Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cultivating CBD Seed in California

Now that hemp cultivation is federally legal, California has its own USDA-approved hemp program. With more and more farmers entering the industry, this is a great time to look for ways to give your farm the competitive advantage. When it comes to hemp farming, there are two different types available. Farmers can either grow CBD hemp for CBD production or grow industrial hemp for all the other endless applications that hemp has to offer. For beginner farmers, there are many obstacles that you can potentially run into. Here are eight of the most common beginner mistake to avoid when planting CBD seed in California.

What Beginner Mistakes to Avoid When Cultivating CBD Seed in California

1. Overwatering your hemp crops: While hemp is often considered a low maintenance crop due to its adaptability to different climates, many encounter overwatering their crops without even knowing. Did you know that consistent overwatering is a lot more harmful to hemp than the occasional underwatering? The issue with overwatering hemp is that it can prevent proper oxygen levels from reaching the roots. Additionally, constantly wet soil can also lead to fungus, mold, or root rot.
2. Not doing your research: Having comprehensive hemp knowledge, especially when it comes to what strains you’re growing is crucial. While Google can be a great resource, it doesn’t offer all of the guidance you may need for running a successful hemp farm. Reaching out to an industry professional can help you gain some of the knowledge you need that only comes with experience. Another great resource is reputable CBD hemp seed providers. Ask them for specific requirements for the strains they offer.
3. Missing the signs of improper pH levels: This is a common mistake made by beginners– being able to see the signs of wrong pH levels usually comes with experience. Once you’ve determined the pH requirements needed by your hemp crops, you can test your soil to know their levels. Once tested, you can make soil amendments if needed. Wood ash or lime can be used for increasing your soil’s pH while sulfur or aluminum sulfate can help decrease your soil’s pH.
4. Overfeeding or underfeeding your hemp: Hemp is very sensitive in regards to what nutrients it needs. Beginner hemp farmers can, unfortunately, make the mistake of overfeeding or underfeeding their crops. It’s always important to do strain-based research on feeding requirements. Once you understand what the specific strain nutrients you need, you can create a consistent feeding schedule to stick to. Another thing to be aware of is not over-fertilizing your crops– this can lead to other issues.
5. Improper lighting: Lighting is another thing that’s based specifically on the strain you’re interested in cultivating. Lighting requirements also change during the different stages of hemp growth. Make sure to reach out to your California CBD seed supplier to find out what these requirements are in order to avoid giving your crops too much light or too little light. Too much light can cause sunburn and make your plants susceptible to numerous heat issues. Too little light leads to your hemp using its energy to grow closer to its light source. This creates skinny, tall plants that are incapable of holding themselves up.
6. Planting CBD seed in nutrient-poor soil: Nutrients are very important for the success of any hemp crops. Your soil must be rich in essential macronutrients known as NPK. NPK stands for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Researching your strain’s needs can help you achieve the right composition of nutrients in your soil. Always make sure that your soil is not compact– light and airy soil is ideal for providing a stable foundation for CBD hemp roots. Packed soil will only deprive your roots of oxygen.
7. Poor germination technique: Don’t let your California hemp farm fail before you even get started. Standard CBD seed germination techniques include keeping them in a moist environment with a temperature range of 71 to 77 degrees. Another tip is keeping your CBD seed clean and free of any contaminants.
8. Wrong seed or poor-quality genetics: Make sure to avoid purchasing industrial hemp seed if you’re planning on growing hemp for CBD production. Industrial hemp seed will be less expensive but won’t contain the CBD content you need. Another mistake is purchasing poor-quality genetics or unknown genetics. Poor-quality seeds will have lower CBD ratios while unknown genetics don’t allow you to do the proper research for understanding nutrient, lighting, sowing dates, flowering time, and other grow requirements. Always purchase your CBD seed from a reputable supplier and read through the COAs.

Work with California’s Trusted CBD Seed Supplier

CBD Seed Co. is honored to be the trusted CBD seed supplier serving the state of California. Work with our industry-leading hemp farmers to gain access to exclusive grow advice and the support you need for starting a successful farm. For more information regarding what common mistakes you’ll want to avoid for your first hemp growing season, please contact us!