I've kept a male sequestered in the solarium while the females reside on the porch. I pollenated a couple of buds with a paintbrush in the hopes I might get a few seeds for next year. The buds in question seem to have gone to seed, the hairs disappeared and and the sexbits (whatever they're called) have swelled and whatnot, but I'm not sure if they'll be ready by the time my plants are mature enough to harvest. I'm in Vancouver, so the nights are getting pretty cool and I don't want to leave the girls too long so that the buds lose their potency. How to tell if the seeds are mature? Also, is it preferable to harvest the entire plant or is it better to cut the uppermost buds and allow the lower ones a little more time to get juicy. Thanks.
"sexbit" = calyx. Once pollinated, seeds can become viable in as little as 6 days. It could take longer depending on conditions. Not being able to predict the future, I can't tell you if the seeds will be mature before frost sets in. On seeds: Seeds are born with a tiny bit of moisture inside, which must evoporate before the seed will germinate. In nature, pot dies in Nov/Dec. The plants topples over and maybe some seeds fall out of the buds onto the ground. Being an annual, it would be very bad for marijuana to germinate right away, during winter. In nature it takes 3--5 months for the moisture to evaporate. That means it germinates in the spring, which it needs to do. You can speed things up. Place the seeds in a airtight container (like a 35mm film cannister) with some dessicant (that little pouch that comes in medicine). Many growers stagger their harvest, cutting off the branches as they ripen.
"6 days" RD? ...that doesn't sound possible(not saying it aint so) but I've always allowed 4 weeks, minimum, for seeds to mature. To form large ripe viable seeds, a full spectrum fert should be used while seeds are forming, too. A 30 day dring period "before" storage is wise and will improve germination rates.
A seed cannot become viable in 6 days from pollination.Biologically impossible as it takes up to 3 days for pollination to to take hold and thats assuming the pistol is ripe.Factors such as heat ,drought,and humidity will increase this period.The earliest I have ever had a mature viable seed from time of pollination in less then 21 days.
I fucked up. I missed putting a 1 in front of the 6. My answer should have read 16 days. That's what I get for not proof-reading. Damn pot.
