Harvesting and Enjoying Your Fall Cannabis Crop
by Bob Walloch and Angela Zoerb, GPS
Harvest season is one of the most rewarding parts of growing cannabis at home. After months of tending your plants, you finally get to enjoy the fruits of your labor— literally. Here in Minnesota, that moment usually comes in late August through September, right as the nights start to cool and the leaves begin to hint at autumn.
The key is to know when your plants are ready. Keep an eye on the pistils (those tiny hairs on the buds). They’ll darken from white to orange or brown as harvest nears. Even better, grab a small jeweler’s loupe and look at the trichomes —the frosty resin glands. When most are cloudy with a few turning amber, it’s time. Clear trichomes mean “not yet,” while all amber reveals you’ve waited too long.
Once you’ve picked the flower at the peak of ripeness for harvesting, you have a choice– freeze or dry, or some of both?
Freezing your harvest can be one of the easiest ways to go, especially if you have more than you expected! Simply grab a bag, cut down your stems, and then pop them in the freezer after bagging. This method takes care of any pests that might hitch a ride and preserves the peak flavors and terpenes for later processing by ice bath washing.
If dried flower is your goal, grab your pruners and cut your plants at the base. Hang whole branches upside down in a cool, dark place with good airflow, like a basement, spare room, or even a closet fitted with a small fan. Ideal temps for drying are around 60 - 70°F with humidity near 60%. Give them 7–10 days to dry until the smaller stems snap when attempting to bend them.
Next comes trimming, which can be surprisingly relaxing! Put on your favorite movie and snip away. Use small, sharp scissors to remove the sugar leaves hugging your buds. Don’t toss the trimmings: they’re perfect for infusing butter, making tinctures, or rolling into homemade pre-rolls.
After trimming, curing is where the magic really happens. Place your buds in clean glass jars, filling them about ¾ full so air can still circulate. Store the jars somewhere cool and dark, and open them a bit (burp) daily for the first week to release moisture. Don’t forget to cure your trim as well! After three to six weeks, your flower will be smooth, flavorful, and ready to enjoy. A patient cure pays off with better aroma and potency. It will be worth every minute!
And don’t forget— you can get creative with your harvest! Dry sift for kief, whip up oils for baking, or try your hand at small-batch hash or rosin. Even your stems and fan leaves can be composted or brewed into teas. There are resources available for your homegrow to be successful, no matter if you are new to gardening or an experienced grower.
Above all, enjoy the process! Harvest isn’t just the finish line; it’s a time of gathering, thanks, and celebration. From watching that tiny seed grow to rolling up your first puff, it’s a time to reflect on everything you grew and learned along the way. Share a jar with a friend, roll a joint from your own garden, or save a nug to remind yourself next spring how far you’ve come. That’s the beauty of homegrown cannabis. It connects you to the seasons, the soil, and a tradition as old as the plant itself.