NorCal medium\high elevation Q's

[nvthis]

Hi, I am new to this group but find in reading that there is a large amount of knowledge to be gained from you all. Very cool. I would appreciate and be very thankful for any info you good folks can send back to me.
I am going to try an outdoor grow next Spring. It has been a while since I have done it last and was certain I would never need to again, but... S**t happens and indoor has become impossible- for now. I am pretty comfortable with the security of indoor but am trying to be very smart about this possible outdoor grow.
My situation is this: I live somewhere West of Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada foothills. This area is crazy with growers and attracts a lot of attention (law enforcement, media, etc.) It is almost like a 'pre-planned' battle that growers and law enforcement willingly join in every Spring. Everybody knows when and where the growers will be and that the cops are coming to try to find them. Like a big game. Crazy. I just don't have the heart for it (call me a wuss if ya want to, I don't care ) The elevations of my home are 1500' to 3000' of Mediteranian like weather and steep canyons. Fun.
My idea is this: I think I may be able to grow outdoor with minimal stress if I can get away from the game. I am thinking of going to 4500' to 5500'. This would be 30 minutes from my house on logging roads. I have scouted my spots and like what I see. They are in meadows by water sources. There is thick, lush vegetation that reminds me of being on the PNW coast. But without fog. Or poison oak. I have also been considering what the auto-flowering strains can bring to my little shindig. I have thought this out to a large extent, but am in need of knowing more.
My questions are: Can this be done? Well, I know it can be done, the question is to what extent? Before Spring, and with the help of the knowledgable people here, I have 'til May to figure it out. What strains would suit me best? Is there anything I need to know regarding nutes at this elevation? Watering at this elevation? Has anyone done this before?

So, my idea is to beat the game by staying out of the game as much as possible. I have never heard of a crop being discovered in these areas (locally) and have never seen helicopters (looking for crops) in these areas. My main concern is campers/hikers. The areas I picked are dense with vegetaion. I literally have to crawl to these spots. This is my defense. The sun is good, and the ground moisture is rather high. Still damp as of yesterday but I think I can overcome this. In fact I think it can work to my advantage if I do it right. Like a soil mix that won't wick up too much moisture, but will only need me to water weekly (???) My real concern here is pests. I need to keep the plants contained. Plant 3 to 4 plant plots with atleast 150 yards between them. About 10 plots per(30 to 40 plants per large area). I have 3 or 4 areas to work in. This, of course, is thinking BIG. Most likely the finished idea will be much smaller. The auto-flowering plants interest me because they are small and there family lines may be ideal for this elevation. Also because I can get in and out quickly (by late July or early August) and, therefore, stay away from the game.
Sorry this post was so long. I know I should keep them short, but I am looking for very specific information that has been difficult to find on the internet :confused2: . Can anyone here relate? Thank you in advance! I am looking forward to what might be a very valuable learning experience for me.

 

[papabeach1]

outside hmm... u gotta be carefully... you can start germ seeds, when roots emerge out, put in the pill can, with water, and carry it in ur pocket, and plant it there where you said in the sites u works on.. be sure these sites have good soils too.. open space too.. and when you done, then its time to avoid going there until things getting really quiet.. check it out on ur hiking time.. JIMO can u expain more in pm? just to be spefic..

 

[nvthis]

Ha! Friend or foe... I love it!:guitar: I tried to reply, but the site said it was too busy, so I will try again. The soil in my spots is silty and flat. It came from the stream there no doubt. I imagine it might be a bit higher in nitrogen. I don't know the ph yet. No matter, I can fix that (to a drgree). I will plant them in imported soil mix, then it is up to the roots as to what they do next. I will need excellent drainage in the soil mix and if the roots want the moist soil, they will go there. I don't worry about root rot if the imported soil drains well. I figure the plants will regulate themselves in terms of what they can handle naturally and where the root growth will go. I will have enough soil mix that the roots can stay in it if they want to. I will be researching that too but I think it will have to have a fairly good sand ratio to it.

 

[HippyInEngland]

If your planning on auto flowering, it may be worth letting them grow a week or 2 before planting them out, this way they will only be outside for 9 ish weeks till harvest, you will have no problems with your elevation, simply treat them normally, with auto flowering they will stay small, 10 plants to a spot planted erratically so no pattern shows

These can be planted at different times of the year, when the police or whatever are looking for plants they know they have a certain month where the plants are maturing so they concentrate on these months, if you plant so you harves outside these months, the plants have much less chance of being spotted.

 

[nvthis]

Yeah, I am not totally sold on the autos, yet... There are some things still to weigh out on that. Such as the light situation. Seems most who have grown it (which I have not) get the most favorable results under lights (as I read it). I suppose I would have to find out for myself if the elevation (more unfiltered light?) would offset that any. Might be a pipe dream there. Also it's smallish stature. Would small just get even smaller at 4500'? That might be a disaster. Still, my grow buddy and I have concluded that we could jog weekly waterings between us and that would mean 5 trips a piece, then harvest. DAMN! Just that could make up a guys mind right there. I want fairly small and quick. Autos would be the quickest but maybe too small(?) Thankfully that is not a decision I have to make right now. I watch with interest the auto x's and maybe that would eliminate the size issues. Yup. What to do, what to do... I think the best I could do in that situation is make sure the longest days of summer fall during the early-mid stages of flowering and hope for the best.

 

[IRISH]

in a guerilla grow, you'll want to do several plots in different places. you said '150 yards apart'.
if hikers/rippers find one plot, they will certainly scour the surrounding area for more. jmo. scope out some other areas' as well...

 

[nvthis]

I have 4 different sites that differ in distance anywhere from 1 to 2 miles apart. That is not near the amount of possibilities here. Just the best ones IMO. I am not even sure if I will use them all. Maybe just three of them. In these sights I will put plants in 3 or 4 plant plots and use at least 150 yards between them (actually, considering the density of the cover it may turn out to be much shorter distances) If they want to find them all they will have to crawl their a$$e$ off through some of the thickest stuff around to find them. Then they would have to drive a few miles up the road just to get to the next spot. I will be up there to scout (& scout & scout) it out again in the next couple of weeks. I will shoot some pics of the surrounding growth, soil, etc. You'll get a good feel for what I am saying.