Not every strain of cannabis is suitable for growing under the sun, and of the varieties dedicated to growing outdoors, not every one will be a suitable choice for a novice gardener. That's why we've compiled a list of the top 5 outdoor varieties for beginners. We also tell which varieties do not make sense to grow in central Europe and why.
When choosing genetics for mid-European sun, there are a few basic things to keep in mind. Cannabis is a short day plant, this means that it starts its flowering when the night is long enough. Therefore, most varieties will start flowering at a similar time (this does not apply to automatics). Varieties, on the other hand, vary in terms of how much time they take to form flowers. Some will do it in 7 weeks, while others (mostly sativas) need up to 14 weeks. If you plant a haze (sativa) variety that takes several weeks to flower, there is no chance of a good yield. Mainly because the most important stage of flower formation will take place in October and November, when most simply conditions will no longer allow it (light quality, temperature, precipitation, autumn ladies).
FAST-type varieties, which we wrote about recently, are great. These are photoperiodic plants, meaning they bloom according to the length of the night, but thanks to the admixture of ruderalis genes, they bloom much faster which allows them to form flowers during the best conditions and the best sun. FAST varieties are a great choice for beginner gardeners.
For beginner gardeners, see the article HOW TO CULTIVATE OUTDOOR
Top 5 outdoor varieties for beginners
1 - Passion #1
An absolute classic among classics, Passion #1 is a strain by Dutch Passion that we recommend to any grower who enjoys growing under a cloud. It is easy to grow. It does very well in our climate. 100% indica with long buds with THC levels of 15-18% giving a decent yield. Passion smells citrusy, grown organically it smells intense and very crisp. It responds well to training and pruning. Ready for harvest in the first half of October.
2 - Frisian Dew
Frisian Dew is an amazing plant, producing purple and very clumped flowers that have a considerable weight. It is incredibly resistant to mildew. It is a cross between a female Super Skunk and a male Purple Star individual, selected over a period of 3 years. Dutch Passion, who created Frisian Dew maintain that it is their best plant under the cloud of the last 20 years. This half indica and half sativa is a must-have item for any beginner and beyond.
3 - Early Skunk x Northern Lights
Early Skunk x Northern Lights is an indica-dominant hybrid that gives a very decent yield while not demanding too much from the gardener. Among other things, the Early Skunk genes are responsible for fast flowering, while the Northern Lights admixture makes the quality of the resulting dried food very decent. The plant rewards in late September with heavy resin-laden tops. It has a sweet, skucky aroma.
4 - Critical F1 Fast Version
Critical F1 Fast Version is a Fast (semi-automatic) strain created by the Mr. Pestka Crew for outdoor cultivation in central Europe. Beautiful citrus aroma, big tops, ease of growing and mega positive effects - this is how Critical F1 Fast Version can be briefly described. You will fall in love with this strain and will definitely keep coming back to it.
5 - Early Skunk x C99
Early Skunk x C99 is a cross of the ideally suited for central European conditions Early Skunk with the genes of Cinderella 99. The former is responsible for relatively fast flowering, while Cinderella is responsible for smell and potency. This cross produces a decent yield with a fruity-sweet aroma with hints of skunk. It's easy to grow and the fast flowering produces large clumped flowers covered in a fair amount of resin. Another great item that came about thanks to the guys at Pan Pestka Crew.
