When to Harvest Pot Plants for Seed

Harvesting cannabis plants for seed is an important process for growers who want to keep their strain gene pool alive. The seeds that are harvested can be stored for future planting or used to create new hybrids with other strains. Knowing when to harvest your pot plants for seed is essential to ensure that you get healthy and mature seeds for your next grow cycle. In this article, we will explore the different stages of cannabis seed development, and how to tell when it is time to harvest your marijuana plants for seeds.

Seed Development Stages

The first step in determining when to harvest your pot plants for seed is to understand the different stages of seed development. Cannabis seeds pass through several stages from pollination to maturity. It is essential to know the stages so that you know the right time to harvest your plants.

Stage 1 - Pollination: After the male flower releases pollen, it will eventually land on a mature female flower, and the seed will begin to develop.

Stage 2 - Embryo Development: The seed has a small embryo that will grow into the cannabis plant. The embryo will be surrounded by a protective shell that will provide nutrients and protection from the environment.

Stage 3 - Seed Maturation: The cannabis seed will continue to develop, and the protective shell will harden as the seed matures. The color of the seed will change from white to dark brown or gray.

Timing the Harvest

Timing is crucial when it comes to harvesting pot plants for seed. You want to wait for the seed to fully mature and develop, but you also want to harvest before the seed pods open and start to drop their seeds. To harvest your cannabis plants for seed, you need to look at two main indicators: the color of the seed and the condition of the seed pods.

Color: As the cannabis seed matures, the color changes from white to a dark brown or gray. When you see the seeds changing color, this is an indicator that they are ripe and ready for harvest.

Condition of Seed Pods: You want to harvest your cannabis plants for seed when the seed pods are fully developed but have not yet started to open. When you see the seed pods start to open and release their seeds, it means that you have missed the optimal harvest time.

Harvesting Techniques

Once you have determined that your cannabis plants are ready to be harvested for seed, it is time to use the right harvesting techniques to ensure that you get high-quality seeds. The best way to do this is to cut the seed pods off the plant and allow them to dry in a cool and dark place. Once the seed pods are dry, you can either remove the seeds from the pods manually or use a seed extractor to remove them. It is essential to store the seeds in a cool and dry place to prevent mold or pest infestations.

Conclusion

Harvesting cannabis plants for seed is a crucial process for growers who want to maintain their strain gene pool. Knowing when to harvest your pot plants for seed is essential to ensure that you get healthy and mature seeds for your next grow cycle. Be sure to look for the color of the seeds and the condition of the seed pods as indicators of when to harvest your cannabis plants for seed. Using proper harvesting techniques and storing the seeds correctly will ensure that you have high-quality seeds for future planting or hybrid creation.