What’s good, New Yorkers? The time is now to get your very own garden party started!
New York state medical cannabis home cultivation laws took effect back in early October. The rules now allow patients and caregivers three mature and three immature plants at a time. Officials allow two or more certified patients in any private residence to have double that—six mature and six immature plants. Whoo!
It’s a big win for New Yorkers, and combined with adult-use legalization and decriminalization in neighboring states—the Northeast has joined cannabis’ golden age.
Should I grow indoors or outdoors in the Northeast?
Now with the wind at their backs, potential New York home growers maybe planning how to best proceed. Should I invest in an indoor tent system, or potentially create my own private Woodstock by planting some solid backyard boogie?
Former High Times Senior Cultivation Editor, current editor of Northeast Leaf Magazine, and all-around New York weed guy Danny Danko said smoke for virtually free with an indoor set-up that includes a large mother plant, plus a flower tent.
“The limit is on the amount of plants, but it’s not on the size of the plants. Indoors you have the option of extending that vegetative stage,” Danko said. “You can grow bigger plants and also not have to ever pay dispensary prices again by keeping a mother plant.”
Legendary grower/breeder Chemdog of the strain Chemdog is a Massachusetts native and recommends going for an outdoor grow in the Northeast. He’s the Director of Cultivation at Canna Provisions in western Mass, only an hour away from New York.
The veteran sungrower said aspiring gardeners should plan to battle hot, humid summers and cold, early, long winters. That means getting a greenhouse. Shield plants from rain during the muggy summer and fall. Fight bud rot by shaking off morning dew.
“In the Northeast, there’s a lot of rain here. The season isn’t like CA and a lot of those west coast states,” said Chemdog. “So even if [your garden is] somewhat covered it’s gonna do you wonders, especially when the buds form, because of those long, humid summers.”
Trendy hybrids for New Yorkers to grow
Look at the Leafly data—hybrids rule New York weed trends. Breeders hybridize cannabis strains to boost vigor and yield, as well as fit into an indoor setup. Regular, feminized, or autoflower seeds—the choice is up to you and your cultivation goals.
Gelato
Gelato. Indica hybrid. (David Downs/Leafly)
New classics like Gelato and its descendants Runtz and Lemon Cherry Runtz are loved everywhere—especially on the East Coast. Finding legit genetics for these strains requires some research to avoid bad white-label seed knock-offs. See Leafly’s Best seeds and clones to grow in 2023 for links to sellers.
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Wedding Cake and Ice Cream Cake
Getting your hands on the original Seed Junky gems for these strains is both tough and pricey. Look for proven alternatives such as Mephisto’s Wedding—a top autoflower cultivar that crosses the aforementioned Seed Junky Wedding Cake cut.
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Oreoz
Oreoz, grown by C.A.M. in California. (Photo by The High Red Beard; Courtesy of CAM)
Popular with many New Yorkers, Oreoz permeates with the smell of delicious vanilla and chocolate dough that’s been run over by a funny car’s flaming Goodyears. Highly medicinal, seek out its child strain Pure Michigan for similar effects and growing schedule.
Apple Fritter
Run Humboldt Seed Co Sour Apple Auto this winter indoors for a good time. (Courtesy Humboldt Seed Co)
Combining its Sour Apple sativa and Animal Cookies pain-relieving properties, this true hybrid is a dual threat. Humboldt Seed Co. features feminized seeds of Sour Apple and also debuted its latest big yielder Apple Blossom as a photo and auto.
Gary Payton
GP features mood-boosting effects that make it a top strain among New Yorkers. To avoid steep dispensary prices of exclusive strains like this one, grow solid crosses like Cannarado’s Sweet Nothings or Exotic Genetix Gary Poppins fem seeds.
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Original Glue aka GG4
Original Glue up close. This hybrid’s effects can go either indica or sativa. (David Downs / Leafly)
Whatever your crew calls it, Original Glue grows a little tall—so save some space for it to stretch. Apartment dwellers beware—the aroma of this indica hybrid wafts far and wide due to its Diesel lineage. Could also be optimized as an excellent outdoor yielder during the prime growing season.
Old-school NYC strains
“Piff or different versions of the famous New York Haze have always been a NYC trademark,” Danko also commented during the chat. “And you know New York’s always been known for Sour Diesel.”
Looking for the nostalgic allure of classic NYC Piff and Hazes? Top Dawg Seeds and Piff Coast Farms has got you. Both of these breeders are sources of the elusive uptown/puday/church hazes as they were known to Gothamites in the ’90s and early ’00s.
Classic genetics at home
Validated Chem 4 from Chemdog brand Smash Hits Cannabis, sold by CannaProvisions. (Courtesy Smash Hits)
Canna Provisions also sells super-affordable clones of classic Chemdog variants Chem D and Chem 4 just a little east of the Catskills at their Lee, MA store.
“We fully support home grow,” Chem said. “We try to be for the people at the end of the day.”
Can’t high-tail it over the border to grab a Chem clone? Check out seeds from JJ from Top Dawg, Lucky Dog Seed Co., and Daz’s dazzling Night Owl Chem crosses.
New growers take note of outdoor wonders like Skunk #1 and Northern Lights too—tried and tested for hearty outdoor environments when the weather gets tough.
And that’s our picks. Whether you are planning some outdoor summer gas in Poughkeepsie, NY, or danking up your entire NYC walkup with a tent full of some frosty loud—let’s get growing!
Anthony DiMeo
Anthony DiMeo is a cannabis advocate and journalist who still believes countercultural evolution is possible. His work and advocacy has been featured in DOPE, Extraction Magazine, Terpenes & Testing Magazine, and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
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These recommendations on the best cannabis seed companies are made by Leafly Product Picks after extensive research, internal debate, and expert consultation. If you make a purchase through links on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Updated for 2024.
A quick look at 2024’s best cannabis seed companies
Selecting seeds ahead of the planting season is one of the most exciting parts of growing your own cannabis for experts and novices alike. There are thousands of strains out there to try, with more dropping every season, so the only real question is where you want to start.
We’ve put together this list of the best places to buy seeds online to help you navigate where to find quality seeds you can count on. We’ve gone ahead and classified these into several categories like best genetics, best for beginners, etc, so read on until you find the right seed bank to fit your needs. Happy growing!
Top seed banks of 2024: Reviews and recommended products
The cannabis journey of a thousand harvests begins with a single seed, and tons of happy hobbyist growers get their start with I Love Growing Marijuana, affectionately known as ILGM. Founded in 2012 by the incomparable master breeder Robert Bergman, ILGM.com is our recommendation for the best seed bank to start your growing journey due to their extensive online resources for novices, as well as plug-and-play grow kits that are ideal for those just starting out. That’s not all—ILGM will also include a free download of Robert Bergman’s Grow Bible with every purchase.
ILGM is the perfect company to teach you how to stop worrying and learn to love growing marijuana, and even have it love you back.
Do-si-dos: Winner of one of the biggest prizes in cannabis, our very own 2021 Leafly Strain of the Year award, Do-si-dos may be a total champion, but it hasn’t let all that fame go to its head. Do-si-dos is still the easy-to-grow sensation that arrived on the scene nearly a decade ago and has been a friendly introduction to the world of cannabis growing ever since. Do-si-dos is a slightly indica-leaning hybrid that can hold up well in a variety of climates and growing conditions, although it slightly prefers an indoor environment. You can start your cultivation adventure with ten Dos-i-dos feminized seeds for just $149.
Many growers first take to the hobby because they get tired of giving so much of their paycheck to the local dispensary. If you’re one of those cannasseurs that got into growing green to save some green, then look no further than Seeds Supreme. They have a massive selection of strains both common and rare, expertly collated into an easy-to-use webpage. You’ll be hard-pressed to find seeds for a better price anywhere, and Seed Supreme even frequently slashes their own already low prices with heaps of special deals and promotions.
Seed Supreme goes the extra mile when it comes to taking care of their customers who primarily grow cannabis to ease the symptoms of their medical ailments. Not only do they have multiple strains popular in the medical community, Seed Supreme allows you to sort strains via the particular symptom you are hoping to relieve or condition you are suffering from. Customers are able to browse either by ailment, like multiple sclerosis or arthritis, or by symptoms, like nausea or insomnia. This means that Seed Supreme is one of the best spots around for finding the perfect strain to help with whatever ails you.
Seed Supreme’s low prices means you’ll never have to pick between two of your favorite strains again. Thanks to them, the answer will always be both.
Alien OG Feminized: A true 50/50 hybrid the likes of which are increasingly rare, Alien OG is the sort of strain that’ll have you questioning your place in the universe. Hailing from outer space by way of the San Francisco Bay, Alien OG gets its potent DNA from Alien Kush and Tahoe OG Kush, two parents who are no slouches in the THC department either. You can expect your Alien OG buds to reach up to 28% THC in ideal conditions, enough to satisfy the strongest of tolerances and help anyone explore the farther reaches of the galaxy.
With twenty years of excellence under their belt, DNA Genetics are some of the elder statesmen of the cannabis world. They’ve migrated from California to the Netherlands and back again, breeding legendary strains and filling their trophy case with prestigious awards. There’s hardly a cannabis award in the twenty-first century they haven’t won by introducing the world to favorites like Tangie, Kosher Kush, and Lemon Skunk, magical strains that continue to loom large in cannabis culture to this day.
DNA Genetics has begun to license its precious genetics to home breeders, spreading the DNA to be shared and iterated upon, in the true spirit of cannabis culture. If you’re interested in growing weed that is one step short of mythical, then DNA Genetics has the storied genetic legacy you’ve been dreaming of.
A team that got so tired of winning every single award that they decided it was only fair to let everyone else have a turn with their genetics. We’re honored to add one more accolade to this legendary group.
Chocolope Fem: The delicious winner of over ten awards, Chocolope is descended from OG Chocolate Thai, a hard-to-find cultivar notable for its chocolate and coffee aroma, and Cannalope Haze. Chocolope is a mouthwatering sativa-like that produces huge, resin-coated buds, perfect for the hash-maker or anyone who appreciates a stronger smoke. This strain is beginner-friendly, resilient, and oh-so tasty; there’s no reason not to treat yourself with a seed or twenty.
Earning the crown for the most innovative purveyor of seeds is Royal Queen Seeds, a European seed bank that has had a British Invasion-level impact on American growers. Based in Amsterdam, a site of stoner pilgrimage for decades, Royal Queen Seeds has been the careful shepherd of cannabis DNA that goes back to the days of the coffeeshops. However, it’s Royal Queen’s ability to look towards the future that has earned them the spot on this list.
Royal Queen’s dedication to innovation extends to all levels of their business. Not only are they advancing the frontiers of cannabis genetics with their line of F1 Hybrids, but they’re also making sure growing weed is more accessible and fun than it ever has been before through tools like their online seedfinder. Touring Royal Queen’s incredible genetic library will surely have you seduced by a special strain that you can crown as your next fave.
Royal Queen Seeds has made monarchists out of us. With unrivaled respect for tradition combined with an innovative edge, RQS will have growers saying “Hail to the Queen.”
Titan F1: F1 strains are famed for their resilience and robust genetics, and Titan F1 is an exemplar even among the F1 crowd. A pioneering hybrid, Titan F1 is an inbred cross of princely genetics including stand-out strains like Blue Dream, Amnesia, and Sugar Magnolia. Cannabis inbreeding won’t result in your weed going pug-shaped—in fact, RQS uses the technique to reinforce beneficial traits like resilience to pests or high-THC content. Get Titan F1 growing in your garden today, and experience some truly titanic majesty.
The best growers in the business will tell you that there’s always more to learn about cannabis cultivation. Like an iceberg, most of the substance of cannabis growing is below the surface. Growers who are interested in learning from some of the best minds in the cannabis industry should find a home at Homegrown Cannabis Co, a seed bank that offers extensive seed options as well as all the resources you could ever need to take your growing game to the next level.
Homegrown Cannabis Co has a crew of cannabis-growing heavyweights bringing their knowledge to Homegrown customers by writing articles, producing videos, and recommending strains. These experts are a veritable Mount Rushmore of cannabis legends, including Parker Curtis, Victoria Rouland, Nikki Lasterto, Swami Chaitanya, and the incomparable Kyle Kushman. With combined decades of experience, you can’t go wrong consulting with these legends.
Homegrown’s team of experts is second to none. Talk about a blunt rotation!
Kyle’s Sweet Island Feminized: One of Homegrown’s Cultivars with Character (CWC), Kyle’s Sweet Island bears the stamp of approval from one of Homegrown’s biggest assets, the man himself, Kyle Kushman. Sweet Island has a robust pedigree featuring Sweet Pink Grapefruit and Big Skunk #1, two famous parents who always bring a tropical vibe.
After planting Sweet Island, prepare for it to grow to a formidable height — this hybrid leans sativa and will bear the growing hallmarks of those strains. On the smoke, Sweet Island is an energizing, mentally stimulating strain that Homegrown recommends for a wake’n’bake companion. And with a respectable 19% THC, Sweet Island will give you just the push you need without sidetracking your whole day.
If you’re a seasoned hand at cannabis cultivation, and you find yourself craving something new and exciting to grow to keep the hobby fresh, then Cookies Seed Bank would like a few words. Cookies are legendary in the business, creating multiple world-famous strains, like GSC, a strain whose name pays homage to both the brand itself and the girls in green sashes. While picking up strains you’ve heard of before is certainly an option, in our opinion, the real reason to check out Cookies is the strains you haven’t. The team at Cookies is constantly cooking up new, unique strains that push the boundaries of cannabis cultivation.
Cookies was founded by the dynamic duo of Gilbert Anthony Milam Jr, AKA Berner and the enigmatic growmaster known only as Jai. Berner is nothing short of a cannabis mogul in the mold of Jay-Z, hip-hop career included. His partner Jai is a pillar of the San Francisco Bay Area community and a foundational part of the broader cannabis culture. His creativity has influenced the makeup of American cannabis forever, and if you want to know which strain will take the country by storm next, there’s a decent chance Jai is dreaming it up right now. Get your seeds from Cookies and impress your friends with a harvest of the next big thing.
Want to know what the next five years of weed will look like? The last two at Cookies.
Fried Banana is the sensitive type; a skilled hand can be necessary to help this strain reach its full potential, but there’s no better investment to make. Fried Banana features a depth of flavor and aroma that’d have a sommelier stuttering, a true treat for the connoisseur of finer cannabis flower.
Fried Banana is a backcross of Cookies’ legendary Gelato #41, with additional genetics from Stardawg Guava, where Fried Banana gets its tropical flair. Make sure you keep an eye on Fried Banana plants when they reach maturity, they tend to grow spindly as they near harvest. The team at Cookies recommends providing Fried Banana a bit of support to make sure it becomes all it can be.
There’s nothing quite like word of mouth to inspire trust, and a company that isn’t afraid of letting their customers speak freely is usually one you can bank on. Such is the case with Premium Cultivars, our selection for the seed bank with the best user community. Each strain available on the Premium Cultivars storefront features insightful, relevant reviews from growers all over the United States. This creates a dedicated community of growers that customers have access to, without digging through a dozen Reddit threads to find a worthwhile review from a real person.
Premium Cultivars was able to cultivate this online community because of the undeniable quality of their genetics, and the care they take in preserving that legacy. Growers respect quality and hate a scam, and the fact that Premium Cultivars has been able to inspire such a loyal community speaks incredibly well to their product. See for yourself what these seeds can do in your garden, and then pay it forward and leave your own review!
If you’re a nerd like us and love talking about weed as much as smoking it, then you’ll find your kind online at Premium Cultivars.
Jealousy: Jealousy is currently having a moment, earning a slew of accolades including the big one; the coveted Leafly Strain of the Year award. All this popularity has made Jealousy a hard girl to find, with many dispensaries selling out as fast as breeders can grow. Now, thanks to Premium Cultivars, you can snag Jealousy for yourself with these autoflowering, feminized seeds. The word from the Premium Cultivars community is that Jealousy is an easy, low-maintenance strain to grow, so pick up a pack of twelve seeds for just $129.00 and get to planting.
Pros
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Excellent user reviews
No information listed for strain effects
High-quality genetics
Fast delivery
Learn more about seeds & growing cannabis
Why you can trust Leafly Product Picks
Leafly is the world’s leading cannabis discovery platform and provides a vast library of content from some of the most respected voices in cannabis. Leafly Product Picks prioritizes accuracy and integrity in our selections, working through mountains of research, testimonials, and testing to source products you can trust.
Jake Rosendale: Lead Content Writer, Brands & Products
Jake Rosendale is Leafly’s Lead Content Writer, Brands & Products. He’s been with Leafly since 2022, where he spends his time researching the best products in the wide world of weed. Jake’s been writing about cannabis, food, and wine in the Seattle area for 5 years. In addition to Leafly, you can find his work in Seattle Met Magazine and High Times. He loves sci-fi novels, country music, and Super Lemon Haze.
Anna Elliott: Senior Content Editor, Brands & Products
Anna Elliott is Leafly’s Senior Content Editor, Brands & Products. She’s been with Leafly since 2021, managing and editing brand-related content and bringing the best stories on the industry’s top products to life. With a decade of experience reviewing products, covering brands, and editing stories, Anna loves talking up the people & products that make a real difference in readers’ every day. She’s found that Space Mints makes the perfect pairing for enjoying her frankly irresponsible vinyl collection.
Final thoughts
No matter the season, these seed banks are the best in the business. With options for every type of grower, from horticultural novices to captains of cannabis cultivation, our selections for the best cannabis seed companies are poised to kick off a renaissance in homegrowing. A greener world is a better world, so find the seed bank that’s right for you and get your hands in the dirt today!
Attention, America’s terp army of weed gardeners. It’s time to lock and load.
Ignore the freezing winter outdoors. Valentine’s Day marks the beginning of germination season indoors for the 2024 outdoor full-sun run in North America. The world’s most elite, tasty, potent, and beautiful weed isn’t going to grow itself. You need to scoop the perfect seeds for your situation—this week!
Feast thine eyes on this fine directory of magic beans, Terp Army. It’s distilled from dozens of queries to the world’s winningest, most reputable breeders.
Thanks to the federal legalization of cannabis seeds, it’s never been easier to stand on the shoulders of greatness and grow a pound. Growers from legal New York, Missouri, Ohio, and hopefully soon Washington can let fweedom ring this year.
Welcome to the World’s best seeds and clones to grow in 2024. Let’s get gardening!
Hot-hot new-new from the top dogs
We begin with a smoking hot display of pure hype—the true tokes of the town.
Seed Junky Genetics
Make your mark on 2024: Permanent Marker S1. (Courtesy Seed Junky Genetics)
Leafly Strain of the Year 2023 Permanent Marker colonizes the country in 2024. LA breeder Seed Junky Genetics has enabled direct-to-consumer sales of Permanent Marker S1, or bred to itself. Also scoop Scented Marker, Malibu Marker, and Cherry Ztripez. For pro indoor growers only.
Capulator
Coming in Spring 2024, the Cap Junky cross, Coolio. (Courtesy Capulator)
The LA maker of MAC1, Capulator, keeps digging into Leafly Strain of the Year 2023 runner-up Cap Junky with Coolio (Cap Junky x Caps Frozen Oranges); scheduled for Spring 2024.
Coolio #18 tastes like orange oil and paint thinner.
Capulator
“After a long hard day of work, hitting the #18 makes me want to hit the heavy bag, go for a 10-mile bike ride, and then stay up until 3 a.m. working on the creative side of my business. It’s super-productive and uplifting. Probably my favorite smoke at the moment.”
Cap also plans two clone drops of Chadberry and Big Buns. Chadberry is GMO x Chillz that he calls “super-happy giggle weed that reeks like chemberries.”
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Wonderbrett’s ByrdSeed
Also in LA, Wonderbrett has released seeds for the first time as the brand Byrdseed Genetics. Get the new Cherry Crush, based off his stable of studs. Cherry Crush is Wonderbrett’s OZ Kush selection crossed with his Kush Cola and Seed Junky’s Jealousy (Leafly Strain of the Year 2022).
Cookies Seed Bank and Cipher Genetics
In Northern California, global icon Cookies and their Cookies Seed Bank doubles up on the Lemon Cherry Gelato craze with Double Lemon Cherry. And Cookies’ Berner has been building with Cipher Genetics’ Chris Lynch, who has a line of Blue Lobster (Eye Candy x Apples & Bananas) crosses he’s prepping for the first half of 2024.
Compound Genetics
Panacea-grown Double Up from Compound Genetics for 2024. (Photo by @ginja.club, Courtesy of Compound Genetics)
Compound Genetics and Node Labs have readied Double Up (Mellowz #8 & Gastro Pop #5) for a 2024 run.
“The resulting bud is some of the best we have ever seen,” said Compound. With notes of bubblegum, candy, fruit, and citrus, to kerosene and industrial chemicals.
Also don’t miss Compound’s The Scrooge, which is Jokerz #31 x The Menthol for a more minty, candy, and creamy thing.
Purple City Genetics
The Oakland clone and seed powerhouse Purple City Genetics’ current favorite is Curaçao—a cross of Maltese Orange (Lemon Tree Skorange x THC Bomb) x Caribbean Cookies. It’s purple, yields, tests over 30% and, “has a unique sour orange peel and cookie dough terp that makes her special. Super strong, but uplifting and mouth and nose coating right down to the last hit.”
Phinest
Speaking of cloners, Phinest in Sacramento, CA rolls out Colorado breeder Cannarado’s Puffy Payton line of Gary Payton x Banana Puffy. Banana Puffy is Banana OG x Thin Mint. So this is cookie work with extra heavy yields for flower and hash.
Puffy Payton is the undisputed champ among this year’s bounty from Cannarado
Phinest, Sacramento, CA
Phinest states: “Purple shot through with orange and lime green, big banana terps. Consistently in the top quartile for wholesale pricing, Puffy is an elegant workhorse that is capturing the attention of NorCal growers and will surely be on the podium at the California State Fair this year, given its hash yield, funky banana terp profile (with a touch of the Gary) and bountiful trichome production.” See also: Cannarado’s Candyclysm.
Humboldt Seed Co
Leading off Humboldt Seed Co.’s hype train is Donutz (Lemon Cherry Gelato x GSC x OG). It tastes like glazed donuts and fuel, and will finish by Oct 5th to 10th outside. The automatic variety finishes in 80 days. Humboldt Seed Co is focusing on feminized seeds, so you don’t have a dude running through the gals in the garden. See also: Granny Candy.
Exotic Genetix
Exotic Genetix’s Petrol Potion. (Courtesy Exotic Genetix)
Coming out of Washington, Exotic Genetix Mike has the gas for 2024 with Petrol Point, from his fresh line of Grape Jubilee crosses. See also: Twisted Terpz (Trop Runtz x Grape Jubilee).
Tiki Madman
And our 2023 Budtender’s Choice strain Devil Driver returns in Tiki Madman’s Pablo’s Private Reserve (Devil Driver x Pablos Revenge). Pablos Revenge has popped up on our radar as a Leafly Buzz: Hot strain of 2024. See also: Tiki Madman’s Disco Tiger (Grape Zoda x Zoo Runtz), Blue Gushers Bx, and Bacio Belts.
Sin City Seeds
Rip Tide unites Sin City Seeds’ Blue Power with Surfr Seeds’ Point Break. (Courtesy Sin City Seeds)
One more huge release from a breeder-favorite—Las Vegas’ Sin City Seeds collabs with Surfr Seeds on Rip Tide (Point Break x Blue Power IX2). Point Break is citrusy, cakey Trop Cookies work. Blue Power is the power behind Apples and Bananas.
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The latest from the Z era
Candy terps reign supreme in 2024, whether it’s tropical taffy, blue raspberry, grape or grapefruit.
Archive Seeds
The best Z work probably comes from Archive Seeds in Portland, OR with their Z-Face, and Zsunami. No one works as hard to refine their lines as Archive Seeds’ Fletch, and it shows.
Terp Hogz
Z originators TerpHogz offers GelonoidZ as feminized seed in 2024, as well as Grapefruit Zruntz.
Wizard Trees
Leafly Strain of the Year 2023 runner-up RS-11 breeder. Wizard Trees has several crosses to Zangria or Studio 54 on their site.
Clearwater Genetics
The highly regarded maker of modern Mai Tai, Clearwater Genetics, has Blue Razzicle crosses that look on-point; especially crossed to RS-11, BTY OG, Sherbanger, and Zoap. Sheesh!
More candy aisle flavors
—Karma Genetics has a more unique Cheddar Zi, which is (Cheese/Biker) x (Z x ZiZi).
—Chemdog popularizer chemdog and his Smash Hits brand in Boston has Z clones for the legal Massachusetts market. Grab Z Head (Z x Headbanger Kush) and Zour Diesel (Z x Sour Diesel). All will be available at Canna Provisions stores in Lee and Holyoke in Massachusetts.
—Purple City Genetics of Oakland satisfies sweet teeth with Street Tarts—a mega-cross of Guava Tart (Grandi Guava x Caribbean Cookies [Guava x OGKB bx1] ) x Street Guru.
—3rd Coast Genetics of Michigan wants you to grow more of our Leafly hot strain of 2024—Cadillac Rainbow—in seed form.
—Also going strong in 2024, Bloom Seed Co’s Z x Sherbanger hotness Candy Fumez #6 —the Harry Palms selection.
—And Atlas Seeds presents a Green Apple Candy with an intense ripe green apple nose. It came out of a Wedding Crasher x Dirty Sanchez project.
Green Apple Candy. (Courtesy Atlas Seeds)
GMOs, and other funky stuff
We’ll close out part one of our list with savories to counterbalance that sweet.
3rd Coast Genetics
3rd Coast Genetics in Michigan steps on the gas with Pure Michigan F2, and Black Truffle; building off the White Truffle craze.
Thug Pug
The Michigan maker of the beloved Peanut Butter Breath, Thug Pug, has worked that line to F3s.
Skunk House Genetics
California Seed Bank Papa Burger. (Courtesy California Seed bank)
When you’re toughened up, seek out Southern Oregon breeder Kush Kirk’s Dragon’s Fist, or Compton, CA breeder Masonic Seeds’ Ultimate Garlic Bundle.
Phew! OK, we’re going to catch our breath and come back with Part 2, digging into Sours, OGs, Purps, Tangies, Sativas, Landraces, and Nostalgia cultivars. Lastly, Part 3 will be all about Hashers—strains that dump trichomes for BHO, live resin, rosin, live rosin, and dry sift! Download the app and turn on notifications to never miss a drop. Peace.
Quick, easy & resilient—autoflowering strains pack some big benefits for homegrowers.
As cannabis is increasingly legalized in states across the US, a growing number of Americans are exploring the idea of cultivating their own plants at home. With legalization, there’s been a boom in the variety of strains available, but this explosion of options can make it pretty tough for a newbie to figure out the best fit for their home garden.
If you’re getting started with growing and weighing versatility, ease of process, and quality of the end results, autoflowering cannabis strains have some huge benefits. These strains, compared to their photoperiod counterparts, are more beginner-friendly, making them a top choice for American homegrowers, especially those looking for a simpler cultivation experience without the fuss of adjusting light cycles.
Backyard autoflower growing benefits at a glance
Growing your own cannabis isn’t just a personal win—it’s a full-scale victory with a range of perks. Home cultivation unlocks a treasure trove of benefits:
Benefits of growing your own cannabis:
Endless top-shelf supply: Imagine having unlimited access to premium-quality weed without the hefty price tag.
Pure, natural medicine: Dictate the purity of your medicinal cannabis, ensuring it’s free from harmful chemicals and grown exactly to your preferences.
Eco-conscious cultivation: By growing at home, you contribute to a greener planet by reducing the pollution associated with commercial production and transportation.
Diverse cannabis exploration: Be unrestricted in your cannabis choices. From flavors to aromas and effects, homegrowing lets you delve deep into the cannabis world, beyond the limitations of market availability.
Completing their growth cycle in a swift 8-11 weeks, autoflowering seeds are hardy, resisting many plant diseases, and are adaptable to a range of climates. Here’s a glimpse of what autoflowers bring to your garden:
Benefits of growing autoflowering cannabis strains:
Versatile cultivation: Whether you’re set up outdoors, indoors, or in a greenhouse, autoflowers thrive in all conditions, irrespective of the season.
No light cycle: These plants flower on their own, eliminating the need for you to adjust light cycles to induce blooming.
Maximized yields in minimal spaces: Even if you’re working with limited real estate, autoflowers can surprise you with abundant harvests without demanding any extra elbow grease.
Novice-friendly: Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just starting out, autoflowers streamline the process, ensuring you harvest top-notch buds with minimal fuss.
The green revolution in American backyards
Courtesy of Fast Buds
The US boasts sprawling residential areas, many of which come with the added charm of backyards. The National Association of Home Builders tells us that a whopping 60% of American homes feature a backyard. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find an impressive 39.1 million households have rolled up their sleeves and are diving into the joys of vegetable gardening.
For those already nurturing home gardens with tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, and more, the leap to cultivating cannabis might not be as vast as one might think. If you’re adept at growing veggies, you’re already ahead of the curve! Slotting a cannabis plant next to your green beans could be as straightforward as just planting another seed.
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Sustainable gardening practices for growing cannabis
Interestingly, cannabis, especially the autoflowering variety, coexists harmoniously with vegetables. They share a lot in common—from the type of soil they thrive in to the nutrients they crave. And when it comes to autoflowering cannabis, it’s even more low-maintenance, demanding fewer nutrients than its traditional photoperiodic cousins.
There’s a palpable shift towards sustainable living in the US. With so many folks having access to backyard spaces and a growing enthusiasm for organic cultivation, the trend of growing your own produce is on a steady rise. And, thanks to the hassle-free nature of autoflowers, adding cannabis to the mix is becoming an equally appealing proposition. As we move forward, it won’t just be about homegrown tomatoes or lettuce; homegrown weed could very well be the next green revolution in American backyards.
No need to change the light cycle
Image courtesy of Fast Buds.
So, what exactly is an autoflower, anyway? Well, autoflowering strains are descendants of cannabis plants native to areas with short growing seasons due to low light conditions. These strains evolved to flower in situations where lighting is low or inconsistent, giving them an advantage in convenience and ease of process over traditional cannabis strains, which require precise variations in the light cycle to flower.
Traditional cannabis strains require precise light schedules to transition from the vegetative to the flowering phase. But autoflowers? They march from seed to harvest without batting an eye at the light cycle. This adaptability is a game-changer. For outdoor growers, it offers flexibility—you can basically kick off your growing season whenever you feel like it. Just bear in mind that these plants are a bit like solar panels: the more sunlight they soak up, the more bountiful the yields.
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Indoor cultivators, too, have a lot to be excited about. The fuss of toggling between different light schedules? Gone. No more stressing over setting timers or switching out light bulbs to match the plant’s growth phase. With autoflowers, you’re pretty much setting your indoor garden on cruise control.
And because they’re so low-maintenance when it comes to lighting, you can even optimize energy use by choosing efficient LED lights, which are ideal for autoflowers due to their full spectrum and lower heat emission. This not only simplifies the process but can also be more cost-effective in the long run.
Bang for your buck
Speaking of cost-effectiveness, if you try your hand at growing your own autoflowering cannabis plants, it’s not just lighting that you’ll be saving on. Instead of shelling out $10 for a gram of flower at the dispensary, why not invest the same money in a cannabis seed and potentially reap over 100g from a single plant?
Yes, you’ll need to get a handle on the basics, but growing cannabis is as straightforward as tending to most plants. The essentials? Sunlight, good soil, and water. If you’ve already got a green thumb and cultivate plants or veggies in your garden, then you’re pretty much set to grow cannabis outdoors.
Short life cycles: More weed, a whole lot faster
Image courtesy of Fast Buds.
Autoflowering seeds also have growing periods that can be much shorter than traditional strains. You can expect to harvest your autoflowers in as little as nine weeks, a lightning-fast cultivation that’ll get you quality cannabis in record time. The convenience offered by autos is virtually unparalleled.
Some autoflowers can shoot up to 150cm, but most of the time they hover around the 90cm mark because of their shorter life cycle. So, if you’re trying to grow some top-notch weed in a tight spot, autoflowers are your go-to. Their compact size also means there’s less to manage, making them a total win for folks working with limited space or for anyone not into cultivating big ol’ cannabis trees.
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While conventional cannabis strains need a solid 5-6 months to navigate through their vegetative and flowering phases, many autoflowers race through their entire growth cycle in just under 3 months. For homegrowers hoping to maximize their yields, every tick of the clock counts. The speedier the harvest, the more you can grow in a single year, making for an impressive return on investment.
That’s precisely why so many cultivators are leaning towards autoflowers. Their rapid life cycle wraps up so swiftly, it’s almost like watching a time-lapse. Autos offer the tempting prospect of faster harvests, potentially doubling your yield compared to photoperiod plants. And this high turnover isn’t just good for your wallet—it’s great for plant health, too.
Pest resiliency
Autoflowering strains’ lightning-quick growth isn’t just about your bottom line; it’s a shield against pests. Although pests are not entirely averse to taking a bite out of outdoor autoflowers, their time window to wreak havoc is significantly smaller. Pests usually need a longer stretch to establish a damaging presence on plants, making autos a tougher target due to their shorter life cycle.
Consider the pesky spider mites, the stuff of nightmares for cannabis growers. These critters need time to spin their webs and make themselves at home. With spider mites typically launching their offensive during the flowering phase, autoflowers, with their faster flowering period, present a harder-to-penetrate fortress.
Pair the autos’ quick growth with integrated pest management (IPM) techniques, and you’ve got a solid defense line. IPM tactics might range from using insect screens and sticky traps in indoor settings to releasing beneficial predatory insects that chow down on the baddies. And if you’re growing outdoors, planting companion plants near your auto crops acts as a magnet for helpful insects and a repellent for the detrimental ones.
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Climate adaptability
Autoflowering cannabis’ relative pest resiliency isn’t the only benefit. If you’re one of the millions of Americans with a green thumb and a local joke about the weather changing multiple times an hour, rejoice. Autoflowering strains are also remarkably resilient to changes in climate, making them a favorite of backyard growers from the Miami heat to the Seattle haze, and every home garden in between. This reduces the risk of an inconsistent grow, or the worst case scenario, a total crop failure.
In a vast country like the US, climatic conditions can be wildly diverse across regions, making consistent year-round cultivation a formidable challenge. Take, for example, the temperature fluctuations between states: New Mexico in June might oscillate between 86°F and 95°F, while Wisconsin’s June temperatures can swing between a cooler 58°F to 78°F. Such disparities can be major roadblocks for cultivators.
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But autoflowers? They’ve got an answer. Their independence from light cycles and their robustness means they can soldier on in a multitude of climates. Whether you’re contending with the biting cold of a northern state or grappling with limited sunshine in overcast regions, autoflowers grant the luxury of uninterrupted, year-round cannabis cultivation.
Plus, they’re relatively low-maintenance, consuming around half the nutrients of conventional cannabis strains. This resilience and efficiency open doors for American enthusiasts to cultivate and indulge in their passion, regardless of the whims of the weather. This adaptability means you can potentially have up to four grow cycles annually!
Choosing your autoflowering cannabis seeds
Image courtesy of Fast Buds.
As you venture into the world of autoflowers, here’s a golden nugget of advice: The quality of the end product leans heavily on genetics. So, before you sow your first seed, invest time in sourcing top-tier strains from reputable sources. Starting on the right foot, after all, sets the tone for your entire cultivation journey.
One source that checks that box and then some is Fast Buds. The autoflower-only seed bank emerged on the scene more than a decade ago, and they’ve been dead set on earning a reputation as one of the most trustworthy seed banks around ever since.
Fast Buds began life in a dank California garage, where a team of innovative, inspired growers met and began experimenting with their favorite autoflowering genetics. This passion for autoflowers led them to grow Fast Buds into one of the foremost providers of autoflowers in the world today.
And we really do mean the world—the multinational team at Fast Buds has received over twenty accolades since 2016, including international events and several cannabis cup championships. Fast Buds autoflowering seeds are stocked in over a thousand shops worldwide, and their prize genetics have resulted in hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers. These autoflower specialists are one of the most talked about seed banks the world over.
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The passion that Fast Buds has for the resilience and convenience of autoflowers motivates everything they do to this day. Their singular focus on this particular corner of the cannabis world has led them to absolutely master the genetics of autoflowers, regularly breaking records for autoflower yield and THC content. They’ve made it their mission to bring quality autoflowers to growers of all stripes all over the globe, and they want to bring them to a backyard garden near you.
Backyard autoflowering strain essentials
Fast Buds prides themselves on their stunning genetic diversity, a fact that has won them a dedicated fan base in their native European markets and, increasingly, globally. One of our favorites from Fast Buds is a standout little number called Banana Purple Punch. Banana Purple Punch Auto has proudly entered the league of the most potent autoflowers.
This remarkable strain boasts incredible THC levels, reaching up to 30.4%, and delivers one of the best terpene profiles out there in just 56 days. Anticipate a delightful terpene blend reminiscent of candy, featuring an irresistible ripe banana essence that’s wonderfully enhanced by fruity undertones, leaving a sense on the palate that you’ve just enjoyed a delectable bag of gummy bears.
Strawberry Gorilla is a tantalizing hybrid descended from the GG family, Strawberry Gorilla has the honor of being one of the most powerful autoflowers in the world. That’s right, this multiple cannabis cup winner is an autoflower that can go smoke-for-smoke with the best of them. Strawberry Gorilla is an extremely easy plant to grow, with notably tiny sugar leaves, making trimming your harvest a breeze. And you’ll be glad to have plenty of Strawberry Gorilla stock; the strain’s uplifting high makes it a popular all-day smoke.
Gorilla Cookies, Fast Buds’ most popular strain, is a breeze to grow and a great place to begin your backyard growing journey. An exemplar of all the things that make Fast Buds autoflowers great, planting this guy at nearly any time of the year will result in thick, resin-soaked buds in as little as ten weeks. You also won’t be skimping on potency; the GG genetics ensure that this strain is plenty powerful, meaning that Gorilla Cookies has something to offer experienced growers, as well. Try it out in your garden this season—its classic Christmas tree shape will look great next to the snap peas.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg of Fast Buds’ massive selection of quality autoflowering seeds. You can head over to their website to browse the whole selection. While you’re there, be sure to check out their growing tips & read reviews from fellow growers.
As the cannabis cultivation scene in the US becomes more mainstream and accessible, understanding the merits of autoflowers can be a valuable asset for those looking to optimize their consumption experience.
This growing accessibility makes homegrowing the ideal option for everyone who consumes weed and wants to ensure they are smoking the cleanest, freshest top-shelf flower. Grow forth with this knowledge & happy planting!
