been a decent outdoor growing season in the northeast so far and we will be approaching harvest fairly soon. With harvest almost upon us, we felt this would be the perfect time for a topic on Harvesting Top Buds Early vs Whole Plant Harvesting.
What’s the Difference?
At Vermont Grow Coaching, there are two main ways we teach harvesting. Whole Plant Method and Top Bud Method.
The whole plant method refers to chopping down your entire plant at once, so all of the buds can dry and cure at the same time.
The Top Bud Method refers to harvesting the top of the plant first, followed by the remainder of the stalk at a later time.
So, which one is best?
At Vermont Grow Coaching, we work with many different clients, from individuals growing just one or two plants, to large scale commercial cannabis operations and hemp farms. In reality, what might be the best method for one grower, may not be the best for another.
Whole Plant Harvesting
First, let’s talk about the pros and cons of whole plant harvesting. Many growers choose whole plant harvesting due to the simplicity of chopping down the entire plant in one go. You don’t have to return to your harvest site to harvest the remainder of the plant and the entire plant dries at the same time.
Others prefer this method, specifically so that they may dry their plants slower and prevent them from drying too quickly. These are great reasons and definitely something to consider as you decide on the best harvesting method for yourself.
We will start by discussing indoor harvests. If you are growing small scale indoors, we usually suggest harvesting the whole plant at once. The main reason for that is space and plant counts.
In Vermont, cannabis growers are currently only allowed to flower two plants at a time. If you have two plants their flowering and budding phase and you choose to harvest just the top of the plant, you would be taking up space and plant counts that could otherwise be being used for your next crop.
Whole Plant Outdoor
When it gets to outdoor harvests, things become a bit more complicated. If you are growing outdoors, there are several scenarios where the team at Vermont Grow Coaching would suggest harvesting the whole plant at once. Those scenarios are:
- Hemp Farms and large scale cannabis operations that are over 10 acres. In my opinion, taking the plant in stages on large scale farms adds too much unnecessary labor. Taking the plant all at once, saves time and money.
- Inclement Weather. Bud Rot and mold issues due to cold temps and wet weather are a huge problem in the Northeast. Especially in Vermont. Sometimes, the weather just gets too rough and she has to come down quickly.
- If your plants are already having a rough time with mold and disease, harvesting the whole plant can prevent further issues down the road as well. For instance, when harvesting just the top of the plant, you leave an open wound where the plant was chopped off. If your plant is already weak or experiencing issues, this can lead to additional issues with rot and disease.
- Sometimes though, it’s a security reason. I’ll get calls and emails from first time growers, that had no idea the amount of aroma given off by some of these plants. In situations where your plant is stinking up your neighborhood, it might be time to harvest to ensure no one steals it.
- The only other main reason we would suggest whole plant harvesting, would be if using the entire plant for concentrates. The maturity of the buds does not matter as much, when making concentrates.
Top Bud Harvesting
Moving on to the pros and cons of top bud harvesting. The truth is, unless your plants are pretty small, the top colas and buds will usually mature faster than the rest of the plant.
When growing indoors, space is usually limited. However, if for whatever reason you’re not constrained by space or a plant count, harvesting using the top bud method can mean a world of difference.
When growing indoors, under most circumstances, there is much more available light at the top of the canopy than at the bottom. This causes the top of the plant to mature faster, dense up, and have much more appealing buds. By removing the top section of plant, you allow more light to get to the lower branches, enabling the lower bud sites to fully develop and mature.
Top Bud Outdoor
When it comes to growing outdoors, harvesting the top buds first can lead to more uniform bud maturity and more money for commercial farmers.
- On commercial hemp and cannabis farms of less than 10 acres, it can be very lucrative to harvest top buds first. Many outdoor farms turn their entire crop into concentrates and oils. However, if you harvest the top buds to be trimmed and sold as flower, you can make a considerable increase in profit due to the price of buds vs biomass for oil.
- On a small scale, with only a couple of plants in your yard, harvesting the top buds first can allow the remainder of the plant to finish maturing. Not only does that increase the density and appeal of your buds, but adds to the final dry weight as well. Remember, many plants produce the bulk of their weight in just the last few weeks of flowering.
If you’d like to learn more, please feel free to contact us or check out our pricing page. We offer an array of services, from virtual consultations to harvesting assistance, and even how to make feminized seeds! At Vermont Grow Coaching LLC, service is our commitment and plants are our business.
Vermont Grow Coaching LLC
(802)342-5381
Pittsford, VT 05763
Service@VermontGrowCoach.com
Disclaimer: Please note that this article is the opinion of Vermont Grow Coaching LLC and should only be viewed as such. Vermont Grow Coaching LLC takes no responsibility for any damages, or legal concerns regarding the cloning or cultivation of Cannabis. The responsibility to ensure operation within governing law, is placed solely on the person or entity that chooses to cultivate Cannabis. Be smart and remember to keep it legal with your local and state governments.
