Jeffrey Hickey Writes Blogs

Blog

  • Summer Solstice Special

    This blog is meant for those who long to linger in the loam on the 21st of June. The longest day of the year is rife with possibilities. There are barbecues, hikes, ball games, parties, gatherings, and rituals. It tends to be a social day. But for this home grower,…

  • The Menu is Set

    The above sight was unimaginable until only a couple of weeks ago. I am now using outdoor lights in both my growing beds and in the aviary, where we’ve put two plants. They are attached to timers and they go on from 5:30-7:30 every morning. This little bit of extra…

  • Planting Time

    May 27 This is what it looks like the very first day our beds got a little over 12 hours of sun. What extends our light to cannabis growing time are the ways the sun peeks between branches from far off trees and still touches my plants. The beds are…

  • How To Plan a Grow

    The sun is beginning to move into place for our grow. I look back on previous years, when I planted as early as late April, and was rewarded by having eight plants attempt to flower in early May. I see the sun peeking through the trees, and I must resist…

  • One Month Before Planting

    I just finished transplanting most of my sprouts to 3-gallon pots, where they will stay for the next month. Planting day is June 1. The next significant day will be in ten days, when sexing begins. While doing the delicate transplanting, I lament over the waste of good soil, only…

  • What’s In Your Garden NOW?

    I’ve got seeds germinating in the cottage right now. The grow is on.  I’ll start transplanting tomorrow, and it’s 41 days until plants go into my outdoor raised beds. In the meantime, what do I already have in my garden? Am I doing anything else to prepare for the grow?…

  • Are you Ready to GRow ?

    The outdoor growing season is upon us, so I assume you outdoor growers are ready. For beginners, here are a few key questions that may or may not have occurred to you. The answer is another question–do you have a place to grow that receives over 12 hours of direct…

  • The Value in Testing Plants

    One of our favorite local cultivars: The West Marin Mystery Those who have read all of my blogs know how much I value testing, though perhaps some of you don’t know exactly why. This blog is going to talk about the value of testing, how testing is the only way…

  • Labor of Love–The 2023 Grow Recap

    The 2023 grow was the most difficult I’ve had to date. Many factors contributed to this, as both humans and nature conspired to achieve a maelstrom of sorts in my life. That said, it all ended pretty well, and my objective for this grow was achieved. The objective for this…

  • Know Your Bats & Spray Your Stargus: The 2022 Grow Recap

    I always listen closely when more experienced growers speak. Since I came to growing cannabis much later in life than most I know, I benefit from the wisdom of their tales. Over the years, I have heard stories about bat guano from growers. Some swear by it to this day,…