An experiment to help determine the effect of different latitude on maturation time using a select cultivar

[gorilla ganja]

Here are a couple of pics from another friend growing Miss K at 55 North on the cloudy coast of Alaska. It looks like it is slightly later to start flowering there.

 

[Captain Red Eye]

the plant just flips a switch at a set photo period regardless of latitude.

This made me wonder when the photo source is the sun, can the variability of light duration and intensity etc. hitting the plant be a factor in onset of flowering for a particular clone from year to year grown in the exact same location? For instance, some years there are far more rainy and cloudy days than other years.

A variation of that situation; maybe your zone is really sunny and that same plant grown about the same latitude, but different longitude has a wet dark summer...which flowers first?

Also, sort of within topic, do the nutrients or root zone (pinched in a small container vs in ground, lots of root space ) have anything to do with timing of flowering?

Thanks for starting this thread, good exchange of info. and opinons.

 

[Old Piney]

This made me wonder when the photo source is the sun, can the variability of light duration and intensity etc. hitting the plant be a factor in onset of flowering

Yes I too thought of other factors .I was confident that the plant would sense the more rapidly decreasing daylight at higher latitude and respond with more daylight

 

[Old Piney]

Last picture of Miss k taken today right before the chop .I chopped the other one 4 or 5 days ago ,I did let them go a bit late, the fuzzies are wild lettuce seed fuzz I will pick of

 

[Prs2xs]

I live @ 50N, and my observations are that if you plant in the ground at the end of May with 1 ft seedlings, you will not see flowering start until early August. That doesn't leave enough time for the plant to finish flowering, because first frost is USUALLY around mid to late Sept.
I just took down 4 plants that were outside a couple weeks ago, and got 3.5 lb of bud that still had white pistils. The long veg time produced 14 ft monsters that were a real chore to trim. Unless I can find a potent semi auto for outdoors, I think I will stick with indoor, and leave the outdoor for people that live in a more temperate zone!

 

[Old Piney]

I live @ 50N, and my observations are that if you plant in the ground at the end of May with 1 ft seedlings, you will not see flowering start until early August. That doesn't leave enough time for the plant to finish flowering, because first frost is USUALLY around mid to late Sept.
I just took down 4 plants that were outside a couple weeks ago, and got 3.5 lb of bud that still had white pistils. The long veg time produced 14 ft monsters that were a real chore to trim. Unless I can find a potent semi auto for outdoors, I think I will stick with indoor, and leave the outdoor for people that live in a more temperate zone!

Photo period at 50N with frost by late September that is a tough nut to crack

 

[Elrond]

I live @ 50N, and my observations are that if you plant in the ground at the end of May with 1 ft seedlings, you will not see flowering start until early August. That doesn't leave enough time for the plant to finish flowering, because first frost is USUALLY around mid to late Sept.

Hi, I am at 52N and planted early May. Plants are now almost finished, so I‘d say it’s a success. Though over here frost usually does not come before November, that gives me some extra headspace.

 

[gorilla ganja]

frost usually does not come before November

If you can go until the end of October with decent temps, I think most "Indicas" will finish and even some fast "Sativas." At 52N, I'm guessing you are close to a large body of water that allows you to go that late. I'm at 55N, and most years, I'm lucky to get to the end of September here.

 

[Old Piney]

Hi, I am at 52N and planted early May. Plants are now almost finished, so I‘d say it’s a success. Though over here frost usually does not come before November, that gives me some extra headspace.

Wow no frost till November at 52N that's gotta be strong maritime effect. I'm at 40 N and only once and a while can go into November without a frost. In my experience cannabis can handle light frost in flower no problem.

 

[Prs2xs]

Hi, I am at 52N and planted early May. Plants are now almost finished, so I‘d say it’s a success. Though over here frost usually does not come before November, that gives me some extra headspace.

What part of the country, and what strain? I am in Sask and we had rain come when my flowers were susceptible to mold, so I took them down. As fate would have it, we then have had a fantastic fall, and I could have left them out until last week!

 

[Elrond]

What part of the country, and what strain? I am in Sask and we had rain come when my flowers were susceptible to mold, so I took them down. As fate would have it, we then have had a fantastic fall, and I could have left them out until last week!

I am in central Europe, eastern Part. Last night the temperature came down to 2 degree C, but for the next two weeks the forecast ist warmer, minimum 4. The strain is Nepal Jam from Ace, the trichomes are now 30% clear and 70% milky, still only very few amber ones, on many flowers none. So I am guessing it’s another one or two weeks.

 

[Prs2xs]

I am in central Europe, eastern Part. Last night the temperature came down to 2 degree C, but for the next two weeks the forecast ist warmer, minimum 4. The strain is Nepal Jam from Ace, the trichomes are now 30% clear and 70% milky, still only very few amber ones, on many flowers none. So I am guessing it’s another one or two weeks.

Thanks for the reply! You are , I think, in a more temperate region than I am, and New Jam is a fast finisher - good choice! I am currently looking at the start of a long cold winter!

 

[Chevy cHaze]

Great idea and I'm watching for sure.
It's been said before, to really be able to conclude anything you should have used clones but I'm interested to see the outcome anyways.
I'd also be really interested in the potentially different genetical expressions on both plants. I've noticed that my plants from clone are different when flowered under 11/13 compared to 12/12 as in different traits are expressed.
All the best
CC

 

[Prs2xs]

Great idea and I'm watching for sure.
It's been said before, to really be able to conclude anything you should have used clones but I'm interested to see the outcome anyways.
I'd also be really interested in the potentially different genetical expressions on both plants. I've noticed that my plants from clone are different when flowered under 11/13 compared to 12/12 as in different traits are expressed.
All the best
CC

Could you expand on what the differences are?? I usually just use 12-12, but the JLB seems to need 11-13 to initiate flowering. I am curious how they would turn out with 12-12 - probably just stretch out of control?

 

[Chevy cHaze]

Hi, well the plant will develop slightly differently and show slightly different traits... Smell and taste are the most obvious ones but also effect. The plant will finish sooner, then there's overall size of the plant. Most Sativas can only be managed in my small tent when I run them 11/13

 

[Prs2xs]

Interesting- I didn't think smell or taste would be affected!
Thanx!

 

[Old Piney]

It's been said before, to really be able to conclude anything you should have used clones

Well I suppose in a perfect world that's true but but that would require mailing clones internationally in our case .IMO all that matters is that all the phenos have a consistent maturation, I believe the photoperiod plants of Miss K are very stable in that regard

 

[pipeline]

So the plants trigger flower later the further north (away from the equater), but the freeze comes earlier. That makes it important to have early finishers. Some strains may ripen quickly and then just put on weight, so you can take them any time. Also temperature may determine maturation. Warm temps can speed up maturation and potency accumulation in the resin I would think, and then cooler temps could cause pronounced terpene expression for higher flavor and maximized effect.

 

[gorilla ganja]

I haven't had the time to post pictures. But my buddy took down his Miss K on October 16.
He harvested a bit early due to an insect infestation and mould setting in from a humid greenhouse. You can still see lots of white hairs. I figure they could have gone another week.
So it was only 10 days later than your last one @Old Piney.
So, I don't know if this helps with any firm conclusions about our test. It would have been nice to run clones, but it is what it is.
We can do another run next year, @Old Piney, or someone else if you are interested in experimenting.

Miss K

Peace GG

 

[Old Piney]

Well we can say for sure the start of flowering was definitely sooner for me at a lower latitude. My plants also were more mature much earlier and at harvest. I had crazy good dry weather so I let them go .I've sampled a little miss k early I like it ,good smoke !