Questions about leaf maturation

[bohdan.zaremba]

This is my first season growing. Now that it's time to harvest leaves, there are some things I've read that are at odds with what I see. I'm hoping those with more experience can help me.

-From what I read, leaf maturation should start after topping. Yet, volado leaves on one of my H501 (first picture), and on both of my Java Besuki (no picture) started to yellow well before that. Is this within normal, or does this indicate some problem (lack of nutrients, improper ph, etc)?

-From what I read, leaves mature from bottom to top, in order. Yet, viso leaves on my Vuelta Abajo appear to be ready for harvest (2nd picture), yet the seco leaves on the same plant do not (3rd picture). The leaf in the 3rd picture is the bottom-most leaf, I've harvested all leaves below it.

Should I harvest the viso leaf (2nd picture) and wait for seco (3rd picture) leaf to mature, should I harvest both of them (and everything in between), or should I wait for the seco leaf to mature before harvesting any leaves from this plant?

 

[StoneCarver]

In response to question 1, Yes it is normal for volado to yellow on the plant and is not an indication of a problem. Go ahead and harvest those and let them finish color curing. and it looks like you did.

For the second question, I'm trying to figure that out myself. I think the upper leaves show ripeness sooner than the lower leaves sometimes because they get more sunlight. That's my guess.
I assume that means the lower leaves will color cure just fine anyways since those upper leaves show signs of ripeness. I also grew Vuelta Abajo this summer and, when those upper leaves were looking very ripe, I harvested everything below them too. Indeed, everything color cured just fine. Then the stalks exploded with suckers and now I'm getting a whole other crop.

 

[bohdan.zaremba]

Thanks. Glad to hear I'm not the only one seeing out-of-order ripening. I'll harvest them all and see what happens

 

[cangrow]

where in Canada are you?

 

[bohdan.zaremba]

where in Canada are you?

Southern Ontario, near Toronto