HappyDay: Seeds, Sex Tests, and Success

Casey O’Neill is a cannabis and food farmer in Mendocino County who has been writing newsletters about his efforts to provide sustainable produce and marijuana. We feature his column once a week.

       There are about as many different methods and timings for starting cannabis seeds as there are farmers who grow them.  Some folks like to start them earlier in the season, some later.  Some use heated greenhouses with supplemental light or start indoors, and some use unheated hoophouses and natural lighting.

       We start cannabis seeds in one-gallon pots in the unheated propagation house in March.  They are hardy plants that survive cold nights and the darker days of spring rain and snow storms.  The pots take up a lot of space in our limited seeding area but we prefer not to have to upplant.  We want them to develop their first true leaves with plenty of space for the roots to expand.

        One-gallon pots are the sweet spot for us in getting the plants to appropriate size for  gender testing to determine males and females, while still having enough space for roots to continue to grow until the results come in and we can plant.  The tests are expensive but create a huge savings of labor at a time of year when there is too much work to do, allowing us to plant direct from the one-gallons into low tunnels in the middle of April.

       If we don’t do the tests, we have to upplant into much bigger pots and spend the time looking for plant sex characteristics.  The tests also allow us to get everything in the ground at the same time.  The plants never stress in the hot greenhouse of later spring, and their roots can spread out into the living soil.

      The expense of the sex tests is hard on cash flow at a time of year when costs are high, but in our calculations, the labor and cost savings, along with the benefit to the plants make up for the frontloaded cost. It takes effort, initial expense and ongoing maintenance costs to build the low tunnels every year, but the additional benefit to the interplanted crops stacks functions in a way that benefits every aspect of our operation.

      Our process looks similar each spring, yet evolves over time.  We use the BCS to mow the cover crop, and we add compost and amendments based on the results of soil testing.  We broadfork and then use the power harrow to incorporate the cover crop into the top inch or two of the soil horizon, ensuring good contact that will hasten decomposition of the green biomass.

      After the prep is completed, we cover the beds with silage tarp (old light dep plastic) to help warm the soil to support decomposition and germination of weed seeds, which will sprout and die in the darkness under the tarp.  The soil is protected from spring storms so that we don’t lose nutrients to leaching into the environment.

      When it’s time to plant we pull off the tarps, lay out and make repairs to the drip irrigation system and build the low tunnels that will shelter crops.  We plant salad mixes, asian greens, onions, shallots, scallions and beets, leaving a space where each cannabis plant will go as soon as the gender test results come in.

       The sheltered food crops are a key part of our farm strategy, allowing us to maintain strong showings for market and CSA during the early season while cool, wet conditions slow the growth and can damage crops that lack shelter.  Stacking functions around crop production allows us to harvest more, make better use of our limited space, and keep growing plants in the beds as much as possible, providing root exudates that support the soil microbiome.

      Each year during our planning sessions we discuss what strains to grow, comparing clones and seeds, continuing with things tried-and-true while adding new contenders into the mix.  Some seed strains have been with us for more than a decade, reliable and trusted friends in the journey of the farm.

      The relationship between farmers and plants or animals is fundamental, a reliance for both life and identity.  When we are successful at growing or raising, we thrive in our interaction with the land and with community.  This potential for success is in direct correlation to the qualities of that which we tend.  We tap into the shared history of human agronomy, learning techniques and purchasing seeds that come true to what it says on the package, a culmination of breeding and human effort.  Each seed is a tiny, magical vehicle that represents the potential for growth, for expression, for joy.

       We humans consume and share in the bounty of the earth.  Recognizing and fostering that connection opens the door to a growing care for the relationships in which we participate.  We become more sensitive to the land and to the people with whom we share this journey of life.  As always, much love and great success to you on your journey!

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

7 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Valentine's day to tax day
Guest
Valentine's day to tax day
3 years ago

The ol rule of thumb was plant seeds valentine’s day, the ones that show by April 15 were good, much later and they might be a late male, or start flowering too late.
As far as making seeds goes, I feel like we’ve been neglecting males. They hold half the genetics. Picking one because it’s big, or poofed in the greenie by accident, for instance, doesn’t necessarily contribute to smell or flavor..it takes growing out another generation to find out!

Swine
Guest
Swine
3 years ago

Tests for sex? In 15 years never had to do and expensive test to find out what’s what. What a waste of money.

North west
Guest
North west
3 years ago

I’ve never heard of such a thing. So what do you do. Snip a leaf off and they can test before the plants are showing sex.
I’ve been out of the loop to long

North west
Guest
North west
3 years ago

Casey. Next time could you expand a little bit on how they test for sex Is it an actual DNA test? How much a plant does it cost?
This is something I have never heard about and find interesting. Thanks for the cheerful gardening tips

Casey O'Neill
Guest
Casey O'Neill
3 years ago
Reply to  North west

North west- I believe it’s a chromosome test that measures the male or female. The tests are from Leafworks in Sonoma, they’ve been great to work with. The costs vary a bit depending on number of tests, I think we got 200 of them for $12.50 each last year. When the plants get their first true leaves, you smear the cotyledon on the card that Leafworks provides and that gives them the material needed to do the test. Much love:)

Valentine's day to tax day
Guest
Valentine's day to tax day
3 years ago

I got one kit as a prize from Leafworks. Looks like you take samples and send em in to Sebastopol.

Sonnyb
Guest
Sonnyb
3 years ago

I love you Casey. Keep up the good work. I can’t wait for your next article and test.