This is the final episode of 2019's BackYard Cannabis Farming series. Included are links to all episode's for both seasons 1 & 2 further down. What an absurdly crazy and weird season this was. We have seen everything from the birth of astounding new and fresh cannabis/hemp genetics and the rise of the hemp revolution, to the birth of "Baby Yoda". I experienced the most trauma I have ever endured, as did my garden... but we survived - well my plants survived until harvest anyway, and the new genetics and lessons live on.
This final episode focuses on displaying, describing, and experiencing the organic/natural flowers I cultivated. But first, lets have a quick recap of the grow challenges I encountered this season:
- greenhouse collapsing on plants - bending tops/breaking branches (twice)
- still mite infestations
- aphid infestations
- caterpillars infestations - eating the largest colas & laying feces that causes botrytis
- botrytis from extreme weather
- heat stress
- light burn
- nutrient burn
- nutrient deficiencies
- nutrient lockout
- damaging wind storms & uncharacteristic lightning storms (several)
- damaging high heat wave and rain sequences (many)
- burning from Safer brand products (twice)
- removing HUGE accidental male plants (twice - 1 over 7 ft tall)
- light leak from a neighbor's floodlight
- people jumping our fence attempting to steal plants (twice)
- stepping in lots of dog poop all season
Almost everything imaginable that could go wrong... went wrong. The only problem I seemed to avoid was pythium (root rot).
Side note: (There were also some significant correlations of these issues relating to experiences that also affected my personal life directly - in sometimes harshly brutal manors. I will explain more about that in a future publication.)
Here are the 4 Strains I would like to highlight from my garden this season:
(This would have included Vampire Cookies as well - but that strain left me quickly - I will no doubt be growing that one again, as it was my champion, and favorite strain I have ever grown - 10/10).
DMT Dream
DMT Dream was my highest yielder and a very close runner up for my favorite strain in the garden this year. The sight and smell of the buds on this plant were unlike anything I have ever seen or experienced outdoor. SUPER FROSTY on the plant. The dried flowers have very nice density to them, but still has a very soft and squishy feel as well - making this strain a perfect candidate for grinders, joints, and spliffs. The flavor is quite unique, heady, with a touch of skunk, floral, and yes, and ever so slight essence of DMT... but that is really more in the smell than the taste (thank the maker). The flowering time was a little longer than I would have liked, and I recommend harvesting this strain in stages when grown outdoors. Overall Score- 9/10.
Mimosa
Mimosa is a great sativa with a very nice flavor. The dried flowers posses elements in their scent that really makes you want to smoke them when you take a whiff of their aroma. For a Sativa dominant strain, it has an uncharacteristically unique skunky flavor, with only hints of lemon and floral. This strain was moderately difficult to grow outdoors, but the main issue is that the plant tends to want to be very bushy, which not only creates a jungle of leaves to constantly remove, but also makes it difficult to get it to grow vertically. For these reasons, I will not be growing Mimosa next season. I do know however that this strain creates phenomenal concentrates with deep smell, flavor, and high terpene content. I have manifested concentrates with this strain in the past. Overall score - 7/10 (HA!)
Blue City Diesel
Blue City Diesel is one of my all time favorites. The plant is beautiful with bright pink pistils on the flowers. The smell of this strain boasts a superb blend of cheesy, floral, and fruity - that makes for a unmistakable flavor once you know it. This is one of those strains that is impossible to confuse with other strains if you grow it. The look of the plant, and the taste and smell of the flowers is undeniably one of a kind. Mimosa is also like this in a much more subtle way. BCD is another high yeilder, and combined with its incredibly unique flavor profile and bud density, it is a must have in my garden - certainly gets two thumbs up from me for next season. Overall score - 8/10.
Monsterberry
Everyone has their money crop, their safety strain, or as I call it - my bread and butter. It is the strain that you know will be mostly likely to thrive through harsh conditions and also consistently produce well. The strain to always keep the overall yield up in your garden - Monsterberry is my b&b, and resilient in so many ways. A lot of cannabis predator bugs do not like it, it can take more of a beating from mother nature, it deals well with lack of water, the bud size is enormous and the bud density is extremely high even on smaller plants, the plant stalks grow tall and fairly thick, it finishes very early - allowing an earlier harvest that avoids botrytis caused by the Pacific Northwest's moist fall, and are generally strong plants that thrive through shitstorms and fair weather alike. Most grows would benefit from this strain just for the simple safe-bet yield increase - but aside from all these wonderful benefits, I have the fortunate nostalgic pleasure of Monsterberry's smell reminding me of my childhood, which induces a mental semblance of what I would call home - a feeling in my heart. It definitely has an uncanny fruity smell and light uniquely fruity flavor, but the essence of it takes me back to browsing in certain comic book stores when I was a kid - I swear they had the exact same smell back then. It makes me wonder about the distant linage, and what those kids were smokin' in those comic shops, as I have confirmed this strain was not around in the 90s. Almost everyone I show loves this strain. With a great nose, great flavor, fat nugs, and not so much THC that it puts you out - but still enough to get you stoned so you can thoroughly enjoy the flowers... you really can't loose with this one. Overall Score - 9.5/10.
Reflections
This season has taught me a plethora of harsh and expensive lessons, both in life, and with cultivating cannabis. It is no coincidence that I had a strain called Vampire come into my life this year as a not-so-subtle warning of the difficult grow season ahead, and how a certain few people were going hurt me that at the time, were still trying to sneak their way into my life using deceitful tactics, and/or hiding things from me.
Expensive and harsh as these lessons may have been, I did still learn them, and the value in that is priceless for my future. I can already feel myself becoming the wiser, stronger, and more powerful person I am supposed to be as a result. I just have to keep healing, and keep following my passions with more and more commitment, conviction, and faith in my abilities. Thank you to everyone who supported me through this tidal wave of a journey in 2019 here on Steem, and in life. I wish you all the best blessings, and will see you for season 3 in 2020.
2019 Episodes
Episode 2: Transplanting Cannabis, Organic Pest Control, Strain Varieties
Episode 3: Preparing Your Grow Space, Treating Burnt Plants
Episode 5: Transplanting into Final Grow Space, Topping Plants, & Finishing Animal Fencing
Episode 6: Applying Proper Feedings with Organic Nutrients
Episode 7: Feeding After Topping, Storm Damage, Selective Leaf Removal, & Caging Cannabis
Episode 8: Final Topping, Leaf Removal, & Safely Sacrificing a Male Plant
Episode 15: Harvest Time & Plans for Next Years Grow
Episode 16: TRIM TIME! Instructional Video
Episode 17 (Season Finale): Strain Highlights & Grow Reflections - Scroll down
&
Click here for links to all the 2018 Episodes
Click here to see the signs of a male plant
Click here to watch us take down a 7 ft tall male cannabis plant
Trailer Park Boys Style
Click here to see our Blue City Diesel harvested Indoors
Click here to see our plans for natural hemp processing & it's importance in environmentalism
Click here to see us trim using old school equipment for Jack Herer's son, Mark
Please enjoy episode 17 and the season finale of this year's Backyard Cannabis Farming series. Hopefully we all acquired great wisdom for growing cannabis effectively and organically together in the midst of the madness that was 2019.
Published on 12/20/2019
Have a blessed new year and welcome in 2020 with open arms, as the great reprieve that it is for all those that suffer from wounds of injustice and disrespect in 2019. KEEP GROWING!!! - Especially when it hurts.
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