Taking a Look at the Best Places to Grow Cannabis Outdoors
As marijuana becomes more widely accepted across the nation, more people are choosing to grow their own stockpiles of this diverse and versatile plant. Doing so allows them the freedom to take advantage of all cannabis’ benefits. It also gives them a better selection and more control over the potency and quality of their buds to name a few advantages. Of course, being able to reap the full benefits of marijuana requires first finding the perfect place to grow your American cannabis seeds.
Indoor Versus Outdoor Growing
Each cannabis cultivation method has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Indoor weed seed growers have complete control over their plants’ growing environments. It doesn’t matter if you live in California or Wyoming, since the indoor climate can be kept consistent. They have the freedom to regulate the amounts of heat, light, air, water and nutrients their plants receive to improve the size and quality of their yields. Hydroponic farming techniques use far less water and other resources, so they are better for the environment.
All that being said, growing marijuana indoors takes quite a bit more time, effort and care than outdoor cultivation. Plants raised inside depend on you for all the elements they need to thrive. You are responsible for providing nutrient-rich soil, adding water as needed, controlling the amount and intensity of light the pot plants receive, and regulating temperature and air quality among other aspects. That is a lot to take on especially for first-time growers.
Though it is possible to produce a healthy, bountiful marijuana crop inside, the great outdoors is the best environment for growing. When you grow cannabis outside, Mother Nature typically provides everything the plants need in just the right amounts to help them flourish. Of course, you will still need to monitor your crop in case it needs a little human intervention from time to time.
Keeping Your Marijuana Crop Safe
Although water, light, heat, air and nutrients are necessary for cultivating healthy cannabis crops, they are not the only elements to consider. Privacy is also a major concern. If your marijuana plants are out in the open where they are most likely to receive plenty of sunlight, water and air, they are also more exposed to prying eyes. This could leave you vulnerable to crop theft and property destruction to name a few potential hazards.
Also keep in mind there are limits and regulations regarding how many plants you’re legally allowed to grow and what you can do with them following harvest. In North Dakota, for example, you can only grow with a medicinal license if you live more than 40 miles from a dispensary. If you want to just grow for recreational purposes, you are going to have to keep your plants relatively covert.
Thinking in Terms of Space
On top of all those other factors, setting aside the right amount of space is crucial for a home cannabis garden. When scouring the internet for information on this topic, you will find a variety of opinions. In general, marijuana seeds need to be planted about three feet apart. This will ensure they have plenty of room to spread out and breathe once they begin growing.
By those standards, even people who do not have a great deal of outdoor space can find plenty of room for their marijuana crops. If you are growing for personal use and are not an unusually heavy smoker, those four legally acceptable plants should produce enough buds to keep you going from one harvest to the next. Of course, some people like to plant a few extras just in case some seeds fail to sprout, or growth does not quite pan out as planned.
Finding the Right Place to Grow Your Cannabis Outdoors
Now that we have covered the basic needs and considerations for growing a marijuana crop, it is time to think about some of the best spots to use for such a purpose. Any number of places could serve you well as long as all the right elements are in place. Still, some plots are better than others when it comes to creating a cannabis garden.
If you make a habit of growing a vegetable garden each year, you are in a perfect position to cultivate your own cannabis. This would mean you have a plot of land already offering enriched soil with good drainage that is ready and able to provide all the nutrients cannabis needs to grow.
You could simply plant your marijuana after the final frost of spring along with any other vegetables you plan to grow. Planting it in interior rows surrounded by corn, okra or runners like green beans would provide a nice hedge to better hide it from people who might plan to harvest it before you have a chance.
As long as you remained within the legal limits for homegrown marijuana plants, you would not have to worry about any negative ramifications. Your crop would be close at hand as well. This would make monitoring its health and catering to its needs a great deal simpler. Keeping it safe from invaders would also be a definite benefit.
Though this would make for the perfect situation, most people do not fit into all those parameters. That does not mean you cannot safely and successfully grow your own stockpile of cannabis. Plenty of other circumstances can come together to create an excellent spot for cultivating marijuana.
Along a Riverbank
If you happen to have a river running through your property, its banks will make a great place to plant cannabis. Soil on riverbanks is often rich in nutrients thanks to all the rocks and sediment in the water. Plenty of water is immediately on hand as well, so you would not have to worry about the plants drying out unless serious drought conditions developed. Trees and other plants already in place could also help hide your crop from potential thieves.
Though riverbanks are optimal spots for cannabis gardens, it is important to mull over a few factors before planting your crop. For one, these areas tend to be rocky. This means you would have to remove most of the problematic rocks from the soil to ensure your plants were able to thrive. Doing so could take hours if not days.
All those trees and plants that are great for hiding your cannabis also provide the perfect cover for anyone looking to raid your crop. You could easily get robbed without even knowing until it is too late unless the river runs directly through your yard and is not completely hidden from view. Flooding may be an issue as well.
In the Woods
For those who do not have a river running through their property but have a nice, wooded area nearby, this could also be a nice place for cannabis gardening. Again, the trees would provide good coverage from nosy and ill-intentioned passersby. Remember, though, marijuana needs plenty of air and sunlight. You might have to clear away at least some of the underbrush before planting, and it would be imperative to choose a spot where the sun consistently shines through.
Also keep in mind, the deeper into the forest you go, the further you will have to carry water to your marijuana plants if there’s not enough rain to keep them healthy. Keeping an eye on the crop and carrying the harvest back home could also be issues.
On a Balcony
Growing marijuana outdoors does not necessarily mean planting it in the ground. Numerous advantages can come from growing your crop in pots on a balcony or patio. If you happen to have access to a green roof, it could work nicely, too.
Plants in areas like these would still get plenty of rain and sunshine, and you could easily bring them inside at night to keep watch over them. These spaces also give you more privacy than open areas without depriving the plants of much-needed natural elements.
Experts point out south-facing balconies or porches are best because they usually get the most sunlight. It is important to avoid crowding the plants if you decide to go with this alternative. Be sure to separate their pots enough to allow for air flow.
Also remember the plants get larger, heavier and more awkward to carry as they grow. If you plan to bring them in at night or while you are away, this could eventually become a problem.
These are only a few of the options available to marijuana growers. Technically, you could cultivate your crops anywhere from an open field to the roof of a vacant building as long as the plants have access to all the essentials.
All Things Considered
When it comes to growing marijuana, outdoor cultivation is simpler, less expensive and typically better for the plants in comparison to indoor growing. Most strains thrive and produce abundant yields in a wide range of locales as long as they receive plenty of nutrients, water, sunshine and fresh air. Fortunately, the great outdoors has few limits.
Although a ready-made garden plot would be the ideal space for cultivating a cannabis crop, it is not the only option. Privacy, security and access to the basic essentials are the most important aspects to keep in mind when choosing a spot for your marijuana garden.
Growing plants on your own property allows for simpler care and closer monitoring. Not everyone has enough space to plant a cannabis garden or set out a few planters, though. For those who do not, off-premises planting is the only alternative. This leaves you at greater risk of theft and vandalism, but if you hide your garden well enough, it may not be an issue.
Each outdoor growing area has its own set of benefits and disadvantages. Consider all the alternatives available to you and weigh each one carefully before deciding where to plant your feminized marijuana seeds. From there, be sure to monitor your plants and cater to them as needed for a healthy, potent yield at the end of the season.
