Thompson-Okanagan pot growers optimistic about this year's outdoor harvest
B.C.’s outdoor cannabis growing season is reaping the rewards of our amazing, sunny autumn.
Temperatures in Kamloops and the Okanagan are forecasted to reach into the 20s for another week, with overnight temperatures remaining above the frost level – so the ideal time to harvest is going to be later this year.
“Nice, warm October weather means we got a little extended season on our flowering time,” said Kyle Martin, manager at Better Than Nature in Penticton.
Pot plants are more susceptible to rot under wetter conditions.
“And Octobers are usually a wet time of year for us,” Martin said.
For growers in the South Okanagan, he says the best time to harvest is usually around the beginning of November, but that fluctuates by about two weeks each year.
But even when grown in the same environments, some strains of cannabis are ready to harvest sooner than others. But regardless which kind of plant it is or where it's grown, Martin said the best time to harvest is when 10% of the trichomes have changed colour from white to amber.
“The trichomes are the little mushroom-looking things on the leaves. That’s where THC is produced,” he said, adding that most new phones have sharp enough cameras to be able to zoom in on the trichomes.
Furthermore, when the buds are looking plump, they could still use a little more time.
“When it’s really dense and looks ready to go – then wait five more days before cutting it,” Martin recommends.
“That being said, if it’s raining then you cut it down before the rain.”
READ MORE: The best time to harvest outdoor cannabis in the Okanagan depends on the strain
Alternatively, growers can protect their plants from wet weather with a tarp or lean-to. But weather forecasts continue to look favourable into the near future for the growers of B.C.
“We were able to push harvesting our plants later into the fall,” said Alannah Davis, CEO of Dabble Cannabis Co. in Duncan, an outdoor growing operation. “That adds weight to the bud and allows the trichome heads to become plumper and more developed – which makes for more flavourful and potent cannabis and extract products,” she said.
The weather wasn’t as favourable at the start of the growing season, when a cooler-than-usual spring stunted the growth of outdoor plants.
“Our planting was delayed and the plants definitely struggled to get enough sunshine to gain strength and size, we didn't really see consistent sunshine until July this year,” Davis said.
This year’s plants did not grow to be as large compared to previous years.
“They were still healthy and great looking plants, just on the small side,” she said.
But the hot summer days came in time for the flowering stage, and the warm temperatures are continuing into October, which Davis said has been very beneficial for the overall season.
“One of the biggest issues that outdoor growers face is bud rot, or botrytis - which is exacerbated by rainy days.”
READ MORE: iN PHOTOS: What cannabis harvesting looks like in Rock Creek
This year there was almost no bud rot at all, she said.
“As outdoor growers, we have to adapt to whatever weather Mother Nature brings us, but we absolutely preferred this fall over the early rains of 2021.”
For anyone in B.C., it's normally challenging to grow strains that ripen later in the year, as cold and wet fall weather can ruin the plants before they reach their full potential.
“Not this year,” says Sarah Campbell, director with Craft Cannabis Association of B.C.
“Many farmers are pushing harvest dates, allowing cannabinoids and terpenes to develop fully, ensuring the best quality sun grown cannabis,” she said.
“Consumers are in for a treat.”
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