five “ blocks ,” each managed by different cultivation teams working together , but “ with a healthy dose of competition between each block ,” said Briggs . The first noticeable thing , besides the sheer size of the field , was the height and girth of each plant . My visit was on August 5 , and the plants still had several weeks left to grow before harvest .
Although I was amazed to see such healthy plants outdoors , I soon found out it was a three-year process to get to this point after interviewing three more long-time employees who are outdoor block leads : Tim Mitchell ( two years ), Samantha Dvorak ( three years ), and plant technician Taylor Cantrell ( two years ). Humidity , heat , nature , and weather are ongoing battles , according to Dvorak . “ The first year , we lost three acres of plants to an early two-day frost ,” explained
Honey Green ’ s cannabis plants grown outdoors are healthy and happy with plenty of space to stretch out allowing them to become more “ tree like ” with massive stalks .
Each plant looked as healthy and happy as any indoor grown , but with much more space to stretch out , allowing them to become more “ tree-like ” with stalks much larger than what you would see indoors . Planted alongside these cannabis “ trees ” are a host of what they call “ companion plants ,” and although I ’ m sure the cannabis trees enjoy the beautiful company of marigold and cockscomb flowers and the smell of basil , it is the dangerous pests they keep away as well as the beneficial bugs they attract that make this a symbiotic relationship .
The outdoor cultivation “ block ” leads inside the irrigation room include ( from left ) Tim Mitchell , Samantha Dvorak , and plant technician Taylor Cantrell who hits the fields every morning at 4 a . m .
Dvorak . The second year , they found themselves in an uphill battle against caterpillars , learning that they like to pay visits just after rainstorms . This year , things are in their favor as Cantrell hits the fields every morning at 4 a . m ., checking water moisture on each and every plant and giving it exactly what it needs for that day while keeping his eyes peeled for pests . The strong root systems , bamboo bracing , and netting trellis hold the plants steady through strong Missouri thunderstorms , and Cantrell ’ s saturation reports dictate dry-out stages for each plant .
Before heading inside , I got a quick peek at Honey Green ’ s current greenhouse , where staff not only turn clones into outdoor flowering plants but can also get the temperature so hot that it can be used as a sterilization room .
Marigolds make great companion plants to keep pesky critters away from cannabis plants . Honey Green uses various companion plants throughout its outdoor grow .
Next door , we caught Senior Director of Operations Travis Wooten ( on left ) starting the first day of construction on Honey Green ’ s newest greenhouse , allowing it to continue its 2,800 outdoor flowering plants growing year-round . Included in this expansion phase is a halfcompleted new dry and cure building as well as four prefabbed shipping containers nearing completion . Soon , these containers will hold Honey Green ’ s new manufacturing processes that will be dedicated to its outdoor cultivation , including one C1D1 Hydrocarbon Lab , one for cold wash rosin , and the other two for fresh frozen storage .
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