Guida al coltivatore
Hemp (cannabis) is one of the oldest crop and ornamental plants in human history
Hemp has a wide range of uses, which is why people have been cultivating the plant for many thousands of years. In addition to fibres, oils and extracts are obtained from the hemp plant and used in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.
In Switzerland, growing hemp is permitted up to a THC content of less than 1%. This grower guide is intended exclusively for growing hemp plants outdoors with a THC content within the legally permitted limits for private use. This guide only contains basic information on the subject of growing hemp. For more in-depth information, we recommend that you consult the relevant specialist literature (Link zu Webshop Bücher).
Hemp (cannabis) belongs to the hemp family (Cannabaceae)
Hemp is an annual plant, which means its cycle from sowing to flowering and harvest takes place within one year. Hemp is dioecious, meaning it has separate sexes. There are male and female hemp plants and inflorescences. Hemp therefore relies on female inflorescences being fertilised by male pollen in order to form hemp seeds and reproduce.
Cannabis prefers to grow in tropical, Mediterranean and temperate zones such as the subtropics, where it can be found both cultivated and growing wild. However, some strains also have no problem growing outdoors from spring to autumn in regions like Central Europe, where they thrive magnificently.
Soil conditions
Soil quality is a very important point. Good soil gives the hemp plant all the essential nutrients it needs to thrive and produce a healthy, high-yielding hemp plant. Poor soil, on the other hand, can lead to anything from stunted growth, which naturally has a direct impact on the harvest, to the death of the hemp plant. So not all soil is the same, and not all earth is equal. It's what's inside that counts. A light, well-draining soil is ideal. There should also be enough nutrients. You can also achieve this with a slow-release fertiliser added to the soil according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Light and sun exposure
Find a spot with as much sunlight as possible. Light, in this case the sun, provides the energy for photosynthesis. Hemp needs a lot of it to grow. It loves standing in the sunlight.
So make sure there are no obstacles such as trees, houses or the like casting a shadow directly onto your cannabis plant.
Ideally, the spot faces south. Since the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, the south side gets sunlight all day long, whereas a spot facing west or east only gets sun for half the day.
Water
Like light, water is essential for the growth and life of the hemp plant. Water is mainly absorbed through the roots, but also through the leaves and stems via air humidity and spraying.
Water not only regulates the fluid balance of hemp plants, it also carries vital nutrients (nutrient salts) and trace elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium etc., as well as oxygen, into the plant.
Together with light, photosynthesis produces stem, leaf and flower material, which is what makes growth possible for the plant in the first place.
The cannabis plant can absorb fluids and nutrients through its leaves. This lets you help the hemp plant regulate its water balance faster after hot, dry days. Deficiencies such as a lack of nitrogen or phosphorus can also be fixed more quickly by adding fertiliser to the spray water.
However, this is no substitute for a healthy, nutrient-rich root medium. It's more of a “fine-tuning” to fill certain gaps in nutrient uptake. On top of that, any feeding through the leaves calls for a lot of care, because the leaves are very sensitive to burns. As a rule, only 10% of the normal fertiliser amount (when watering) is used as foliar feed (when spraying).
During flowering, only spray in the first weeks, and only if necessary. As the buds grow bigger and older, excess moisture makes them susceptible to mould, rot and insects. Do NOT spray the hemp plants in strong sunshine. The water on the hemp plant can cause the leaves and buds to burn in the incoming light.
The harvest
After a more or less successful grow, the moment every grower looks forward to most has finally arrived: harvest time! But choosing the right moment to harvest is just as important as processing and storage. Handling it the wrong way can easily reduce the yield you've gained.
Harvesting too early or too late can lead to lower cannabinoid content, lower harvest weight and reduced aroma. With a poor or wrong drying and storage method – e.g. too much humidity – the precious harvest can go mouldy or rot. If possible, keep the temperature of the room where you harvest and dry low, as this helps reduce the smell.
We always recommend drying the plants after harvest by hanging them up whole by the stem, so that the flowers and terpenes stay as intact as possible during the drying phase. If needed, the larger fan leaves can be removed beforehand.
For at least the last 14 days before harvest, the hemp plant should only be watered with clear water to flush any fertiliser residues out of the plant. You'll find more information on hemp and growing hemp in our webshop (link to books).
