There’s nothing quite like harvest season. Months of waiting, watching, and tending the garden finally come to fruition. The choices cannabis cultivators make in these crucial days will decide the quality of their buds for months to come.
So what do the pros like to focus their time on?
Surprisingly, it’s not fancy gadgets or over-complicated tech. The top growers we spoke with were unanimous: a successful harvest is about planning ahead, tuning into the plant, and staying connected to your crew. From timing your cut with the moon to hand-picking each cola with care, the experienced approach is more about rhythm and respect than bells and whistles.
We spoke with some of the top cannabis growers in the nation to find out what every home grower should know. Whether you’re harvesting your first backyard plant or dialing in a multi-acre operation, these insights will help you keep terps intact, protect your trichomes, and set yourself up for a clean cure and beautiful finished buds.
Here are their top tips for a harvest you can be proud to share.
Start with a clear objective
Before you touch a plant, you first need to determine what success looks like for you. Are you aiming for top-shelf artisanal flower, a quick and efficient harvest, or something in between? Founder and CEO of Acknowledge Farms Stefanie Reiser says clarity drives every decision her team makes.
“We wanted to be at the artisanal, cutting-edge of the industry in terms of how we approach the plant,” Reiser said. “We focus on single strains, which we carefully select and grow only in an outdoor, full-sun setting. Having that central objective drives all of our decisions. We give a lot of care and tending to individual plants, and we build systems to optimize them in the field and at harvest time. It’s really important to define that goal and then work backward to build systems to accomplish what you need.”
Plan ahead and train your team
Harvest isn’t the time to wing it. Cannabis guru Ed Rosenthal emphasizes that preparation is everything when it comes to this time of the year.
“The biggest mistake you can make is not being prepared. It’s easy to start growing and selling plants, but you might find yourself in a bottleneck at harvest time if you don’t have enough space or provisions for the time it takes,” Rosenthal said. “You should know way before harvest where and how it’ll be dried and cured. Always make sure to plan ahead, especially if you have a harvest that is bigger than expected.”
Reiser agrees, adding that her team trains everyone ahead of time on what gloves to wear, how to handle plants, and how to break them down so they can go straight into drying.
“We’re a boutique brand and pretty low-tech, so we really want to be sure that we’re optimizing our plants and taking care of them,” Reiser said. “We are hand-harvesting. We’re not coming in with huge machines chopping at plants. Because of this approach, we need to make sure our team is trained ahead of time on how to handle the plant, the dos and don’ts, and how to get it into the drying room as quickly and safely as possible. You don’t want people showing up on the first day of harvest not knowing what to do.”
Work with nature
Timing is everything, and sometimes, Mother Nature has the final say. Humboldt Seed Company’s Chief Science Officer Ben Lind recommends paying close attention to the forecast and weighing ripeness against what’s coming.
“One in the bag is worth two in the bush,” Lind said. “Harvest before the weather hits, and do it during the cool parts of the day, like early morning or late evening, to preserve terpenes.”
Also, don’t underestimate the moon as a powerful harvest tool.
“The Hunter’s Moon in October historically marked the end of harvest season,” Lind said. “It’s nature’s reminder to get wrapped up soon.”
De-leaf for better light and faster drying
Rosenthal recommends a late-season de-leaf to give buds the best chance at finishing strong.
“During about the fourth or fifth week of flowering, you should be de-leafing your plants, taking off the bigger leaves that hide the bugs that impede bud growth,” Rosenthal said. “When your buds get more light, they grow bigger.”
You should also never harvest when your plants are still wet: another way de-leafing supports the process.
“If your plants get wet and have big leaves, it’ll take a lot longer for that water to evaporate, and they won’t get as much light,” Rosenthal said. “With bare buds, they’ll ripen around the same time, and drying is a whole lot easier.”
Handle your plants gently
Think of your buds like delicate produce: every touch matters.
“Handling your weed is the same as bruised apples,” Lind said. “Every time you touch the plant, you’re risking damage, especially if it’s still wet.”
Avoid squeezing, piling, or letting plants sit in the sun too long after cutting. Get them into a controlled environment as quickly as possible to protect those volatile terpenes and flavonoids.
Control your dry room environment
A steady environment is key to quality. Rosenthal recommends around 65°F and 50-55 percent humidity for the drying room.
“The higher the temperature, the more your terpenes will evaporate, so you need to pre-plan an area with optimal humidity and temperature,” Rosenthal said. “I have a space that maintains that for me; with that prepared, I can take my time. That will help the buds dry while maintaining terpene content, and it will also keep them in a nice curing range so they can stay fresh.”
Cure and store properly
Your harvest isn’t done when the plants are dry. Reiser’s team has used Grove Bags as the final step in the process for over a decade.
“Your bags are a key part of our harvest,” Reiser said. “We aren’t really finished with the harvest process until after the plants are dried and put into TerpLoc® bags. They’re the best quality in the industry.”
Remember: a successful harvest isn’t about rushing or relying on the fanciest new machine.
It’s about knowing your goal, staying prepared, and respecting the plant at every step. When you combine careful planning with the right environment and a gentle hand, you’ll be rewarded with flower that truly reflects all the work you put in.
