Autoflowers outdoors?

Feel free to challenge this or flat-out disagree, but I think growing autoflowers outdoors doesn't make any fucking sense.

It's a weird thing to say since Ruderalis has evolved outdoors like any other strain, but because their lifecycle is not dictated by the sun in the majority of our latitudes, our environment exposes the grow to a variety of potential issues.

For example, a friend gave me an autoflower Acapulco Gold in May (without telling me it was an autoflower) and I grew it outside. Due to it flowering at the peak of summer heat, its buds ended up being super airy and fluffy and it took me forever to figure out what the hell happened...it was technically my first grow so I was all sorts of confused. It still does the job, don't get me wrong, but the buds are fucking weird man.

Do others agree that autos should only be grown indoors, or am I alone here?

Your theory is silly
Some people don't have the season to grow full photoperiod plants and bring them to harvest before bad weather comes. Saying one way or another is better/worse is just ignorant. It all depends on the growers situation. Personally I think growing autos indoors is a waste of time and power unless you're running them in a dedicated veg room. But that's just my opinion.
If you're growing autos in full summer sun and they turned out airy then you did something wrong or the genetics were shit. Forming a strong opinion after one grow ever doesn't make much sense either way.

Jjgrow420 said:

Your theory is silly
Some people don't have the season to grow full photoperiod plants and bring them to harvest before bad weather comes. Saying one way or another is better/worse is just ignorant. It all depends on the growers situation. Personally I think growing autos indoors is a waste of time and power unless you're running them in a dedicated veg room. But that's just my opinion.
If you're growing autos in full summer sun and they turned out airy then you did something wrong or the genetics were shit. Forming a strong opinion after one grow ever doesn't make much sense either way.

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Well, ok let me walk that back.

I don’t think growing autos outdoors is patently wrong - I just think it is rolling the dice to do it indiscriminately since one might end up harvesting at a bad time…say, in August when the temp and rh are both in the 90’s and you're at serious risk of mold, fluffy/fox-tailing buds, etc.

Jjgrow420, it’s certainly possible I botched something in my inexperience - but i think it’s also possible that peak summer conditions had a negative effect on my flowering auto, wouldn’t you agree?

I never hear anyone discussing seasonal guidance for outdoor autos, so I wanted to elicit some thoughts on this. Do people have opinions on specific conditions (location, season) that are optimal for successful auto grows, or is this really not a consideration for most growers?

There's always a risk growing outdoors. You can't control the environment. Whether it's Aug or late Oct.
First grow with no exp? I'd have to lean towards grower error/inexperience. No knock just what it is.

in the north in summer we get 17 hours of light Like where im at the only thing u got a hope in hell finishing is autos or semi autos personally i think ur wasting space growing em inside unless its in with ur mother room each to there own i suppose

I flat out disagree.

I don't grow autoflowers. I have in the past and they've always done great outdoors.

Your theory is complete nonsense. The best weed I have ever grown, were outdoor Autos.

I'm going to grow a couple outside this summer. Zone 3.

Autos outdoors ake sense for people in more northern zones that have a hard time finishing photos later in the year.

This is all great feedback. Happy to stand corrected here. Thank you for your responses

I grew a few autoflowers outdoors last summer since we used/gave away too much of our 2021 harvest and were going to run out of weed before the next harvest. We grew 3 sets of 2 plants (6 total) and harvested in July and August. Had no issues growing in 3 gallon pots. Growing autoflowers filled a need for us.

old_smoke said:

I grew a few autoflowers outdoors last summer since we used/gave away too much of our 2021 harvest and were going to run out of weed before the next harvest. We grew 3 sets of 2 plants (6 total) and harvested in July and August. Had no issues growing in 3 gallon pots. Growing autoflowers filled a need for us.

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Thanks old_smoke that’s great to hear. Just out of curiosity, what’s your latitude and/or what were the environmental conditions?

jimbonorman said:

Feel free to challenge this or flat-out disagree, but I think growing autoflowers outdoors doesn't make any fucking sense.

It's a weird thing to say since Ruderalis has evolved outdoors like any other strain, but because their lifecycle is not dictated by the sun in the majority of our latitudes, our environment exposes the grow to a variety of potential issues.

For example, a friend gave me an autoflower Acapulco Gold in May (without telling me it was an autoflower) and I grew it outside. Due to it flowering at the peak of summer heat, its buds ended up being super airy and fluffy and it took me forever to figure out what the hell happened...it was technically my first grow so I was all sorts of confused. It still does the job, don't get me wrong, but the buds are fucking weird man.

Do others agree that autos should only be grown indoors, or am I alone here?

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In northern climates (mines north of 45 degrees) its a perfect tool for us in the summer, place em out in mid may and harvest in july, put more out in July and harvest in early/mid-September before the rain and weather shows up.... two harvests per year outdoors in N. Mi , with hardly any of the bullshit that comes along with a late september/early oct. harvest of photo's

jimbonorman said:

Thanks old_smoke that’s great to hear. Just out of curiosity, what’s your latitude and/or what were the environmental conditions?

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I'm on Long Island, NY.

old_smoke said:

I'm on Long Island, NY.

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Wow, nice to hear you pulled successful grows through that heat. My dad grew up in Massapequa. Those summers can be intense...

Budget Buds said:

In northern climates (mines north of 45 degrees) its a perfect tool for us in the summer, place em out in mid may and harvest in july, put more out in July and harvest in early/mid-September before the rain and weather shows up.... two harvests per year outdoors in N. Mi , with hardly any of the bullshit that comes along with a late september/early oct. harvest of photo's

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Love to hear this kind of stuff - thanks for sharing Budget Buds.

Acapulco gold, a tropical sativa is going to naturally have light airy flowers. That’s a common trait in tropical “landrace” strains, denser northern strains don’t do well in tropical climes because of mold.

if you were to grow a more indica based auto you’d see denser flowers.

Greengrouch said:

Acapulco gold, a tropical sativa is going to naturally have light airy flowers. That’s a common trait in tropical “landrace” strains, denser northern strains don’t do well in tropical climes because of mold.

if you were to grow a more indica based auto you’d see denser flowers.

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Greengrouch this was definitely one of my conjectures early on...but I'm telling you man these buds are really freaking light and airy. I've since acquired Acapulco Gold photoperiod seeds and am planning on running them next summer to compare. Not a scientific study, by any means, but at least it will give me something to compare against...

Well op Im up at 55 or 56 i think lattitude wise all i will say is there is harder places maybe to grow outdoors than Scotland but not many the rain wind n cold we get just wrecks most things literally autos are our best bet and semi autos for half decent summers and even then they gotta be early ones if its semi autos to stand a chance surprisingly people grow up to lat 61 but thats only some nordic countries

jimbonorman said:

Greengrouch this was definitely one of my conjectures early on...but I'm telling you man these buds are really freaking light and airy. I've since acquired Acapulco Gold photoperiod seeds and am planning on running them next summer to compare. Not a scientific study, by any means, but at least it will give me something to compare against...

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Not really unless those genes were specifically used to breed the auto seeds you used. Just cause it's called the same name doesn't mean it's the same lineage.
Plus, with a photoperiod you'll have way longer veg time outdoors. So you're comparing apples and oranges.