2024 · April → October · McHenry, IL
Backyard season — Fox River Valley
Seven plants, full trellis, finished before the first frost. The full season arc from under-lights starts to late-September harvest.
This was a full-season outdoor run in the Fox River valley: seven plants, all in fabric pots against the south-facing side of the house. Started indoors in April under an LED to get them past the last frost, moved outside in late May, trellised in July, and finished the last plant during the first week of October.
Key decisions this season:
- Site: south-facing, with the house blocking afternoon wind from the west. Six-plus hours of direct sun from around 10am to late afternoon.
- Soil: local topsoil amended with compost, worm castings, and coarse sand to break up the clay. About 30 gallons per plant.
- Trellis: two-layer panda netting on bamboo stakes, installed when plants hit 24 inches. Pre-emptive rather than reactive.
- Water: drip lines to each bag, set to run by hand every 3–4 days once plants were established. Rain filled in a lot of the rest.
- Harvest: staggered over two weeks in September and early October based on trichome checks. The last plant came down October 3, the day before the first real cold snap.
The set
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April — starts under lights. You can't direct-sow here; last frost is mid-May. -
Late May — transplanted into fabric pots, first week outdoors. -
July — full trellis up, mid-veg. -
Early August — first pistils. -
Late August — golden hour, full flower. -
Scale check. Banana included for reference. -
September — finishing next to the house. Light, wind, and water all where you want them.
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