So You Wanna Grow Your First Cannabis Plant...

The ideal time to plant your feminized seeds is mid-May in places with a climate like Northern California, or the end of May in warmer areas like Southern California. First, find a sunny patch that provides at least five hours of sunshine – preferably direct sunlight early in the day and filtered sun later in the afternoon. Just make sure your location does not exceed 86 degrees and, ideally, offers a nice breeze.
Most environments provide adequate rainwater to feed your pot plants, but if you live in a place like California, which seems to be in a perpetual drought, you'll probably have to water them by hand. In hot, summer weather, a large plant may require up to 10 gallons of water a day, so be prepared.
Hands covered in dirt planting a small seedling in soil. Black irrigation tubing is visible.
If you're not sure if the natural soil in your garden is suitable, skip the headache and plant in containers with store-bought soil. Choose a size based on how big you want your plant to grow – anywhere from 5 to 15 gallons should suffice. Bear in mind that containers also trap in heat. If you go this route, be sure to water your plants generously in the mornings to prevent afternoon dry-out.
Once you've sorted your grow space, you'll need to plan for the elements. Prepare for high wind by planting near hedges, a fence or a wall. Prepare for foggy nights and morning dew by getting a basic shelter for your plants. If you don't, you could end up with moldy buds that would be very unhealthy to smoke. You'll also need to anticipate pests. Seek out organic pesticides to prevent and treat infestations that could wreck your harvest, or even better, grow companion plants near your cannabis that repel pests. Clover, rosemary and basil are all excellent options that have the added benefit of enhancing your culinary endeavors.
If you choose an indica strain, plan to harvest around 8 weeks after flowering begins. If you go for a sativa, expect more like 10-12 weeks for your plants to mature.
Add to all that some care, a little patience and a lot of love and you'll be well on your way to getting high off your own supply with a successful first harvest.

Here are some useful books to help guide your grow journey!

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