Hemp Cultivation 101
There are multiple effective methods for growing and processing hemp. Success starts with proper planning and genetics. This article outlines the major areas that need to be addressed when developing a successful cultivation strategy.
Planning
Licensing: Check with your state’s agricultural department to apply for the proper licenses. We recommend obtaining both a grower and a processor license to ensure full compliance with state ordinances.
Proximity: Knowing if other farms in your area are growing hemp to determine risk of pollination from outside sources.
Plot selection: We utilize technology that maps and defines the ideal area in which your hemp will be grown.
Strain Selection: Starting with quality genetics is paramount to your success. We help to provide our farms with genetics that are best suited for your region.
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Soil Preparation
Testing: Soil testing is recommended to ensure your nutrient levels are balanced and pH is correct between 6-7.
Amendments: Based on test results you can make the proper additions to your soil.
Tillage: Till, till, till! Hemp prefers finely tilled soil to promote root development.
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Planting
Propagation: We recommend not planting seed directly into the ground. It is better to germinate your seed in a soil plug and then transfer into your soil to ensure that you are utilizing every square foot of your acreage.
Spacing: Depending on strain selection most hemp plots are planted with 4-5 Foot spacing See our chart below for our spacing recommendations.
Equipment: Planting can be done by hand using a pottiputki but can be done more effectively with modified tobacco or tomato planters.
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Vegetative Maintenance
Irrigation: Dryer climates require irrigation, if you have consistent rainfall irrigation may not be necessary hemp if fairly drought tolerant but you need to have an emergency plan in place in case of a drought.
Weed control: With the first weeks of vegetative growth shallow tilling is recommended but once your canopy is filled in the shade provided will keep weeds from growing.
Tissue samples: Tissue samples can be done thorough our partners United Soils to see if the nutritional requirements of your plants are being met)
Pests: It is best to grow plants as organic as possible and never spray pesticides you can introduce predatory insects like lady bugs to your crop to cut down on aphids or mites or spread wood chips for caterpillars. Listed below are the pesticides we test for.
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Flowering Maintenance
Cannabis is a photosensitive plan. Shorter days at the beginning of August triggers the plant to produce flowers and show their sexual characteristics.
Sexing: It is important to walk your field every day during the beginning of the flowering stage in early August to check for male plants if you have started from seed. Male pollen will cause your female plants to produce seed and less CBD%)
THC Levels: During the flowering stages of the plant we recommend sending out weekly tests to monitor your THC levels within the plant and harvesting before your plants hit your states THC limitation
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Biomass Processing
Harvest: This is the most labor-intensive part of the process while tobacco harvesters can be utilized most farmers tend to cut plants by hand.
Drying: We have multiple strategies to help with drying 10% moisture content being the goal.
Bucking: Once the material is dried the flower needs to be removed from the stem there is machinery to help with this process but can be done manually.)
Milling: For extraction biomass material must be finely milled between ¼-1/8” this is something we can do for you, but you can expedite processing by doing it yourself)
Testing: Test your biomass for potency, pesticides, and moisture.
Storage: Super Sacks can be utilized for storage and transportation once the material is dried and processed. It can now be delivered to our facility for extraction.