When to germinate autoflower seeds on Maine to grow outdoors zone 4a/4b

I've already started mine and plan to put them out between the 15th and the 30th... We may be awfully lucky this year and get them out even earlier - next week is going to see temps in the 70s on several days!! But the reason I've started them so early is because I want to try my hand at some topping and mainlining which I've never done before (these will be my FIRST photoperiods!) and want to do that in the relative "safety" of my tent. Honestly, since you are going to be vegging the plant for a long period of time outside, it does no harm that I can see to extend the veg time indoors before putting them out! Good luck my friend.... I hope this summer is not as disastrous for you (OR me, for that matter) as last year!

Hello,you should ask growdiaries.com/grower/GrowingGranni,she is from Maine. Regards.

Check your farmers almanac for expected fall frost work backwards on life expectancy time from breeder and give yourself a couple weeks. Cutting down in aug works as well as sept oct. Im just north in nb i think i went right up to mid oct before i had to cut stuff down due to weather.

NOTE: I have never grown outside... so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. I would work backwards. Look at the info for your strain. Then add a week or two because the specified time is usually very optimistic. Then I would work backwards. From the longest day of the year (June 21 in the northern hemisphere) count backwards to find your start date. Auto's like long periods of daylight so I'd plan the flower period to be the weeks before and after the solstice. Maybe hope for flower to start several weeks before the solstice or earlier if you want the longer days for the final finishing off. Then back up however many weeks for the flower period and you get your start date. Of course this means you can only get one grow during the peak daylight time.

I'm going to start mine on 4/20. Then, I'm going to moe them outside after the last frost in May. I'm in western NY, so my zone is fairly close to you.

Soon as it is warm enough as other plants start growing. They like cooler weather in most cases. You may be able to get 2 run in even. Good luck