Auto Gagarin by Bob Marley Seeds

First Week (May 8). For growing I use a 4.5 m2 plantation. I plant seeds into the ground without germinating them. My location is southern Ukraine, namely Kherson region. I’m only reporting about Auto Gagarin, but in fact 4 autoflowering plants participate in this cultivation: a White Widow and AK-47 XL plants were accompanying. Since it is my own garden where I am growing, the soil needs little loosening: refreshed with new harvests annually, it is perfect in aeration and contains enough organic waste for anything to grow and flourish. I plant my seeds, pour them with root-forming solution and consequently repeat the latter action during next three days. On day 4 I see a tiny sprouting growing above the spot where I planted my Gagarin seed. I start watering it twice a day in small amounts. Luckily, my plantation is hidden from anybody’s view behind corn, so no matter how tall the plant will grow, I don’t have to limit its growth. On day 6 Gagarin has developed her two first leaf pairs and I can see where the next one is going to be, looks so fragile. I’m encouraged to see that the stem is gradually getting thicker.

Second Week (May, 15). Now I water my plant once in 2-3 days. It has reached 8 cm’s height by day 1. On day 2 it is slightly raining the whole day, so I do no watering until day 4. The plants seem to have grown noticeably, I measure them and, indeed: it’s day 4 and the height has reached 10,5 cm! 2,5 cm in 2 days! Must be due to rainy weather. On day 7 I measure the height again, and now it is 12 cm.

Third Week (May, 22). My Auto Gagarin plant has now a slight smell that makes you think of melissa. Today (day 1) I’m adding a little organic waste to my water measuring the plant’s height to see how much it will have grown by the end of the week. Presently it is 12,8 cm. Days 2 and 3 pass without a single cloud, and I’m watering the cannabis twice a day, at 7 am and 9 pm. Caught several caterpillars which makes me happy I live near my plantation and can defend it against insects. Day 4 is cloudy and stuffy, and I only have to water my plantation in the morning, because a rain sets in starting from afternoon until 7:30 pm. On day 5 my morning hunt, again, brings me five caterpillars and also a couple of snails. Starting to think of some chemical protection that would not be so toxic. On day 7 I measure the height, and bravissimo: my Auto Gagarin is now 17,8 cm!

Fourth Week (May, 29) I think there is no need for chemical substances to protect my cannabis, because the more often I examine it, the less insects I find. Auto Gagarin is about to bloom! I see its nodes growing! The stem look good, but I’ve noticed it slightly bending, so today I tied it to a stick. By the end of fourth week Auto Gagarin is 26 cm tall and I resume that its increased growth is the so-called stretch.

Fifth Week (June, 5) The nodes are getting bigger and bigger. Also, now I can smell Gagarin from 7 m’s distance, it is sweety. This week is rather hot, but the plants seem to sustain it alright. It is amazing how beautifully they are starting to look. I also can see that the tips of oldest leaves are getting slightly yellower than the rest. It means that flowering process started to take minerals from the bottom of the plant towards its top, and from now on its increased growth is going to fade off. Auto Gagarin has grown 1 m 12 cm and is still growing, although slower. It is an incredibly bushy plant. I’ve taken a look at the calyxes through a magnifying glass and seen the pistils, which are so far tiny.

Sixth Week (June, 12) Auto Gagarin is gradually beginning to reek :) Luckily, its flavor is exotic and makes me think of some flowers I’ve never smelled.

Seventh Week (June, 19) I haven’t visited my Auto Gagarin for 5 days. The plant seems alright, but a little tired of caterpillars, so I threw away every one. I didn’t expect Auto Gagarin would still be growing now, but has got 1 m 23 cm by day 7.

Eighth Week (June, 26) Today I added a couple of supports. It has occured to me that the only reason why cola is the biggest is that it is the top point. That is why every branch that looks downwards I’m now trying to hold up. Most probably Auto Gagarin will have bigger side colas from now on.

Ninth Week ( July, 3) Strangely, I see that the idea of additional supports does not work. The plant looks tired now. I lowered the supports so that all side branches are almost horizontal. The smell has by now reached such a degree that I feel a little stoned having spent 20 minutes retying and examining the plant.

Tenth Week (July, 10) The improvement I made by lowering the side branches seems to be working. My plant looks brighter and the smell has got pungent indeed. Now I can distinguish that Auto Gagarin’s smell resembles freshly made coffee.

Eleventh Week (July, 17) I wish you could see the buds. Alas, any picture I take is not good enough, since I’m worst at photography. They have got juicy and, the good thing, I see that Auto Gagarin strives to feel all possible space with them - they are growing amazingly fast. Now if I touch one, fingers feel sticky and smell of garlic for the rest of the day no matter how much soap I use.

Twelfth Week (July, 24) Most probably next week is going to be the last one. Lower leaves are all yellow now, but it is a good sign. Actually Auto Gagarin looks ready to me. Some pistils have got brown already. I don’t want my buds to be deadly Indica that puts one to sleep, so next week, I believe, I’m harvesting the plant.

Thirteenth Week (July, 31) By Wednesday I realized that there are no new white hairs, but more brown ones. It means that Auto Gagarin is getting more and more sedative. Thursday morning (right before dawn, as Greg Green recommends) I pulled the plant out of the ground and hung it upside down in my garage (in a closet).