Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower's Bible

them off, and moves them to their final location. The second crop is moved into the greenhouse when the first crop is moved out. He repeats this process three to four times during the season.
    A complete low-maintenance setup is the goal for most guerilla growers. Loosen the soil, amend it, and throw in a handful of polymers to retain moisture. A thick layer of mulch, early in the year, will attract water, keep the soil cool, and prevent evaporation. Bury clones deep in the ground to promote a deep root system that will not require a lot of additional water.
    Some growers transplant one-foot (30 cm) tall clones with smaller root systems by removing the first few sets of leaves and burying the root ball deeper with only six inches (15 cm) of foliage left above ground. Roots will grow along the underground stem in a few weeks. Deep roots will create more self-sufficient plants. This is of particular importance in extremely remote areas that are hard to get to and in the mountains where the rainfall may be sporadic.
    Pest prevention is crucial for guerilla crops, because the patch is too difficult to maintain every day or week. It is easier to keep pests from attacking plants in the first place than to try and do damage control later.
    Water and fertilize as needed. See chapters in this book that pertain to specific outdoor needs.
Harvest
    Harvest before cold, damp, autumn weather sets in. This weather causes fungus- botrytis (bud mold) and powdery mildew. Many plants can take a short mild freeze (30-32°F [-1-0°C]). But if the temperature stays below freezing for more than a few hours, it could kill plants. Pay close attention to weather forecasts and apply the information to the microclimate where your plants are growing. Be ready to harvest quickly if weather dictates.
    Law enforcement can force a harvest, too. Limit potential discovery by hunters, hikers, and cops by harvesting at night. Find out when police or rangers are in the area, and plan to be there at a different time. Police scanners that pick up local police activities can come in handy for determining their location.
    Take a sharp pocket knife and a backpack to haul your crop incognito. If you are harvesting more than one variety, put them in separate bags or wrap in newspaper before they go in the backpack.
    Determine a believable story to explain your presence in the area, including proximity to the garden, should you be discovered. Offer nothing, explain little, and keep it simple so you don’t slip. Always remember Bart Simpson’s words, “I didn’t do it. Nobody saw me. You can’t prove a thing!”
    Check Chapters Four and Five for more information on flowering and harvest timing.
Extending Seasons
    Many products protect plants from cold weather and high winds, allowing growers to cultivate earlier and later in the year than would normally be possible.
    The easiest and most cost-effective approach to extending the growing season is to locate and take advantage of microclimates such as areas that warm up faster or retain heat longer. Orientation to the sun, wind breaks, and walls made out of materials–bricks, mortar, stone–that will hold the heat and can even prevent freeze-thaw cycles all play a part in evaluating microclimates.

Note the small white pen next to the trunk of this 8-month-old ‘Thai’ plant ready for harvest.

You can use any transparent container to protect plants from cold. Always make sure they have a little ventilation.

To make a cloche, cut the bottom out of a plastic milk container and remove the lid for ventilation.

A Wall O’ Water will keep plants warm when temperatures freeze.
    Dark rocks can moderate temperature in a very small area by soaking up the heat of the day then releasing it slowly as the evening temperature cools.
    Dark walls and soil will absorb and hold more heat than their light-colored counterparts. Or use plastic mulch which will shade weeds, prevent moisture loss, and raise the temperature of the soil by 5-15°F (3-8°C) on a sunny day. As plants grow, the leaves will shade the plastic and stop the warming effects.
    A lake, pond, or small creek will also moderate air temperature, keeping it warmer in winter and cooler in the summer.
    Cloches are individual protective coverings that keep plants warm at night. A simple cloche is a milk container with the bottom cut off and the lid removed. Placed over a plant, the plastic will capture and retain heat while allowing ventilation through the open