Choosing Outdoor Seeds To Grow In Your Climate

What kind of cannabis you choose to cultivate and where you sow the seeds will dictate your outdoor crop’s performance. Our breakdown of the perfect strains for each climate zone will help you grow fire marijuana throughout spring, summer, and autumn.

GENETICS: THE NO.1 CRITICAL FACTOR OF CANNABIS CULTIVATION

Genetics hold the key to your cannabis seeds’ potential and that’s a fact. No matter what miracle nutrient formulation you apply or how perfectly you maintain the garden, results will be genetics-driven. If you start with bunko beans, don’t expect huge yields of high-grade. Only by carefully choosing high-quality, feminized seeds can the cannabis grower avoid the low-ceiling limitations of weak genetics. Outdoor cannabis cultivation requires an even more rigorous selection process.

These days, the vast majority of cannabis strains on the market have been specifically adapted and bred for indoor cultivation. Sure, in theory, any weed can grow anywhere. But in practice, this is absolutely not the case with all cannabis varieties. Most marijuana will thrive in a sunny southern climate. However, plenty of outstanding, hardy strains can be cultivated in cooler, northern latitudes.

It’s time to get our hands dirty with some old-school marijuana cropping in the great outdoors. Match up the right cannabis with the local climate and you’ve taken the first step on the route to a successful outdoor harvest.

CLIMATE ZONES: HOW MUCH SUN WILL THE GARDEN GET?

Job number one is to establish how much daily sunlight your cannabis plants are likely to receive during the growing season. Once you know the timeframe you have to work with, you can begin to consider which strains are the best fits. Keep an eye on the local weather forecast and do a little online research. Find accurate data on hours of daily sunlight, sunrise and sunset times, temperatures day and night, prevailing winds, and precipitation frequency.

Perhaps you are based somewhere around the Mediterranean. If so, you have the luxury of growing late-blooming sativas outdoors from around April to Croptober. Maybe you are living in Northern Europe and only have a short Spring/Summer 8-10 week window to squeeze in some tough ruderalis. Or you could be somewhere in the middle and need versatile hybrids for a summer crop.

COOL NORTHERN LATITUDES

Northern European growers from the west coast of Ireland to eastern Poland need to go with cannabis strains that can survive in less-than-perfect conditions. Photoperiod and autoflowering strains bred to thrive in colder climates can produce top-shelf quality outdoors if you time the crop right. No marijuana is invincible. 

Remember to reference weather data before choosing your seeds. If you find yourself limited to less than 3 months total crop time, you really only have the time for a Quick One or some Easy Bud sometime during Spring/Summer. Use pots and you can even take your plants inside if the weather turns for the worse. Precipitation can be frequent and year-round in these parts.

HOT, DRY INTERIOR CLIMATE

Southern European growers have a huge advantage over northern growers. An abundance of sunshine facilitates a long growing season that can be productive from March-November. The possibilities are endless. It really comes down to which kind of sticky green is your personal favourite.

Beginner growers can gain experience with some gourmet warm climate autoflowering varieties. In fact, the next-generation RQS auto hybrids are also a great option for more experienced growers looking to double-crop in a single season. Royal Haze Automatic and Northern Light Automatic immediately spring to mind as winners in a warm climate. All you have to decide is whether you prefer indica or sativa-leaning stash.

It would be a shame not to dabble with some fire photoperiod strains in a warmer climate. Some organic, soil-cultivated OG Kush or Sour Diesel will take your cannabis garden into flavour country. Of course, 2m+ jolly green giant ganja trees are going to be productive, so why not go for the best of the best red-hot strains? Shade, rather than shelter from rain may be required. Be sure to check the weather data. Watch out for heatwaves.

WARM-WET COASTAL CLIMATE

Sun, sea, and outstanding outdoor sinsemilla. If you are living around the Mediterranean, you are also spoiled with choices. Although, cropping cannabis strains resistant to bud mould is probably advisable, especially if you’re a novice cultivator. Unfortunately, thick, tight colas and high humidity don’t mix.

At least some sativa genetics in the mix is recommended, if not outright high-calibre Hazes like Amnesia Haze or Shining Silver Haze. The slightly looser flower formation and greater tolerance for humidity make sativa hybrids or sativa-leaning autos the perfect choice for the coastal cultivator. Sure, sativa genetics will add a few weeks to bloom. Even for auto hybrids. But you’ve got from April-Croptober. You might as well use this time to crop the finest headstash.

But don’t get too complacent with sativa genetics as they too can succumb to mould and fungus. Check the weather data and be at the ready to harvest from September onward, should the rain come early.