Just wanted to open a discussion on pollen and seeding plants lately.
I have noticed an increase in seeds. I have a theory on a percentage of it.
With all the legalizing happening MANY MANY new growers appearing. Outdoor grows. Not knowing to kill the males early. Pollen travels a good ways and 2 or 3 growers in a couple square miles can seed the area. In and out. Just my thought.
What do you folks think.
Your theory initially sounded like it might be a bit far-fetched, but after some consideration I think you might be right. Little backyard grows are getting common where I live and it won’t even be legal to grow until 7/2024. We’ve had legal weed for a year and the smell of weed is all over the place – street corners, city sidewalks, bus stops, alleys outside of bars, you name it… I wouldn’t be surprised if cannabis pollen was floating around just like the smell of it being smoked is floating around almost everywhere.
Also, many many new breeders, probably a few not always using the best selective techniques for feminization, leading to some instability.
If the premise of higher pollination rates is true, I’d imagine there is probably more than one contributing factor, with 2 root causes; novice enthusiasts in all fields, and money (from a business perspective).
Just some thoughts.
I have often pondered this myself. That is the primary reason I do my seed runs in the winter these days. No one is outdoor then and I don’t want bad karma. I quit trying to pollinate side branches to my harvest crops. It would always seed them out.
Thinking back to the war on drugs, If they really wanted to kill the industry they could blanket dump hemp pollen over known grow zones and mess up everyone’s crops and genetics.
Sounds like a Monsanto tactic…
Only if they slapped a lawsuit on you afterwards for stealing their genetics. Ha the wind blows a holes…Monsanto
Very very possible. Think about dandelions. High winds can blow those puffballs for miles and miles before they settle… same with pollen…
I’ve read quite a few newbies that grow outdoors wanting to experiment with seed making and leaving the males to do ‘whatever’ and they don’t seem to care even 1% that their pollen might affect another grower in the area. I keep my mouth shut but really want to call them out on it.
The other thing is with them thinking they are creating ‘new crosses’ by one single pollination with zero pheno hunting for stability.
I have a few ‘accidental crosses’ but they are just that… I got a ton of seeds and it was an accident. Most grow exceptionally well but there was no effort put forth in them which make me just the opposite of a cultivar LOL… just someone who can give people ‘in need of seed’ something to grow for medicine.
Sounds right because ive had a few seeds in every plant ive grown in the past 3 season , not many but still some , i really dont mind as long as it doesnt get out of control , only real problem for me is you dont know what the cross breed is , one of my best plants this season is from a seed from a plant last season , When i dont know the strain i call it UK N D USA , i have several this season , UK is short for unknown not a british reference if anyone is wandering