Marijuana is also in season in New York.
Among the few cannabis producers licensed in the Cayuga County area since legalization in 2021 is Taproot Fields in Skaneateles, which recently asked The Citizen to document its harvest.
Taproot said it takes about nine months to grow cannabis from seed to flower. To harvest, cut each plant at the base, record its unique tag number and weight, and spread and hang the plants to dry. Drying takes approximately 10-15 days, followed by 2-3 weeks of curing. The grower's plants are ultimately transformed into smokable flower, edibles, hash, and distillate-based products.
Taproot harvests about 60 to 75 grams per square foot of canopy, and its license allows for 5,000 square feet, he said. The farm has a team of four people, but often hires additional workers to complete the harvest in a timely manner.
Taproot said solid support is essential for growing and harvesting cannabis, as well as strict environmental controls and a strong integrated pest management program.
Mr Taproot said the farm's living soil bed made growing a “true joy”.
“This round was full of surprises,” he said. “There are some plants that I haven’t grown yet, so it’s always a pleasant surprise to see the final results.”
