AKGramma's Perpetual Grow

[AKgramma]

Looks like my last seeded AK47 X DP is starting to dry up. She's heading for the barn. As I said before, I will wait till she is totally dry to ensure that the seeds are fully ripe and ready to fall off the stems.

Everyone else... seedlings and juveniles... seem happy and healthy.

 

[AKgramma]

Pics of the veg tent, now that I have something to show. These are probably the healthiest plants I have had in a while. We're in between mite infestations. I dare not say I have won the war: just a reprieve.

White Widow2.JPG

• AKgramma
• May 4, 2018

Good, strong White Widow, trimmed out for a somewhat even canopy.

The babies.JPG

• AKgramma
• May 4, 2018

The ATF's were small seeds and the babies are very tiny, too. Not sure what the growth pattern is supposed to be for ATF's, but I hope the miniature size of these babies is not a sign of what size the adults will be.

The Afghani were very quick to sprout, within 18 hours and are vigorous. Any males I get will add a lot of vigor to any strain I cross them with. Hoping to have a successful Afghani breeding, like I did the AK47 x DPs.

In the solo cups just out of picture range (top) are some hybrids from an accidental crossing from last year: AK47 x Durban Poison crossed with a White castle male. I have one very pretty specimen already up-potted to a 3 gallon bin, but I missed it in this batch. Will try to remember to upload a pic.

White Widow1.JPG

• AKgramma
• May 4, 2018

Another Good, strong White Widow, trimmed out for a somewhat even canopy.

Purple Haze.JPG

• AKgramma
• May 4, 2018
• 1

This one is in a 5 gallon pot and is destined to be grown out for clones. This Purple Haze is a clone from a long line of successful clones (years) from a neighbor. I am told this line is exceedingly easy to clone and grows quickly.

AK47xDP x Wht Castle.JPG

• AKgramma
• May 4, 2018

Here is the one I missed, the biggest of the babies from last year's breeding. This one grew exceedingly fast, filling its solo cup, and so it got up-potted a few days ago. I'm guessing it is a male, because all the males I have had were very vigorous, bushy, and fast to grow. Not sure what to name this strain.

 

[Pjs420]

looking good! That purple haze looks great! A reprieve is better than nothing! Have a great day!

 

[AKgramma]

I am not so sure that what I labeled Purple Haze, is a Haze at all. It was a guess from third-hand knowledge of how easy it is to clone. HOWEVER, there is only ONE main sativa among the 20 most popular purple strains, and mine is not it. The leaves are too wide.

From the leaves, it is definitely indica with some sativa, but which strain? Back to the lists of purples, and pics of their leaves, descriptions of scent, growth patterns and ease of growing.

 

[Pjs420]

it is a beautiful plant regardless of the name!

 

[NorCaliwood]

Can I ask what you are using for mite control? Azamax works great. You just have to do the whole regiment of spraying to keep them under control. Or if you want something easier on plants, look into Old Stage Green Cleaner. It works great on PM too.. But you have to clean, clean, and then clean again. And even when it all looks clean and mite free, spray again. I spray every plant as 'IF' it had mites, even if I don't have them, before putting them in the flower room. GL with the bugs. I hate mites!!!!!!

Keepem Green

 

[TorturedSoul]

I am not so sure that what I labeled Purple Haze, is a Haze at all. It was a guess from third-hand knowledge of how easy it is to clone.

Speaking of guesses, my guess is that the majority of seeds sold as "haze" probably aren't, either . Last haze I grew - and, admittedly, it's been a while - took at least 16 weeks to flower. The two I kept for mother plants took about 16.5 and around 20 weeks. Most people don't want to grow something nice like that, lol, so the average pollen-chucker either crosses a haze with some kind of indicrap, or just labels something "...Haze."

 

[Pennywise]

A true haze will always go close to 20 weeks

 

[TorturedSoul]

Mine were Nevile's. They were true enough for me, lol.

 

[Pennywise]

As close as you can get.

 

[TorturedSoul]

I haven't been lucky enough to get close in years, lol. Just a fading memory, now. Last grown (by me) in 2000 or thereabouts.

 

[AKgramma]

I havent yet found an Indica leaf whose widest point was close to the tip, then tapered off sharply to a point. But then, I only searched 300 pictures of purple hybrids.

 

[AKgramma]

Can I ask what you are using for mite control? Azamax works great. You just have to do the whole regiment of spraying to keep them under control. Or if you want something easier on plants, look into Old Stage Green Cleaner. It works great on PM too.. But you have to clean, clean, and then clean again. And even when it all looks clean and mite free, spray again. I spray every plant as 'IF' it had mites, even if I don't have them, before putting them in the flower room. GL with the bugs. I hate mites!!!!!!

Keepem Green

I use Neem oil. It works. It's natural. I check the grow every day for mites and spray at any sign of ANY (even just one) mite.

 

[SweetSue]

The ATF's were gifted from a 420 friend. I don't know where the original seeds came from, but they are slow to sprout.

They were Van Stank’s creation, but I don’t know where the original seed came from. If you ask, he’ll tell you.

I got thrips this round AKgramma. I just don’t have the stomach to mess with them. I’ll scrub the tents after they’re all down. I’m looking bare in my grow too, 2 in veg and 3 in flower. Won’t be starting up again until early June.

It feels all wrong to be running slow, you know? Lol! Before you know it I’ll be back up to full count.

I like your fierce stance with the mites. It’s possible to get them all, just very challenging. I turned the plant into FHO rather than risk any living through the budwashing and hang dry. Stopped them dead in their tracks. Lol!

 

[AKgramma]

I navigated to Van Stank's 2017 grow, one strain of which included ATF. Tho he never says where he purchased the ATF seeds, he got his others from CKS, so I assume that is where he got the ATFs from. I copied lots of pics from his journal, from seedling to mature flower, so I know what to look for in my own ATF's.

I'm not very hopeful for the smallest ATF seedling, as its cotyledons are turning black before the first leaves have emerged. The other one will survive, I think.... I hope. The3 Afghanis are way ahead of the ATFs.

NEXT BEST GUESS on the Purple clone. I found a Purple Kush pic online with the same shape and width leaves as mine. So... maybe it's a Purple Kush. Not much in the way of scent coming off it yet, altho after a thorough watering last night, all the plants in veg gave off noticable scents, nothing dank, however, but a soothing, mellow earthy scent, probably from a common ancestor. (most of my strains have at least one common ancestor)

I'm no longer feeding the AK47xDP mother in seed, just plain water. New leaf growth is non-existant, and the existing leaves are looking somewhat tired. A week, maybe two, she might start shutting down, and I can put a collar (made from a paper plate) around her main stem to catch any seeds that fall off. Every seed is precious, with only one fertilized lady.

Will do a mite inspection today.

 

[Pennywise]

Hoping you get all the bans you need.

 

[TorturedSoul]

I know what to look for in my own ATF's.

Hype? Myth? Fish stories (the one that got away, lol)? Personally... I have no clue. But it has not been uncommon for breeders (used to be a Dutch thing, but is more common all across the industry these days) to either get real creative with their tall tales strain descriptions, stick whatever name has been getting publicity on their offerings, or both. So I wouldn't really be surprised if this is true (although I would be equally unsurprised to learn that it is not) :

MTF (Matanuska Thunder Fuck)
aka
ATF (Alaskan thunder fuck)
Alaska Tundra fuck
Matanuska tundra fuck
or any other variation in name speaking of a strain that was originally grown in the Talkeetna area of Alaska around late 1960's. The strain has some what "legendary" stories attached, and many people claim to have smoked it or grown it.....I have lived in Alaska for most of my life and have met many people all throughout this state, including the person most old timers here point to as the breeder of "MTF"

What you think was MTF, wasn't... You can call it that but trust me, ITS NOT MTF.
One person grew it, no clones or seeds were ever given out or "found".... The person I speak of has lived in Talkeetna area for nearly 60 years and grew that strain for almost 30 years, After 30 years he claimed that it lost its "vigor"; the mothers were seeded out with a NL x Afghan Kush male that the same grower had been breeding/phenotyping for nearly 6 years.... The end result provided a heavy indica sided hybrid that very much resembled the northern lights mother that the crossed male hailed from... (still following?) We'll call that "cross"
MTF x AK-NL (F1) or just Z(1).....
Z(x) was interbred until (15) generations had been achieved, then a resulting Female was back-crossed to the original AK-NL father three times because the original MTF mother had already been flowered and forgotten about, the resulting off spring from it being:
MTF x AK-NL (F15B3M) which very much learned towards paternal genetics (father)... At this point genetics had near completely changed and the grower tried FIVE times to back cross with the original mother and could NEVER achieve a genetically stable plant that showed the originally selected phenotypes from the original mother, his genetic uniformity had been lost by this point... Though his crosses were supposedly the best shit in Alaska at the time, nothing compared in quality to the original MTF....
So IMHO the closest thing to MTF ANYONE can get their hands on is a sad trickle down genetic with only a VERY small bit if any of the Original....
Believe me or not, I could care less, but I do know the supposed original grower.... He's been spending his last few years flying bush planes in and out of the Aluetian islands....Say's he never wants to grow anything else as long as he lives!

Again, IDK. Just something I read.

 

[AKgramma]

Well THAT was encouraging...... So I'm all excited over a fake?

 

[TorturedSoul]

A fake? <SHRUGS> It'll still turn out to be a cannabis plant. And, who knows, it might end up being one that you enjoy. As for the "real MTF (/ "ATF")," well... you'll probably have a far better chance of finding that by heading north up the Glenn Highway out of town and on eastward into the Matanuska River Valley. Perhaps as much as... IDK... 1%, lol?

I've got some of Serious Seeds' Bubble Gum seeds. Legend has it (lol) that this strain came out of Indiana back in the day, made its way across the ocean, wound up in a Dutch cannabis breeder's hands, blah blah blah. Nevil Schoenmakers pretty much put paid to that particular tale several years ago when he made an offhand comment about the origin of the strain on a forum and someone challenged him on it - by then posting the parent strains that someone (heh) used when he created it, how another popular (and, IIRC, storied) strain was related to that one, and that if a person crossed that strain with (one that I cannot recall at this time) and then grew out the resulting seeds, it would "burst a few bubbles." Nonetheless, it's still a decent strain (IMHO) for what it is. Or at least it used to be. I've not grown it since <2000, so things could have changed in the 18+ years since then. But you see my point, I hope: that a strain might be good - or bad - regardless of (or in spite of) the stories that are associated with it.

Cannabis breeders, I have learned, are a lot like fishermen - or a bunch of drunken octogenarians, lol. They like to tell stories. . . .

 

[AKgramma]

You mentioned Bubble Gum, which reminded me of my second grow. I bought Bubblelicious from NIrvana and it was a huge hit with the family. It cloned well, too. I STILL have some seeds from that grow. I prolly should grow them out and breed them for more seeds. Early on, they had problems with the viability and reliability (low sprout percentage high male ratio) of their BBL seeds, and have since feminized it.

Since I'm trying not to purchase seeds outside the USA, I'm breeding for seeds with any photos I can get, as long as the strains are labelled.

Learning as I go, to let the seeds dry on the vine, so to speak, so they are fully mature before harvesting.