how long?

I brewed my first growler of mead one month ago; the simple, uber-popular recipe for beginners that recommends waiting until the orange slices drop to the bottom. Any insight on how long this should take? I believe I used 3 lbs. honey/1 gallon water

sits up to 1 month in primary fermenting, has to age 3 months + to hit peak flavor.

im wondering a similar kind of thing.. im probably leaving the country for about 6 months as of late august.. so im wondering if i started a mead with an og around 1.075 (hoping for a ~1.000 dry FG, = ~9.5 ABV) by may 15th, would i be able to have it bottled by early august? that seems like it would give me one month in primary, then about 1.5 months in a secondary? and not looking for perfection, but i want to make something that i can let sit for 6 months and come back to