Is It Time to Harvest My Plant?

[Lucaanyday]

Hi everyone! 🌱

I'm wondering if it's the right time to harvest my plant. I'm a bit unsure, so I thought I'd ask for some advice from the community.
I’ve attached a picture of the plant.

Would love to hear your thoughts on whether it's ready, or if I should wait a bit longer.
Please feel free to ask if need any more info or photo.

Thanks in advance! 😊

[Bluey]

Hi Luca & welcome

There are 100s of tutorials on this website for you to read. I've filtered harvest specific ones for you via the below link, I think

https://www.growweedeasy.com/the-basics?category_parent=11&sortby=date-desc

Just judging by that pic I cannot say for sure but probably not yet

[Rwise]

At the top of this page is your answer "When to harvest" with many nice pics and lots of info

https://www.growweedeasy.com/harvest

[Lucaanyday]

Yes, sorry about that, I've actually been doing my homework and studying a bit.
I’ve been waiting for some of the trichomes to turn amber, but so far, I haven’t noticed that happening yet.
It seems a bit odd to me since the plant is autoflowering and should possibly be ready by now.

[Gingerbeard]

Maaannn... I'm going to say it. Trichomes don't always tell the tell. It is not super uncommon for plants not to amber up. They are our best indicator but they do not always show us what we want to see. On my screen, your pistils have turned black. Also on my screen, it looks like the trichomes have been touched off, as happens. Made up a word at the end. We should all use it.
How old is the plant?
What's the strain?
In what sort of light are you looking at the trichomes?
Where on the plant are you scoping your trichomes?
What are you using to look at your trichomes? Not what you used to take the picture, unless that is how you are trichoming.

[Lucaanyday]

The plant may be 3 or 4 months old.
I don't remember the stain.
I am just taking a macro pic with my mobile macro camera in day light.
I am thinking, could I harvest only one flower, and try it still fresh? or does it need to dry necessarily?

[Gingerbeard]

Try a different light. Something not as powerful as the sun. The sun can wash out colors. Even creating a shadow will change how the trichomes look.
3-4 months is plenty of time for most autos to mature. If you have an auto, you might want to consider harvesting. If you are growing feminized or photoperiod, you need to know when you flipped to 12/12.
The quickest way to try your bud is to snip off a bud and put it in a freeze dryer (not flash freezer). Rushing a bud to dry for a sample may make you hate your weed because it will taste like shit and may give you a headache.
The best way to check your trichomes is with a loupe or USB microscope. I've seen only the newer phones can get decent trichome shots.