Optimal Flowering and Harvest Times for White Widow

White Widow—man, that strain’s a classic. Sticky, frosty, smells like pine and pepper had a baby and rolled it in sugar. But if you want her to really sing, timing’s everything. Flower too early and she’s grassy, weak. Wait too long? Harsh smoke, sleepy high. You gotta hit that sweet spot.

She usually flips into flower around week 4 or 5 if you’re running photoperiods. Indoors, of course. Outdoors? Depends on your latitude, but she’s not too fussy. Still—don’t trust the calendar blindly. Watch the plant. She’ll tell you. Pistils start stacking like crazy, leaves darken, trichomes pop up like frost on a windshield. That’s when you know she’s getting serious.

Now, optimal flowering time? 8 to 9 weeks. Sometimes 10. But don’t just go by weeks. That’s lazy. Look at the trichomes. Get a loupe—20x or better. When they’re mostly cloudy with a few ambers sneaking in? That’s your window. Pull too early and it’s all head high, jittery. Wait too long and it’s couch glue. I like 10% amber, maybe 15 if I’m feeling sluggish already.

Some folks swear by flushing two weeks before harvest. I do it, but I’ve also skipped it and still got smooth smoke. Depends on how heavy you fed her. If you’ve been dumping nutrients like a frat boy with a funnel, yeah—flush. If you’ve been gentle? Meh. Maybe just taper off.

Outdoor growers—watch the weather like a hawk. White Widow’s tough, but mold will wreck your day if you get a cold snap or too much rain late in flower. If you’re in a humid zone, maybe harvest a little early rather than risk rot. Better a slightly undercooked bud than a pile of gray fuzz.

One more thing—don’t rush the dry. You spent months growing her, don’t screw it up now. Hang her in the dark, 60°F if you can, 60% humidity. Let her take her time. A week, maybe two. Then cure in jars. Burp them. Be patient. That’s when the magic happens. The smell deepens, the harshness fades, and suddenly you’re holding something special.

Anyway, that’s how I do it. You’ll find your own rhythm. Just don’t treat her like a number on a calendar. She’s alive. She’ll show you when she’s ready—if you’re paying attention.