What you need to know to grow hemp yourself.

What you need to know- growing hemp yourself
Hello everyone,
Spring is the time to take action on your winter plans. This year many of you are considering it's time to try growing hemp plants in your garden. Please check with your state agriculture department to be sure you meet their regulations.

Colorado allows growing of six hemp plants per adult per house with a maximum of twelve plants at no fee.

If you are wanting to grow more than twelve plants, Colorado has the rule of base fee and per acre for outside crops and a different price based on square feet for greenhouse growing. 

There are many germination methods for garden plots, I have enjoyed using a Propagation Kit, with a light. These kits can be found at some local flower shops as well as online. You want one with a lid which allows for 16 inches of plant height. By following this method below, I have had excellent germination ratios, 98 – 99%. When something works I have learned to not “fix it”.

I use high quality planting soil with the plastic square divider that take 24 to 30 plants. Prepare the soil with liquid fertilizer. Fill as many squares as I intend to plant and add four extra to cover any that may not germinate. Moisten the soil by watering with fertilizer until water runs out the drain hole. After the water has drained and the soil is still damp each small square receives one seed planted  ¼ to ½ inch deep and covered with a small dusting of potting soil. Finally, place the lid on top and turn the  light on to keep the heat between 78 and 80 degrees F. 

The plants will start to peek at you in a week or two and should be allowed to grown in the covered kit. After two weeks, it is time to acclimate your plants. Acclimating your plants to the outdoors is extremely important to their survival. Because plants usually are grown in greenhouses, they've been pampered. They need to be introduced slowly to the elements of wind and intense sun. Initially, you will put plants outdoors only for short periods of time, perhaps for an hour.  (If you see it wilting, put it back in the shade for a while). You'll want to set them in a semi-shaded area of the yard. Gradually, you will increase the time plants are kept outdoors; you also will gradually increase their exposure to sun and wind. After seven to ten days, with an outside soil temperature of 68 degrees these plants will be ready.

If weeds have started in the garden, be sure to hoe them out before planting. You will find it very helpful to use a one year biodegradable ground cover, or be sure your lawn mower can be used between the rows. Plant the CBD starter plants five feet apart from each other. Each plant should be slightly mounded to avoid over saturation when watering. A drip watering system is very convenient, but not necessary. 

Drowning is one of the problems you will confront. Better to be light on water than heavy. You can expect the roots to grow to 2 ½  feet the first year and much deeper each following year. Along with the growth of roots, you can expect a production curve too. 
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If you get half of a pound of flower per plant the first year you've done well. By the third year you may be pushing two pounds per plant. 
More about hemp next time.

Dave and Gary