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Unfortunately, the bright, sunny beaches and never-ending summers seen on your favourite TV shows are not a reality for most of us. Instead, many of us have to settle for mediocre temperatures and a volatile weather system. When the reality is a chillier climate, what are your options when it comes to growing weed outdoors?
Cannabis can be a temperamental specimen, and despite all the goodness it brings to harvest, the cold can often have detrimental effects on bud potency and yield. No matter your experience level, there’s only so much you can do to control the weather.
Despite how bleak it may look, both in weather and your potential harvest, there are several strains that will get you to harvest without sacrificing quality. The following cannabis seeds have been developed to fight back or thrive in the cooler temperatures that many hobby cultivators experience. Here are 10 cold-weather cannabis strains to grow in 2024.
This incredible mix between Cheese and Blueberry is an indica-dominant strain straight out of Oregon. Blue Cheese delivers on taste, effects, and, yes, it handles the cold with aplomb. With a strong Skunk heritage, this cultivar races through the flowering stage to beat the autumn rain and frost.
A fave on the Amsterdam coffeeshop circuit, Blue Cheese is sure to please even the most discriminating canna-connoisseur. Blueberry and cheese scents intertwine to send the toker on a cool, pungent journey. THC levels hover at the 19% mark, which makes Blue Cheese a perfect strain for kicking back and chilling without becoming overwhelmed. A great strain for edibles, Blue Cheese can be baked into sweet and savoury treats alike, making for a longer-lasting and even more potent high.
Blue Cheese can also yield impressive results. Indoor growers can expect up to 450–500g/m², while outdoor growers can achieve 500–550g/plant in ideal conditions. A short flowering time of 7–8 weeks is appreciated by growers in cold climates. You can expect to harvest these plants by the end of September.
Special Queen 1 is another hardy, speedy Skunk specimen that beats the cold while exceeding the expectations of cultivators. A 50/50 indica/sativa mix, Special Queen 1 is the beautifully balanced offspring of Skunk and Power Bud, bearing a moderate THC level of 18%. Stoned satisfaction is guaranteed with this one. When smoking Special Queen 1, get ready for a delightful high combined with a pungent sweet and spicy scent that screams “skunk”.
Although this strain is easy to grow, it can take on some serious size, especially outdoors. Maxing out at around 150cm indoors and 3m out, Special Queen 1 delivers harvests of up to 500g/m² and 550g/plant, respectively.
When it comes to growing outdoors in colder climates, her short flowering time of 8 weeks adds to her considerable appeal. Aside from being fast, she is also classically robust and can handle some chilly nighttime temperatures (within reason). Perfect for beginners and the experienced alike, she is also a good candidate for SOG and ScrOG to max out yields indoors.
Timothy Leary look out! LSD induces a trippy high that is nothing short of sensational. Yet, this award-winning cross between Original Skunk 1 and a genuine, rare Afghan indica called Mazar I Sharif offers a lot more besides its incredible effect—including cold-hardy genetics.
LSD's flavours of sweet, earthy citrus with a hint of chestnut are a favourite among those looking for something palate-pleasing, complex, and relaxing. It will soothe you from the first toke to the last, sending you on an utterly relaxing journey.
LSD is relatively easy and hassle-free to cultivate, and she adapts well to just about any environment. Even better, she produces impressive yields of up to 500–600g/m² indoors, and 600–750g/plant outdoors in ideal conditions. This 70% indica will stay short and compact no matter where she is grown, with a maximum height of about 120cm. That said, LSD produces satisfyingly large buds—after just 60–65 days of flowering. Highly resistant to diseases and pests, LSD not only withstands chilly conditions, but other threats too.
White Widow is a global superstar. A robust hybrid known for its incredible resin production, dazzling effect, and unique flavour, since its debut in the mid-90s, White Widow has gone from strength to strength. Today, you’ll find this strain lining many Dutch coffeeshop and American dispensary shelves.
White Widow’s origins are shrouded in mystery, though many believe the strain to be a hybrid of a Brazilian sativa and a South Indian indica. White Widow flowers with dense, pale-green buds and a thick, white coating of trichomes. This makes the plant stand out in every grow, and helps to protect it against environmental threats. The odour of White Widow is notably pungent and diverse in influence. Mixing savoury pine and spice with fruit, the smoke is packed with dynamic flavour, with a slightly sugary aftertaste. In terms of the high, White Widow is known for exacting an energetic and euphoric rush that keeps social stoners coming back for more.
White Widow thrives both indoors and out, and can handle some temperature fluctuations in the latter. This makes her suitable not only for cold-climate growers, but relative beginners too. Indoors, the strain can produce up to 500g/m², and up to 600g/plant is possible outdoors.
Zkittlez Auto has gained quite a reputation in recent years. In 2016, it took home first prize at the Emerald Cup. A cross between ruderalis, Grapefruit, Grape Ape, and an unknown strain, it is revered for its candy-sweet taste and high THC content of around 23%. This indica-dominant autoflowering strain expresses strong, sweet aromas of berries, mango, and earthy chocolate that make it incredibly moreish. And then there’s the high; expect waves of euphoria mixed with full-body relaxation, courtesy of some soothing terpenes.
Chilly, less-than-ideal conditions are no match for Zkittlez Autoflowering. Racing to harvest in just 70 days from germination, she delivers sizeable harvests in the range of 500g/m² indoors and 70–300g/plant outdoors. Reaching 70–100cm in height, Zkittlez Auto is one of the more abundant and vigorous autoflowering strains on the market today. That said, she needs a lot of nutrients, so be prepared to feed her well.
Her candy-hard, frosty buds are loaded with terpenes, making her a great strain for hash. However, growers may need to prop up her branches in the late stages of flowering to support her bulbous nugs.
This tasty Skunk is a cross between Colombian, Mexican, and Afghan landrace strains, resulting in a genetically diverse and rich product. Skunk XL is a balanced (50/50) strain, showcasing its indica and sativa genetics in relatively equal measure. It is known for its sweet, slightly spicy taste and, as evidenced by its name, large yields.
Skunk XL exhibits a strong body high with some mental stimulation and subtle energy. For many smokers, this strain offers a classic cannabis high, in that it targets both the body and mind.
Like many Skunk derivatives, Skunk XL is a hardy and durable variety that can adapt to most environments. It can tolerate harsher conditions, and can be grown in mild to cold climates like the UK and Holland, though she arguably reaches her full potential indoors where she can be heavily trained. Grown indoors, Skunk XL can reach up to a metre in height and produce significant yields of around 600–650g/m² in just 7–8 weeks of flowering. Outdoors, the strain can double in height and yield up to 625–675g/plant in late September.
Northern Light is a couchlock classic that redefined home cultivation. This heavy indica premiered in the 1980s, with enigmatic genetic origins. That said, it is believed to be composed largely of Afghan indica genetics, with some Thai influence as well.
Regardless, Northern Light is a firm favourite among growers of all stripes—including those relegated to the colder parts of the world. Expect a dreamy, almost narcotic experience from tight, frosty nugs with a rich, earthy flavour profile.
These are compact and resilient cannabis plants with a high flower-to-leaf ratio. Indoors, they will reach a maximum height of 120cm, while still producing 500–550g/m² in just 8 weeks of flowering. Outdoors, plants can reach 2 metres, delivering commensurately larger yields of up to 600g/plant. Although she requires sufficient care, this amazing resin producer will do her best to defend herself from pests and adverse weather. Northern Light produces relatively long internodes and long, thin leaves. Her nugs are dense, though she has the tendency to produce one giant cola as opposed to several smaller colas.
Shining Silver Haze is a new twist on a 70s classic. She is the culmination of years of breeding literally thousands of seeds from Colombia, Mexico, Thailand, and India. Hazes are known for their uplifting effects, sweet flavours, and long flowering times. Shining Silver Haze, however, is infused with Skunk and Northern Light genetics, which reduces her flowering time considerably and bolsters her defences against the cold.
The flavours and aromas of this strain are sweet and smooth, with grassy, earthy, and woody hints. Containing around 21% THC, its head high is almost instantaneous after the first toke, making it a viable strain for creative endeavours, social gatherings, and day trips. Most users report feeling euphoric, happy, and talkative.
One of the few sativa-dominant strains deemed capable of handling bouts of cold weather, Shining Silver Haze is relatively fast to flower and exhibits genuine prowess against pests, plagues, and excess moisture. Well-suited for indoor and outdoor growing, the plant can reach up to 120cm in the former and 2m in the latter. She is also a good yielder, returning up to 600–650g/m² indoors and 650g/plant outdoors.
Royal Moby is a super-potent, unique Spanish hybrid that really displays its sativa qualities in the garden. Her spectacular potency and effect are also fairly rare for a hybrid.
This is an excellent strain for those who adore uplifting, energetic highs that prioritise the mind over the body. Royal Moby boasts a high THC content alongside peppery, herbal, and sweet terpenes, making for an intoxicating experience that is pleasurable for all the senses.
Another sativa-dominant strain that can handle cooler weather, this titan can also reach up to 3m in height outdoors, delivering massive yields of up to 1kg/plant. However, numbers like this will be more difficult to achieve in cooler climates. Even so, her yields are significantly higher than the average strain. Even indoors, Royal Moby can reach 140cm in stature, yielding 600g/m². The flowering time is a satisfyingly short 9–10 weeks—one of her few indica traits. Keep in mind, though, Royal Moby likes her nutrients, so make sure to give her what she needs, and she will certainly deliver the goods!
Super Skunk is a lightning-fast heavyweight loved by beginners and commercial growers alike. The result of crossing Afghan genetics with the legendary Skunk #1, she produces a powerful, relaxing effect that sinks through the entire body.
This strain is ideal for anyone who loves an extra-skunky aroma. With a 16% THC content, Super Skunk isn’t the most potent strain on Earth, but don’t underestimate her. The high is robust and fast-acting, inducing a heavy body stone alongside mental stimulation.
Super Skunk is very suitable for those growing in colder climates, particularly because her flowering time is a shockingly short 7–8 weeks! The crystalline buds reek as only the best Skunks can, and with the right treatment, this lady can deliver up to 500g/m² indoors and 500–600g/plant outdoors. In addition to their speed, these plants are hardy and durable, taking any temperature drops or early autumn rain in stride. Just give her some TLC every once in a while, and Super Skunk will do most of the work herself.
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