Harvest

Harvest is the agronomic operation of severing mature female inflorescences from the rootstock, terminating the production cycle. Timing is determined primarily by trichome maturity, assessed with a 60×–100× jeweler's loupe or digital microscope: clear/translucent glandular heads indicate immature cannabinoid biosynthesis; cloudy/milky heads (indicative of peak THC accumulation) signal the optimal window for most drug-type cultivars; amber heads reflect oxidative cannabinoid degradation (THC → CBN) and a more sedative profile (Chandra et al. 2017). Secondary indicators include stigma browning and curling, and swelling of the perigonal bract. Typical indoor flowering durations are 8–12 weeks from photoperiod shift, with 7–10 days of pre-harvest flushing (plain-water fertigation) common in commercial practice, though peer-reviewed support for flushing effects on consumable quality is limited. Plants are cut whole-plant or branch-by-branch and immediately moved to the drying environment. Etymology: Old English hærfest, "autumn, reaping time." Synonyms/slang: chop, cut, "the chop." → See also: Trichome, THC, CBN (Chemistry), Drying, Curing, Wet weight.