In this article we'll introduce you to 6 of the best autoflowering, feminized, and regular marijuana seed strains for your grow.
Disclaimer: Growers Network urges you to review the cannabis cultivation laws in your jurisdiction before beginning your grow. Don't break the law!
A few questions about Mail Order cannabis seeds
Is it safe to order cannabis seeds through the mail?
People always wonder about the legal risk of purchasing cannabis seeds through the mail. Legitimate seed vendors (including those we recommend) ship discreetly to most locations. Seeds can be stopped by customs, but this doesn’t happen often.
Where can I buy cannabis seeds safely?
There are a number of good seed vendors out there. Our recommendations are established companies with great customer reviews so you know you’re purchasing quality cannabis seeds.
Beware of cannabis Seed Scams
If you’re contacted via social media to purchase seeds, chances are you’ve been targeted for a scam. We recommend using established cannabis seed vendors.
So you decided to grow some cannabis. Great! But you may be wondering what marijuana seed strain you should grow. Well, if you want to grow great weed, you’ve got to start with great genetics. But you may be asking questions like: where can I find the best seeds? Where can I buy cannabis seeds online? Do seed companies ship to the US (or wherever on the planet you happen to be)? Today we’ll answer some of those questions and point you toward the eight best strains for you marijuana grow.
Quick look at the top cannabis strains to grow from seeds
1. Best Feminized, Autoflowering marijuana seeds: Northern Lights (Canuk Seeds)
2. Best AutoFlowering marijuana seeds (non-feminized): Blue Himalaya Autoflowering Non-Feminized Seeds (Shortstuff Seeds)
3. Best Feminized marijuana seeds (non-autoflowering): 8 Ball Kush Feminized Regular Seeds (Barney's Seeds)
4. Best Regular marijuana seeds: Bruce Banner (Canuk Seeds)
Have additional questions? Check out our marijuana seed FAQ section below.
Note: Our picks for the best strains are based on customer reviews, talks with growers, and personal experience.
Which Cannabis Seeds Strain should I grow?
Before we start, we need to talk about a few variables with regard to buying cannabis seeds for your grow, specifically, what's the difference among regular seeds, autoflowering seeds, and feminized seeds? Read on and consider the requirements of each of the following types of seeds to help you make the best purchase for your grow. There are advantages and drawbacks to each seed type.
REGULAR Cannabis SEEDS
"Regular" seeds are non-feminized and non-autoflowering. You should expect half of your plants from these seeds to be male and dispose of them before they can pollinate your females. Pollinated females produce lower quality buds that are full of seeds. Regular seeds require a change in the light cycle to begin producing flowers. Through vegetation, cannabis plants are typically exposed to daily cycle of 18 hours of light followed by 6 hours of darkness (18-6). When developed enough to enter flowering, the grower will switch the light cycle to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness (12-12) until harvest time.
Autoflowering Cannabis Seeds
Autoflower seeds will grow plants that produce flowers (buds) when it's old enough; there is no changing of the light cycle to initiate flowering the way you do with regular seeds. Expect a higher price point for these cannabis seeds compared to "regular" seeds.
Feminized Cannabis Seeds
Feminized cannabis seeds are generated by spraying a healthy, female cannabis plant with colloidal silver or a silver thiosulfate solution. The process results in nearly 100% feminized seeds so there are no males to remove.
Note: 1 in 1000 feminized seeds may turn out to be male. Even though you are using feminized seeds you'll want to monitor your plants when the reproductive parts begin developing. Remember that these seeds are more expensive, but you won't waste the time and energy it takes to deal with male cannabis plants.
Autoflowering Feminized Cannabis Seeds
The best of all worlds? Possibly. Autoflowering, feminized cannabis seeds will flower without a change in the life cycle and will result in nearly 100% female plants. Like any autoflowering seed strain, you should expect a slightly smaller harvest than a crop of the same strain grown from "regular" seeds. And of course, the convenience of autoflowering marijuana seeds make them a bit more pricey.
And now for my recommendations!
Best Autoflowering Feminized & Regular Seeds
This mostly indica cultivar flowers in about 50 days and is great whether you grow indoors, outdoors, or in a greenhouse. Northern lights gets high marks for growability and potency, with THC levels of 22%. Expect highly-resinous flowers and a sweet flavor.
As with many Indicas, Northern Lights will relax you to the point of couch lock which makes it a great strain if you're looking for the ultimate "chill" strain.
Blue Himalaya
This particular cultivar will go from seed to bud in about 65 days. This dwarf strain is a great choice for growers who'd like to keep a low profile grow without sacrificing yield (30-45 grams per plant). Users report a blueberry flavored taste and smell.
This mostly Indica strain is great for taking a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life, providing relaxing effects and a pleasurable smoke.
Best Feminized Regular Seeds
8 Ball Kush Feminized Seeds
Earthy, musky, with spicy accents is how users describe the taste of 8 Ball Kush. This Indica has genetic pedigree reaching to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Though you'll get the highest yields in a control indoor grow (550g/m2, this cultivar is hardy and canalso grow outdoors or in a greenhouse.
Since we're talking straight Indica here, the effects will be relaxing and perfect for an evening in. Unlike the previous strains mentioned, this is NOT an autoflowering strain, so make sure you study up on those photo-periods! This is a relatively high THC strain reaching levels of 20%
AK Feminized
This one is a favorite among growers and with 22% THC and crazy-high yields it's no wonder.
AK is a mostly Sativa cultivar provides an earthy, pungently sweet flavor and strong effects perfect for socializing with friends or getting outdoors and active. As mentioned before, AK can produce impressive yields of up to 1200g/m2 when grown outdoors. Indoor yields are a bit less, topping out at 800g/m2.
Best regular seeds
Lemon Thai Kush
You may recognize the name, Amnesia Haze, it's pretty famous. With genetics from both South Asia and Jamaica, this is a high-yield strain that will produce up to 500 grams of flower per square meter of grow space. Keep in mind, that Amnesia Haze grows tall, so make sure you have enough room. With THC levels over 20% expect a strong head stone and little to no body-buzz. A tasty smoke, you'll get earthy notes with fruity undertones.
Cotton Candy Kush
Order now and receive some free seeds!
The marriage of taste and potency is one of the most intriging aspects of Cotton Candy Kush. A moderately high THC strain (15-18%), Cotton Candy Kush kicks in with a strong head high after a few puffs and soon migrates through your entire being for a heavy body buzz. Taste is spicy and sweet, and you can expect to get 400-500 Grams per square meter of grow space. Cotton Candy Kush - sweet.
So there you have it, some keep differences among marijuana seed types and some recommendations for which strain you may want to grow. Please let us know what strain you choose and be sure to send some pics! We even have a special place in our forum for members to show off their buds. See you there!
Marijuana Seed Strain FAQs
Is it legal to ship marijuana seeds through the mail?
This varies from country to country so research the laws in your jurisdiction about shipping cannabis seeds through the mail. We advises you to follow the law.
Where can I buy the best cannabis seeds online?
There are a number of great online seed shops. All of our recommendations come from professional cannabis growers.
What are the best marijuana seeds to buy?
This depends on your budget, available time to grow, and your level of experience. There are advantages to “regular” seeds as they typically result in a larger harvest but you will have to plan for only half of the seeds being female. Feminized, auto flowering strains will give you nearly 100% female plants, but the cost more.
What’s the difference between autoflower and regular cannabis seeds?
Autoflower seeds begin to flower according to their age. “Regular” seeds flower in response to a change in the life cycle, i.e. when your plants are developed enough to flower, you would switch the light cycle from 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness (18-6) to 12 hours of light and twelve hours of darkness (12-12). Autoflowering strains are “easier” in the sense that you don’t have to switch the light cycle, they just start flowering when they’re ready.
Are feminized cannabis seeds worth the price?
When you buy feminized seeds you can be confident that nearly 100% of your plants will be female. If this is important to you then yes, feminized seeds are worth the cost.
Are some cannabis seed strains easier to grow than others?
Yes. As mentioned above, autoflowering strains are easy to grow due to their simple light requirement. Some regular seeds are not much more difficult as long as you can control the light cycle. A few other strains, typically regular seed strains, can have very specific nutrient, watering, temperature, and humidity needs.
What strains are good for growing marijuana indoors? What seed strains are good for growing marijuana outdoors?
There are many good strains suited for indoor growing and just as many good seed strains for outdoor cultivation. You have to consider the space you’re growing in. Outdoor marijuana strains will grow tall and may not be suitable for you indoor grow. The main consideration when deciding between indoor and outdoor is the amount of space. An “outdoor” strain will grow fine indoors, as long as it has enough room.
What’s the difference between regular marijuana seeds and feminized marijuana seeds?
Feminized seeds have been bred and treated to nearly 100% female. They cost a bit more but you don’t have to worry about throwing out the half of your plants that turn out male.
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About the Author
Chris DeWildt is a graduate of Grand Valley State University and Western Kentucky University. He worked in education and publishing for ten years before joining the team at Growers Network. In addition to editing the GN blog, Chris also works on the Canna Cribs series.