Spring is here and you have still not remembered that it is time to germinate, let alone pre-grow seedlings for outdoor planting? It can happen to anyone, but it would be a shame to miss the whole season because of a few weeks. At HiSeeds, we have the solution! We have selected five reliable fast strains from our catalogue, from which you will harvest a rocket, even if you order them only today.
How long does it take to grow cannabis? The answer to this question will vary depending on which strain you decide to grow. The shortest life cycle is found in autoflower (self-flowering) strains, the fastest of which can be harvested approximately two months after the seed germinates. The advantage is that with autoflowers it does not matter whether you plant them in spring or only during summer, because they will flower independently of the length of day and night.
By contrast, “classic” photoperiod strains begin to flower only during August in response to the lengthening of the night. If you plant photoperiods too late, they will not have enough time to grow before flowering begins, and the yield will be lower. Whether your plants will manage to ripen before the first frosts arrive outdoors is determined by the flowering and ripening period, which can range from 6 to 12 and sometimes even more weeks. For outdoor growing in our latitudes, we recommend choosing only photoperiod strains with a maximum flowering time of 9 weeks.
An interesting option for Czech growers is the so-called fast strains. These will flower depending on the photoperiod, that is, only during August, but compared with other cultivars they have a flowering time that is 1-2 weeks faster. Like other photoperiods, they also need some time for vegetative growth, but most can be harvested before the arrival of the first cold autumn days. We recommend fast strains to growers at higher altitudes, where it tends to become cold earlier at the end of summer.
The fastest cannabis strains for late planting
Green Poison F1 FV (Sweet Seeds)
The Spanish seed bank Sweet Seeds is among the pioneers of fast strains, and the “accelerated” version of their classic Green Poison is proof of that. The plants finish flowering in an incredible 6 weeks, which makes Green Poison unquestionably the fastest photoperiod strain on the market. The strain was created by crossing Green Poison with the autoflowering version of the same cultivar. The plants have the classic appearance of indica/sativa hybrids, while showing rapid vegetative growth and high flower production. The speed of flowering does nothing to reduce the quality of the buds, which are characterised by a delicate taste and aroma of sweet fruit. This strain has good resistance to mould and bud rot.
Green-O-Matic (Green House Seed Company)
One of the first autoflowers from the world-famous Dutch seed bank Green House Seed Company, which ripens after just 5 to 6 weeks of flowering. The strain was created by crossing Moroccan landrace cannabis with several autoflowering strains, among which we find the legends White Dwarf and Low Rider. Like all old-school autoflowers, Green-O-Matic is an undemanding and resilient strain, perfect for beginner growers. The plants do not need much care and will reward you with a generous harvest of buds with a refined terpene profile. The vapour is earthy and milky-sweet on the palate, like classic “White” strains.
A reliable autoflower at a reasonable price from HiSeeds. Blue Mazar is a modern autoflower through and through. The strain was created by crossing the American classic Blueberry with Afghan Mazar and is characterised by high resilience, rapid growth and a short flowering time. You can harvest the plants as soon as 9 to 10 weeks after the seed germinates. Like other “Blue” strains, Blue Mazar can develop beautiful blue-purple shades during flowering, giving the buds a luxurious appearance. The terpene profile is complex, blending sweet fruity notes of forest fruits with earthy undertones and a spicy finish with a hint of pine.
You may also be interested in: How to grow autoflower cannabis strains
Gorilla Cookies Auto (Fast Buds)
As the name itself suggests, the seed bank Fast Buds specialises in autoflowering strains, and Gorilla Cookies Auto is its showcase variety. This award-winning strain, with more than a million seeds sold, hides everything a grower could wish for. The plants are extremely resilient and reliable, have a modern terpene profile, an incredible content of active compounds, and you can harvest them in just 10 weeks from germination. Gorilla Cookies Auto is a shorter cultivar, reaching up to 1.5 metres in height, with many side branches that may require support in the late flowering stage. The terpene profile is modern, based on classic Cookies, whose sweetness and earthiness are complemented by a fresh petrol finish with a hint of citrus that will hit you in the nose.
Our favourite “little one” from the Spanish seed bank Kannabia must not be missing from our list. It has been experimenting with fast strains for many years, and Pure Skunk Go Fast is probably among its best creations. The basis is honest Skunk #1, which was crossed with a carefully bred autoflowering version of the same cultivar. The result is a lightning-fast version of an old and proven classic, which ripens in 7 weeks. The plants have the classic Christmas tree shape, with the main stem covered in a continuous layer of flowers and many side branches. The terpene profile is typically pungent with a pronounced skunky aroma. The taste of the smoke is sweet and spicy.
Looking for inspiration or need help finding your way around the array of strains in our offer? Practical advice and tips, as well as interesting historical context about cannabis, can be found on our HiSeeds blog.