Planting Hemp
We’re two weeks past the Spring Equinox and the time has arrived to plant this year’s hemp crop. The last of the snow has melted but nights can still be quite cold here in Maine (and the days too!) through April and May, so the seeds get started indoors. This allows the plants to get a head start on the season which means they can grow larger and produce more flowers.
The first step is always to soak the seeds in water overnight, which primes them for germination. Never soak for more than 24 hours, though, or you risk “drowning” the seed. I did this today, and tomorrow will plant the seeds in an organic potting mix.
I know I say this every year, but it always feels like witnessing a little miracle when the tiny green shoot pops up out of the soil a day or two after the seed was planted.
The tender seedlings will stay protected indoors for the first 2-3 weeks, then get moved outdoors to harden off in the sun and breeze. They start off this transition in cold frames, where the lid can be closed at night to protect from potential frost.
Why plant from seeds instead of using starts or clones? For one thing, hemp plants started from seeds have a stronger, deeper tap root, which makes them more resilient in the face of high winds. For another thing, the genetic diversity of a seed-planted crop makes the plants less susceptible to disease than a monoculture of clones. While there’s some variability in the individual plants, they’re generally quite similar.
Looking forward to another productive season in 2025. I’ll post updates throughout the season as we progress through the familiar hemp phases: sowing seeds, transplanting the seedlings, the vegetative phase, flowering, and finally the harvest. Away we go!
