Hemp is a versatile crop that can be grown without problems or spending a lot. Find out more about why you should grow your own hemp!

by Sammy Lamb

for Assorted Ideas, Large & Small

Hemp, known as “King of the Fiber Plants” and the most durable material known to man, can be grown in almost any region on Earth. It is good for both soil and climate. So why not grow your own?

Hemp is a powerful plant that can provide us with food, medicine and other useful things. The plant is found most in Asia and the Middle East, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years.

If you chose growing your own, the first thing we’ll tell you is that you must live in a place where it is legal. In the United States, Canada and Australia, this is no problem, but check out local regulations.

The next thing you could want to know is, if you do not have any clue about growing plants from seed or cloning them or just do not have much time, you can benefit from ordering a hemp seedling.

But we recommend that you try growing from seeds; it’s easier than you might think!

So, you want to grow your own hemp?

If you’re not sure how to grow plants from seeds, don’t worry! It’s easier than you might think. You can, also, purchase hemp seedlings online or from a local store. But we recommend trying to grow them from seeds yourself. It’s a fun and rewarding experience, and you’ll get to see your plants grow from tiny seeds into tall hemp plants!

A step at a time

First, get your seeds. You can get them online or from a local store that sells hemp products. If you live in the United States, Canada or Australia you have no problem ordering from an online supplier. In other countries, it may be more difficult to find a supplier, but it is worth looking into!

The next step is to make sure that they are hemp seeds and not another seed or plant. If you know the scientific name for hemp – cannabis sativa – it’s easy. Look them up on Google and make sure your seeds look like real hemp seeds.

If you’re still not sure, all you need is a magnifying glass (or even just strong eyes). You should see tiny grooves in the seeds, which are actually cannabis sativa!

Planting

Once you have the hemp seeds, place them in a pot or flat tray filled with organic soil. Make sure that no weeds or unwanted plants are growing in your soil, as they will compete for sunlight and nutrients with your hemp plant.

Keep the soil moist but not too wet. Water it with regular water, not tap water or any other type of chemical. If the soil is too dry simply add some more organic soil to the tray.

Take care

If you want to grow your plant indoors, make sure that it has plenty of sunlight throughout its life (in most countries they can survive without direct sunlight for a few days). If it doesn’t get enough sunlight indoors, you can use a grow light.

Once the hemp plant sprouts, it is best to pick off any dead leaves so that your plant uses its energy for healthy growth. Try not to disturb the soil too much, since this will expose new roots to other sources of nutrients and can be harmful to your plant.

If you want, you can transplant the seedling into a larger container filled with organic soil and give it more space. If you do this, make sure to water the plant regularly and keep the soil moist – but not too wet!

After all, hemp is a weed – so if you don’t want yours to grow out of control, make sure you cut it back regularly. This will also help the plant produce more female flowers. If you are growing your hemp inside or with artificial light, make sure to give it at least 16 hours of light every day!

Best times for growing your own hemp

If you are growing outdoors, your hemp plant will die off in winter no matter how much sunlight it gets. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere the best time to start growing hemp is between March and May, while if you live in the Southern Hemisphere look for a warm spot between September and November.

You should start seeing hemp leaves within a few days or weeks of the seed sprouting (depending on the type of seed). Once you see leaves, it’s time to start fertilizing. You can find organic fertilizer in most garden stores, or in some places you can even make your own. Just be sure to use nonchemical fertilizers!

As long as you water your plant regularly, fertilize it with organic fertilizer and give it enough light, you’ll get a nice harvest!

By the way…

If a stray cat decides to pee on your hemp plant, don’t panic! Just cut off the parts of the plant that have been contaminated with cat urine and put them in a plastic bag. Vinegar is a great remedy against cat urine, so just dissolve some vinegar crystals in water and pour it on the parts of your plant that have been affected.

In case you accidentally let a dog pee on your hemp plant, make sure to remove the contaminated area as soon as possible and bury it several inches underground away from your other hemp plants!

The harvest

After the hemp plant starts growing flowers, it’s time for harvesting. Pinch off the seeds you want to use for growing new plants or hemp oil, and put them in a cardboard box until they are dry. You can also use them right away for cooking!

Before winter sets in you might want to transplant your seedlings into larger pots so that they have enough space to grow.

Now you know how easy it is to grow your own hemp! All you need is a bit of patience and love.