Cold weather coming... when do I harvest?

[Buddyster]

Another question from the noob (me). I’m doing an outdoor grow in Western Mass. Nighttime temps here are in the 50s now, and will be in the forties within the next couple of weeks. First frost will be early to mid October.

I’ve read that once the cold hits, I shouldn’t expect my plants to make much progress. On the other hand, my buds look like they’re nowhere near ready to harvest. Pics attached.

So what do I do? Should I harvest what I can once the temperature hits a certain low? Or should I just leave em out there until they look ready to harvest?

The plants are mostly Super Girl Scout Cookie Hybrid, but I’ve also got a couple of Sour Diesel Sativas and Peppermint Kush Indicas.

[Smerft85]

If you harvest based on cold weather theh wont be ready, you have one luxury that I dont being the fact yours are potted and mine are straight in the ground. If you can at night, you might consider moving them into shelter of some sort overnight in the 30° nights, but that first frost will be a more appropriate harvest time. I'm getting 48 hours of 30°ish temps, my main goal is trying to keep excess moisture off them, I'm in Colorado and probably getting my first snow, but it's not cold enough for ground frost or even for any snow to stick around long enough. Your girls will still bulk up during cold spells, but do try to keep them from freezing somehow.

[dphipps1020]

Straight in the ground in Colorado? That's ballsy for sure lol. I tried an outdoor plant last year just to see how it would go. Didn't take care of her very well so she didn't get big at all. Pretty sure I planted too early, grasshoppers were eating it, and then the cold moved in too quick so it died before it even really got started flowering. We've had snow all day today, off and on. Definitely wasn't expecting that this soon. Going to try my luck next year with some autoflowers. I feel like that's really the only way to get a successful grow in Colorado with our weather.

[Smerft85]

I dont think it's that ballsy after 10 years of doing it, but the snow did a number on them last night. I didn't sleep a wink and was shaking the snow off them every 30-45 minutes. I'm going to spend a good portion of my day today tying branches up for support. They aren't dead, but they definitely aren't happy, if they pull through and still go another month I'll have to pay myself on the back a little after all this, I'm fucking exhausted.

[Farmbuck]

Far from harvest by looking at your buds... I live in Canada and the summer is short here. So try to bring them inside, 50F is too cold for flowering. The reason why I opt for an indoor grow room.

[CaptainWiese91]

beautiful plants i must say!

[Buddyster]

Thanks for the feedback! I’m thinking that maybe I germinated my seeds a little late (I started them the last week in May)

My ex’s sister in law was growing (outdoors, in the ground) in Downeast Maine (!). Wish I could ask her how she handled the issue of harvesting before the frost...

My local grow shop guy told me I should try to plant in the ground next year, but now I’m sort of glad I’m in containers...

[Ckbrew]

I feel your situation. First year grow. One inside, one outside. The inside crop is done and in the jars. The outside grow I am dealing with cold coming. Damp at night, only 4.5 hours of direct sunlight but 13.5 hours of sunlight, bugs, fungus, and all the rest. I think I will stick with indoor growing in the future.