What is Croptober?

In North America, most outdoor marijuana cultivation begins in the middle of spring. Mathematically, this means that October would be the month when most cannabis is ready to be harvested, processed, and then sold. In other words, October becomes Croptober for weed farmers. In its own right, Croptober is almost as impactful as 4/20 and 7/10, specifically for marijuana growers.

How does Croptober affect outdoor growers?
Croptober is a period of both celebration and stress for anyone with an outdoor cannabis harvest. On one hand, half a year’s worth of hard labor is finally yielding results, and if successful, the harvest is abundant. Around this time, the air will be heavy with the scent of rich terpenes and ripe aromas. On the other hand, there are a few factors that could throw all of that hard work into jeopardy. October is a month when the weather becomes unpredictable — storms, droughts, heat, and cold are all wild cards as soon as the summer ends. A short bout of extreme weather could easily destroy your entire crop, so October is a crucial time to set up any necessary defense systems against the elements. In addition, plentiful harvests equate to increased competition — more weed means that growers will face competitive pricing and greater supply. According to Kevin Jodrey, the founder of Wonderland Nursery in Humboldt County, market prices for a pound of weed could drop by as much as $400 or $500. Croptober marks a time when financial planning is key. Croptober used to have a more significant impact on the cannabis market in past years, but that impact has slowly started to diminish with the rise of indoor growing operations. 

How does Croptober affect indoor growers?
Indoor farmers face both negative and positive impacts of the Croptober rush. On the negative side, they’ll have to drop their prices heavily to keep up with lower market prices offered by outdoor growers in the fall. On the positive side, they have the advantages of consistent, controlled harvesting schedules and reduced risk of losing a harvest to unforeseen environmental factors.

How does Croptober affect consumers?
Although this particular month is most impactful for growers, Croptober is like Christmas for cannabis enthusiasts. After the bountiful October harvest, November and December will be prime months when all the dispensaries are stocking their shelves with new weed bursting with fresh, intense flavors.

Happy Croptober, and may the season of bountiful harvest bring you a season of equally bountiful highs.