OCTOBER 18th to OCTOBER 24TH
Sunrise: 08:31 | Sunset: 18:50 | Total Daylight: 10:19
Weather over the past week saw several consecutive days of full cloud cover and rainy periods. Greenhouse has held temperatures during the day, and only dropped below 10C once (Day 168). Good periods of sun on Day 167 and 168, with the forecast looking sunny for the next few days. I suspect that will help along the ripening process as the plants process nutrients from the fan leaves during the fade. There hasn't really been any issues with humidity levels, as it has hovered in and around 40% to 45% RH
Both Lemon Orange specimens are near ripe, with many trichome heads cloudy, some clear, and few amber. Suspect it is a matter of days before they are ready to be harvested.
DAY 162
2L of plain rainwater (cold) applied to all but Lemon Orange #2 (1L for this specimen).
DAY 163
n/a
DAY 164
15C in greenhouse in the morning; Cloudy and cool day overall, but greenhouse holding temperatures above 19C and plants are clearly going through senescence.
DAY 165
Steady rain overnight, with armer temperatures; Greenhouse held overnight at 17.5C and 50% RH. Cool, cloudy and rainy day (high of 9C, 97% RH, but greenhouse and the associated equipment performing as designed and holding temperatures at 19.5C with humidity ranging from 40% to 45%.
DAY 166
Cool and rainy overnight (6C intermittent light rain). Greenhouse held to 16.5C and 41% RH. Noticed some droop so provided 1L of plain rainwater (cold) via drip in the afternoon to each specimen and everyone perked up thereafter. Temperatures reached 19C for much of the day, with 43% humidity. Temperatures outdoors were a high of 7C, with 80% humidity (or more) during the day. Remained overcast for much of the day, but there was a couple of periods of increased brightness. Plants are doing well, all fading;
Lemon Orange #1 is nearing full ripeness, and has displayed blue-ish purple tints in upper sugar leaves. and smells of sweet citrus. A few lower leaves are yellowing, but it hasn't progressed to fan leaves near the top of the plant. Pistils are all wilted and receded into calyxes (and have been for several days). Upon inspection, clear trichome heads outnumber cloudy ones, and there are very few if any amber ones.
Lemon Orange #2 is furtherest along in senscence and is soon to drop lower leaves. Upper fan leaves are slowly fading from green to yellow. Flowers are large and comparable to Lemon Orange #1 and #2 of the Summer of 2024, have very good trichome production and smell strongly of lemon with an earthy background. Pistils have largely wilted, however those at the apex of flowers are still white. Calyxes have plumped, but they're not quite ripe yet. Upon inspection, clear trichome heads outnumber cloudy ones on calyxes, while at edge of sugar leaves there are quite a few amber heads.
DAY 167
Overnight low of 2C, greenhouse held at 12.5C and 41% RH. After a cloudy cool morning, the sun broke through and warmed up the greenhouse shortly after the noon hour. Exhaust fan even came on intermittently to reduce temps below 24C. Humidity was ideal all day, in and around 40%.
After noting some droop, applied 1L of plain rainwater (cold) via drip to both Lemon Orange specimens. This may be the last watering of the season. I think it will be possible to decommission the irrigation system for the winter over the coming weekend. I can pull 20L of water for use either for this crop and/or the mother tent.
Lemon Orange #1 will be ready any day, but clear trichome heads still outnumber cloudy ones. Purpling of upper parts of flowers in sugar leaves and calyxes is progressing, with some yellowing of fan leaves starting to move up the plant. Flowers appear ripe with pretty much all pistils wilted and receded into their calyxes, but trichomes do not.
DAY 168
Greenhouse 9.5C (-2C outside) in the morning with 40% RH. Sunny morning, with greenhouse warming to over 10C by 9:30AM; Exhaust fan kicked in to hold temperatures at 24C just before the noon hour. Both Lemon Orange specimens are showing cloudy trichomes outnumbering clear ones, and outside of the margins of sugar leaves, there are few amber trichomes present. Both plants are a mere few days away from harvest.