Outdoor Outdoor UK, first time - journal & ref

[Somerset]

Hi everyone,
In the interests of balance I wanted to post about my first time growing outdoor here in UK. There are loads of threads from the USA (hi guys - jealous of your sunlight!) but there seems to be a bit less from here. To put you in the picture- its my first time growing ever so I am a total nube, although I have a degree in Horticulture and consider myself pretty green fingered. I'm confident I can produce some lovely plants. I plant to use this thread as a journal but also as a reference for other first timers in UK who might want to grow some goodness outside.

As a smoker, I don't like strong skunk - I much prefer a good natural high from well grown weed such as Thai Stick (or similar) smoked neat. I don't smoke tobacco (ever) so don't roll joints, I use a pipe and like the massive hit - so weed that is naturally strong (not artificially super charged!) suits me fine and thats what I aim to grow. I love a massive cerebral high over a heavy body mong.

I have germinated some Auto Blue Himalaya (an indica dominant strain, afghan kush x blueberry) and some Yeti (indica/sativa 50/50, AK47/Hindu Kush/Amensia -a new strain from Dope-Seeds) - all female (I think!) and all of whom are racing towards the sun displaying classic (and awesome) hybrid vigour. They were germinated using wet paper and were are potted into 9cm pots using John Innes seed compost (although there are 3 ABH in a 1litre pot). The weather thus far has been really good - sun nearly every day (out at 7.30am - in at 9pm) and they are overnighted in an unheated conservatory. My plan is to take the strongest 3 or 4 plants, integrate them into my garden and will give a few plants away and or even risk a few out guerrilla style. So far so good.

For what its worth, my reasons to grow are that I like to use weed occasionally to help steer my creativity (I work professionally in the creative industry and I certainly don't smoke every day -more like once a week if I have any.) I'm not interested in supplying it (although I'm happy to share a smoke with anyone) but I want to be able to have weed without having to put money into the hands of organised criminals who may (or may not) be involved with other more nefarious activities. I also want to know exactly what I'm smoking.

I'm sure I'll need some help - with regards to harvest/ripeness and also curing, but thats what this wonderful place is for - right? To share our collective experience/knowledge.

Here are some photos - these were taken yesterday, ABH is day 9 and the Y is day 4.

.

 

[Banana]

Hello Somerset,
Welcome to AFN. I am a Brit but living down south in the Med. Will follow your grow nevertheless as a degree in Horticulture is got to be something useful for this type of enterprise. I am a newbie on here myself, but an experienced flower, veg and fruit gardener with 25 plus years experience growing in the UK and down here. See you around the forum.

 

[Eekman]

Welcome to the forum


Hope this grow turns out to be what you need.

Medicine for the people!


Keep up the good work my friend, I am also a big fan of the ol' Thai stick.

I got to update my journal now, thanks for reminding me

catch you later Somerset.


Eek

 

[Somerset]

Thanks guys - its nice to know people are so active and supportive. I want to ask - what kind of yield you think I might get from 4 plants (2 of each) grown outside and tended well assuming a reasonable summer? I know its hard to say, but I couldn't even guess a ballpark figure as i've never done this before. Not going to go crazy on the nutrients - but will be feeding a bit and watering when needed.

 

[Banana]

Thanks guys - its nice to know people are so active and supportive. I want to ask - what kind of yield you think I might get from 4 plants (2 of each) grown outside and tended well assuming a reasonable summer? I know its hard to say, but I couldn't even guess a ballpark figure as i've never done this before. Not going to go crazy on the nutrients - but will be feeding a bit and watering when needed.

I think even a ball park figure would just be a guess. How long is a piece of string? The outdoor grow record that I have read of, I think on Dutch Passions website which was in Southern Europe, was 205g by an experienced grower. On here and other forums, I have heard of first timers harvesting as little as 5g on their grows. So pick a number between 205grams and 5 grams and there is your educated guess.

You already mentioned some of the variables that could make your yield go one way or the other. The indoor growers are more in control of their grows, because a grow room is an artificial environment which can be manipulated almost 100% outdoors however it's a different story.

Ending on a positive note why don't I guess 120grams on all four plants :gthumb:

 

[Somerset]

Thanks Banana, theres nothing like a cold dose of reality to make you rethink your plan... maybe I will push a bit harder on the nutrients! That said, I'd be pretty happy with 120g. Last time I bought weed was an oz of Thai Stick and it lasted me over a year, so 120g (4¼ OZ) should do me very well well. I'll aim to get that and if I get more - bonus!
Its amazing how fast they are growing, they are visibly bigger than yesterday - its encouraging to see the progress.

 

[Wait what?]

An ounce of Thai stick would last me a week

My friends have radar

 

[BANANAFARTS]

I have a couple of auto ak's growing outdoors in the moors near where I live in the UK... and I live in the north as in I can see mountains from my home. I done 2 plants last summer as an experiment in the same place and got 51 grams when dry.. (I am a professional horticulturist and arborist) I grew the plants in sandbags filled with 50/50 soil and perlite.
I only used BioBizz Fish Mix nutrients and water from the mountain streams.

I would have journalized the grow maybe next time....

Good luck

 

[Banana]

Thanks Banana, theres nothing like a cold dose of reality to make you rethink your plan... maybe I will push a bit harder on the nutrients! That said, I'd be pretty happy with 120g. Last time I bought weed was an oz of Thai Stick and it lasted me over a year, so 120g (4¼ OZ) should do me very well well. I'll aim to get that and if I get more - bonus!
Its amazing how fast they are growing, they are visibly bigger than yesterday - its encouraging to see the progress.

Hope I did not rain on your parade too much.

I stunted my first attempt a Buddha Purple Kush because I started her too early and had no option of keeping her indoors beyond a certain point. She is now in the ground, doing well, smelling absolutely heavenly, but she's not going to win any yield competition.

I then planted 3 Blue AutoMazars which failed to germinate properly and then all died on me.

Popped 3 more seeds this time AutoMazar all 3 sprouted beautifully and put them in the ground yesterday at day 22.

Today after having my storage concerns assuaged by the knowledge that I can vacuum pack any excess in plastic bags, I have now decided that when I return from a brief stint away at the end of this month, I am also going to germinate the 3 free replacement Blue AutoMazars sent to me by Dutch Passion. But I am going to put all 3 plants in a 55 litre pot, cos I want to see what happens if the medium is controlled a bit more than when they go into the ground.

So what ever happens my husband and I will have enough stash for between 3 months and 2 years, depending on how things turn out. In case you have not figured it out, I am a great believer in fudge space and contingency plans.

Keep on smiling Somerset :dance2:

 

[Somerset]

Ha - brilliant. Can I ask -why day 22 for planting out? Is it just that they were at the right size etc? Is there a recommended stage (if so, why?) I was planning to plant mine out when the stems are woody enough to fend off slug attacks and assumed that would be at about 6"+.
With regards to the planting out - the plan currently is to empty the compost bin (which is ready) into a massive tub and blend it with some shop bought potting compost and bone meal and use that as the growing medium. I'll water them in thoroughly and may even mulch them if I go away for a while.