Hemp farming industry is becoming more and more popular after it was legalized and mainstreamed in some states in America. In fact, several countries are becoming more open to this idea due to their economic benefits and medical breakthrough.
Many growers, both large scale and small scale, are now considering hemp farming as a lucrative business and gradually shifting their farming interest to growing hemp. However, it is not a one-shot process. Like farming any other crops and herbs, hemp farming also requires systematic planning if you want your hemp plants to grow successfully.
If you are planning to start a hemp farm, here is a fundamental guideline you can follow.
1. Hemp Seeds
Hemp farming is pretty demanding. To start with, it requires good quality hemp seeds. Whether you want to grow hemp in a small cupboard or domesticate it in a greenhouse room, seed selection is deemed necessary. Seeding is one of the factors that determine the success rate of hemp production.
Jot down questions that can aid you in determining the best seed. For instance, if you want to grow hemp to cure your current ailments, ask what particular variety of hemp seeds can serve as a good treatment for you? Or What strain does not work satisfactorily on your health? You may also include your personal experience or other people’s experience as your guide.
Nowadays, it is convenient to look for good quality hemp seeds. Online stores make canvassing way easier. Take Discount Pharms as an example. This online store offers CBD products from hemp seeds, flowers, services, equipment, among others.
2. Basics in Farming
Other than choosing the good quality hemp seed itself, there are also other fundamental things to consider if you want your hemp seeds to thrive at its best. Here are some key factors you should keep in mind when growing hemp plants:
Growing location
Hemps can potentially grow in any kind of environment. However, hemp does not thrive in mountain ranges and deserted places, where the availability of other growth factors is very minimal.
Weather, Light Exposure, and Air
A mild to warm weather is the most satisfactory weather conditions to grow hemp. Hemp requires a twelve-hour exposure of daylight per day. However, the sunlight requires indoor hemp growing is different from outdoor hemp growing. Farming hemp indoors, on the other hand, can be a little bit stressful since hemp usually requires fresh-moving air.
Water Irrigation
Growing hemp outdoors is exposing the plants to rainwater and other water sources. You more likely do not have to worry about sourcing out for water supply. Also, Water pH is a must to consider. Many hemp growers use pH apparatus to monitor hemp’s growth.
Soil Type
The soil type must be fertile, coupled with the warm-weather of the growing location. It is also good to select an organically, fertile, well-drained soil. More importantly, testing the soil is also recommended.
Soil Tilling
Sow the hemp seeds directly to the soil rather than it having planted first on a pot and transferred it on the ground soil so it would not hamper the growth of the hemp. Depth and distance are necessary before planting the hemp seed. Sow the hemp seeds with a range of 4 inches. Plant the seed at a depth of around 3/4 inches.
Further, hemp is a type of cannabis that does not require much of the nutrients to supplement its need. Hemp has much pest resistance compared to any other plant. It does not need demanding cultivation since it has natural tendencies to outpaces competing weeds.
3. Industrial Hemp Regulations
Growing hemp is legal in the United States, but it is associated with serious federal state regulations and restrictions. In general, the laws laid out by the US government are apparent—hemp cannot exceed 0.3% THC limit.
The imposed THC limit is the fine line that distinguishes from hemp to marijuana. With that said, harvested hemp should not be more than the allowable THC limit. Otherwise, the entire hemp crop needs to be eradicated.
Takeaway
With proper management, growing hemp is profitable. Some of the agripreneurs say that this industry will catapult in the next few years. It does not require much expensive machinery to begin well, too.
If you are eyeing to have it as a business, you can begin investing it little by little until you can put a hemp farm of your own. However, on some legal grounds, never forget that some states have different regulations on the industrial hemp industry. When you’re still building or already operating your hemp business, make sure not to violate any laws from different jurisdiction.