Just started week 7 of flower and this auto is getting close. Being my first grow I don’t want to make the mistake and harvest too soon. I’m in no rush, I just don’t want to be late to the party either. 
I tried my best to get some closeups of the trichomes, from what I’m seeing looking at various flowers, Most trichomes are cloudy, some are clear and some, albeit rather few, are amber. Would love to hear suggestions and thoughts. Am I a week away? two? The plant has been pretty good but I did suffer some light burn and looks like some nutrient deficiency that I never quite figured out. It’s SUPER frosty right now though. The tent picture, the plant in question is front left, the others are all different strains ( won’t make that mistake again lol ). Would love to hear opinions/suggestions and thanks in advance, I really appreciate all the input you guys have really helped me make my first grow get REALLY close to being a successful ride.
Fantastic grow. Wow! I go for cloudy and 10-15% amber. Typically autos are ready 10-14 weeks from seedlings. Your Trichomes look like there is a lot of clear to me. Do you have a microscope like this? They are great for clear pictures close up. You can even put it on a microphone stand to make it steady
Hey Thanks John! I was just looking at one of those electronic microscopes just like the one pictured that also sends the image to your phone via bluetooth. I guess I should break down and get one So this plant probably has another couple weeks at least you think?
Those microscopes dont cost much and money well spent for sure. I have one like that. I think you have a couple weeks maybe. Nice plants @CarnivoreGreen
Check the trichomes. If you ain’t at 20% amber or better I’m gonna go with no. Get jewelers loupe or electro microscope for your phone and check them girls out. You don’t try and get the girl based on a glance at least not if your looking to get married why would you want to harvest without vetting the girls your gonna be toke~N?!
I believe you are at the beginning of the harvest window. Its a window of time that is not a brief fleeting period, but can last for a few weeks as the resin glands age and mature.
My suggestion since this is your first plant is to do a staged harvest. Taking a stalk starting now and then waiting a week and taking another one or two based on the trichomes. This will allow you to test the effects and see what YOU like. We all have what we like and harvest accordingly, but you may prefer the effects of a harvest at the early stage of ripeness. And how will you know without a way to feel it.
So take a branch now. Watch for 100% cloudy. Then 10% amber. 20% and so on. This may take a month as the aging is not fast. Take the majority at 10 to 20% amber as that’s is the most common favorite among growers. Take the last few with 30% or more to feel the sedative effect yourself. All this is only possible if the plant develops amber at all. Some plants are stubborn and I have had a couple that refused to develop amber. Btw, you need to look at the trichs on the flower buds and not the little leaves within the flowers. The sugar leaves mature way before the flowers do.
Once you learn what you like then you can determine for yourself when the plant is ready.