Are you planting your garden beds and considering the addition of a cannabis plant? If so, congratulations. After all, it is your legal right as a Massachusetts resident to grow your own herb (and abide by the regulations). In the spirit of growing, we have six pieces of advice for your cannabis garden.
#1 Find a Sunny Spot
Cannabis plants love the sun. The more sun, the tastier the flowers. If you want them to grow big, give them the primo spot in the garden.
#2 Consider the Make-Up of Your Soil
Like other plants and vegetables, your cannabis needs nutrition. If you plan on using dry soil amendments to feed your plants, be mindful that depending on the amendment it could take months for it to become bio-available.
Using small amounts of compost introduces microbial life that will help soil amendments become more available. Too much compost however can cause the soil to become acidic and perhaps toxic.
My advice is to learn how to make aerated compost teas and all the plants and vegetables in your garden will love you for it.
#3 Are You Using Clones or Seeds?
If you are planting from clone, consider planting in June. If you are starting from seed you can start indoors as early as February or March. Be sure the plants you put in your garden are female or you risk pollenating yours and your neighbor’s cannabis plants which will cause the flowers to be seedy.
#4 What Companion Plants Will You Use?
Consider how cannabis will interact with your other plants and vegetables. Companion plants for cannabis include potatoes, carrots, and lavender.
Potatoes and carrots are good for creating space for air to get into the soil; cannabis roots like oxygen. Carrots are usually harvested before cannabis so there is little competition. The lavender will help keep bugs and animals away from your cannabis.
Don’t plant cannabis next to a tomato plant as they will compete for sun and space at the peak of their growth. Also, overripe tomatoes that fall to the soil could make it more acidic that cannabis prefers.
Squash and melons have wide leaves that tend to attract powdery mildew so keep them far away from your cannabis.
#5 Dealing with Pests
Use a natural way to deal with pests. It is a guarantee that bugs and pests will try to make your cannabis plants their nest and next meal. Fortunately there are an assortment of beneficial insects and microorganisms available for purchase online that can treat a variety of pest issues.
They include ladybugs, praying mantis, and other native species. When using beneficial organisms, the best method is to release or apply them before a pest has had time to settle in. Get yourself a magnifying glass.
If you choose to use a spray, please use something organic and ideally listed for use on cannabis. Limit any kind of spray while your cannabis plants are flowering.
#6 Protect Your Plants from Autumn Rain
You will want to consider a way to protect the cannabis plants from late September rains. Garden beds make it easy to attach framing for a removable cover. The extra love and attention you will undoubtedly give your cannabis plants will benefit the health of your entire garden. Happy growing.
“Hardworking buds for hardworking people.”
—Bud
