One of the first things a potential hemp grower must decide is what type of hemp to grow. There are three main types of hemp production: Grain/seed, fiber, and CBD. Each uses different seed varieties, equipment and techniques, and end markets, and requires different amounts of land, labor, equipment, nutrients, and weed and pest control. Very briefly, this is what you need to know about each type of hemp crop.
Hemp is a dicotyledonous plant (having two cotyledon leaves) and has both monecious (male/female flowers on the same plant) and dioecious (separate male plants and female plants) plants)
Hemp is a cross-pollinated, wind-pollinated plant. Only male plants produce pollen (dioecious plants). The flowers on the male inflorescence open from the bottom of the plant first then to the top of the plant. Once the male plants have fully shed their pollen they will senesce and die.
Female Hemp Head
While both male and female flowers can be identified at the nodes of the plant, female flowers can be differentiated by the enlargement of a symmetrical tubular pistillate calyx (floral sheath) and the protruding white stigma. The male staminate calyx has a curved claw shape that will then develop into round pointed pollen sacs that have five radial segments. Males will not have the white stigma like those found on female flowers.
Female Hemp plant with arrows pointing to stigma
Hemp is photoperiod-dependent and is considered a “short-day” plant.
The root system of hemp typically reaches depths of 1-2 feet in the soil.
Stalk height and thickness is significantly affected by soil type, fertility and physical/chemical characteristics of the soil.
Hemp grown for seed grows much slower, initially, than hemp grown for fiber. However, near the end of the vegetation stage, seed hemp grows much more rapidly.
These cultivars are very bushy, and may reach heights of 6 to 12 feet. These plants are grown and harvested for cannabidiol (CBD) which has many potential health applications. Note: Legacy Hemp does not work directly with farmers growing for CBD at this time. Legacy Hemp sells and deals with primarily with grain and
These cultivars are slender, and about 5-7 feet tall. They produce hemp grain, an oil seed with high protein content with high nutritional value.
These cultivars are very slender, and range from 10 to 18 feet tall. These varieties are grown and harvested for bast fiber and hurd with great potential to be used in the fabric, construction, and various manufacturing operations.
Legacy Hemp and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection have been working together to develop this information. Legacy Hemp is not currently working working with CBD cultivars, but this may be subject to change. We also have our seed brochure listed below. For your convenience, you can download this information here: