Germination
There are lots of different techniques people use for germinating seeds.

My own choice is the paper towel method.

Recently I’ve taken to giving the seeds a maximum of 36 hours, and if nothing happens in this time, its time to step in.

When the seed is exposed to water, moisture passes through the shell of the seed, and ‘fires’ the embryo in to life.

As the embryo swells so the seed shell splits, allowing the newly emerged tap root to take a hold in the medium and start feeding, and fuelling new growth.

The problem arises when the seed has a particularly tough shell. As the embryo carries on swelling, its crushed into the inside of the unbroken shell, so even if it does eventually split and emerge, it could well be suffering ‘brain’ damage.

So after 36 hours, and if nothing has happened with 1 or more of the seeds, I take a pair of tweezers to them and, gripping the seed along the central seam I apply pressure..

It has to be said at this stage, that I’ve often been seen crawling around on all fours, trying to salvage bits of crushed seed down amongst the fluff and toe-nail clippings, at 3am so this is not for the feint hearted.

..and after gradually increasing the pressure the seam finally gives, usually with a load crack.

They need to be replaced between the paper towels, and shortly afterwards, (normally 4-5 hours), the ‘forceps’ deliveries should be well on their way with a healthy taproot forming.

As long as there’s a nice taproot, they can be planted in soil.

Time: 40 hours max.

Seedling stage
Once the seeds have been planted in your chosen medium, a light over them is not yet necessary.

For the time being the seeds need to be kept in a warm and humid environment as the taproot gets down to its subterranean work.

I normally keep mine in a propagator, inside the airing cupboard.

But a state of high alert is required because as soon as the seedlings emerge above the surface of the medium, they need some gentle light.

Time: 24 hours.

As soon as the seedlings are under lights things can start to happen pretty quickly and once the ‘cotolydons’, (the first, ‘non-serrated. seed leaves) are open, the first and second sets of true serrated leaves soon follow.

Time: 1 week.

From the first serrated leaves, the plants are officially in the seedling stage and will remain so until the first true cannabis shaped leaf emerges, (approaching 2 weeks from seed).

At this stage, if you have everything running as it should, the plants will be growing at a furious rate of knots, and with a further 3-4 weeks of 18 hour light periods, the plants will be on the verge of showing sex, (5-7 weeks, depending on strain).

Unless creating seeds, this is where the first grow room cull takes place, as we remove the males, leaving us with a ‘harem’ of lovely lady plants.

From this point forth, flowering can be instigated at any time, leaving the grower with aprrox. 8 weeks to a successful finish.

So if you’re thinking of growing from seed, expect an investment in time alone, to be in the region of 15-16 weeks.

It can be done a lot quicker if you grow from clones.