GARDENER'S QUESTION TIME: KEEPING THE WEED UP

So you want to grow your own pot. The rather astonishing news that most of
the marijuana now consumed in England and Wales is actually grown here
raises the possibility that the UK could become 100% pot self-sufficient in
a few years, perhaps even a net exporter, but how does the beginner get
started? Is it as easy as it sounds?

Internet advice on cannabis cultivation is the sort of thing one might
expect from a loose-knit group of well-intentioned potheads: there are a
number of sites which have been "under construction" since the late 1990s,
as well as dozens more, such as the promising-sounding Dave's World of
Ganja, which are no longer available. From this alone, one might surmise
that growing your own pot can't be too demanding, or else devotees would
never get round to it, but in fact the process is far from simple.

Cannabis is a tropical plant. In the UK it needs to be grown in a
sheltered, sunny position, better still a greenhouse, or better still
indoors under lights. The latter has obvious advantages if one wishes to
harvest discreetly, away from the prying eyes of those who would wish to
remind one that the cultivation of cannabis is an offence under section six
of the UK Drugs Act 1971.

It is said, more for educational purposes than for anything else, that a
space the size of a wardrobe will yield enough pot for personal use.

The seeds themselves are easy enough to come by. It is only illegal to
germinate them, and lots of companies offer seed from Dutch commercial
breeders, "sold as souvenirs only", for about UKP10 for 10. Northern
Lights, described as "the Queen of stabilised hybrids" with a high that is
at once "narcotic" and "quite cerebral" is one of the more popular
varieties available. Others include Shiva, New Power Plant ("giggly,
uplifting") and Super Skunk.

A basic lighting rig can be had for about UKP125. A complete "hydrostation"
- - lights, hydroponic trays, pump, tank, fertilisers - costing UKP260 from
Basement Lighting, will suffice for 10 to 12 plants. You'll also need an
extractor fan for ventilation. Plants require 18 hours of light per day to
start off with, and take seven to eight weeks to reach maturity. After that
the amount of light must be reduced to trigger flowering. Male plants
should be removed as soon as they are identified. As if this weren't
enough, cannabis is susceptible to grey mould, spider mites, whitefly and
aphids. Someone called Sensi Sid recommends controlling aphids with a
solution of water and liquid soap, but be warned: it is illegal to make
your own pesticides.