For those who are interested in growing cannabis outdoors in Missouri, one of the most fun ways to get ready is to shop for genetics. It’s like window shopping and can I please have two of everything? As fun as it is, there are a few things to consider when selecting genetics for an outdoor grow.
Your first consideration is the environment in Missouri. We have a moderately long growing season but it often ends in cool damp weather. That is a recipe for botrytis and other molds. We had mild weather in the 2019 outdoor growing season, but even so I noted several outdoor growers who struggled with bud-rot. Selecting varieties that finish early (60 days or less) and have a natural resistance to mold and mildew is a great idea.
It is wise to stay away from varieties like Haze because they can take as long as 90 days to finish flowering. That could mean that you’ll be shaking snow off of them to harvest. Be on the lookout for large ranges for finishing times as well. If a breeder states that a cultivarA cultivated variety, often mistakenly called a 'strain.' More could finish in 50-70 days, this should tell you that if you plant 6 of these seeds, some will make it to harvest day and some will still be struggling to finish before halloween. Remember, photo-period cannabis won’t even start flowering (in most cases) until after the 4th of July.
Auto-flowering cannabis can be a good alternative as well. If you select 60 day varieties you could conceivably harvest a first crop by the end of June, and a second crop by October. These plants will also stay fairly short so they’ll be harder to see. You will sacrifice yield, but the idea of a harvesting a fresh crop on Father’s Day puts a smile on my face.
Finally, bear in mind that cannabis takes longer to flower outdoors. Although photo-period cannabis will start to flower in early July, it will take longer than 60 days to finish. Most breeders only list the time it takes to mature indoors. Indoor gardens are much more highly controlled in terms of the environment. Outdoors, cool night and daytime heat above 90 degrees will slow the maturation process significantly.
Assuming you are familiar with the legalities of outdoor growing in Missouri, its time to get out there and pick some genetics for your outdoor garden next year. Put it on your Christmas list and maybe Santa will be good to you.
Happy Harvests!
— The Lit Farmer —
