How to Choose the Best Seeds for Growing Marijuana

There are good things and bad things about quarantine. The good news is, no one can stop you from hanging around and smoking weed all day. The bad news is, it’s easy to run out of weed (and not easy to replenish your stash.)

Some smokers have decided to take the situation into their own hands and homes. Growing marijuana won’t give you a lifetime supply instantly, but just a few plants can produce a serious stash. Plus, what else do you have to do now? You might as well take up gardening.

Growing marijuana will give you a task to make the days go by faster in quarantine. You’ll need to buy the right equipment, choose the growing method that is best for you, and buy the actual seeds. Let’s focus on the seeds. This guide will help you choose the best seeds for your new time-consuming hobby.

In order to choose the best seeds for growing marijuana, you’ll need to:

-Know the terms -Know the law -Think about your setup -Make a list of your favorite strains -Read reviews before you buy

Know the Terms

Shopping for seeds online can feel overwhelming at first. Sure, you recognize the names of some of your favorite strains. But what makes a Northern Light seed feminized?

Here is the rundown of common terms you’ll see while buying marijuana seeds:

Feminized: Marijuana plants are either “male” or “female.” Female plants produce the buds that you can buy, smoke, and bake into edibles. Males - well, they produce seeds, which is useful if you want to continue breeding.

If you just want to grow a few plants, you don’t need male plants. Buying feminized seeds ensures that you will only grow female plants and get the good stuff.

Autoflowering: Just like any other plant, marijuana seeds grow in phases. Most cannabis will move through these phases depending on the season. They wait for the sun to be out for a certain number of hours before they begin to flower.

This can be frustrating for indoor growers or newbies who don’t know the ins and outs of each phase. Fortunately, autoflowering seeds can help you out. These seeds begin to flower and produce buds without waiting for any changes in lighting. It takes just 10 weeks to harvest. Autoflowering seeds often produce smaller yields than photoperiod seeds, but are often a great place to start for new growers.

High-CBD: This term is pretty self-explanatory. If you are looking to grow medical marijuana, keep an eye out for high-CBD strains. These seeds may produce plants with equal parts THC and CBD, or contain no THC at all.

Know the Law

California’s growing laws may impact how many seeds you buy and attempt to germinate.

Throughout the state, people over the age of 21 can only grow six plants at a time. That might not sound like a lot, but with a high yield you could easily get a pound of marijuana out of these plants. Home growth is meant for personal consumption - unless you have a license, you cannot sell your yield.

Your local legislature cannot ban you from growing marijuana in your home, but they can set rules about outdoor growth. In general, keep your plants out of the public eye. If kids in the neighborhood can see your plants, you can get in trouble.

Think About Your Setup

There are many ways to grow marijuana. You could set up a grow room in your closet. You could buy a hydroponic grow box system. Or, you could choose to keep things natural and grow plants outside. Decide your growing method before buying any supplies or seeds. As you do some research on individual strains, you might see reviews on how different growing methods affect different strains. This isn’t a necessary step, but it’s always good to have a plan.

Make a List of Your Favorite Strains

Here’s the fun part! Think about your favorite strains. How great would it be to have a constant supply of Blue Dream, White Widow, or Ghost Train Haze right next to your bedroom?

You might already have a list of top strains - write them down and start searching!

If you’re new to smoking marijuana, consider doing some research before you buy seeds. It would be a shame to spend 10 weeks growing plants that you don’t want to smoke!

Want something to keep you energized and focused? Consider a sativa. These strains will likely have the word “Haze” at the end. (Examples include Ghost Train Haze, Amnesia Haze, Super Lemon Haze, etc.)

Want a strain that will help you sleep at night? Look for indicas. These strains provide a nice “body high” that locks you to your couch or bed. Indicas may have “Kush” in their title. (Examples include OG Kush, Pineapple Kush, Critical Kush, etc.)

Just want something with a high yield? Sativas and indicas look different when you grow them. (Sativas tend to be taller and skinnier, while indicas stay close to the ground.) While sativas and hybrids have a reputation for producing high yields, your growing method makes a big difference. Some strains are also bred to be more resilient and easy to grow. Consider any of the following strains if you aren’t picky: -Blue Dream -Dutch Treat -Northern Lights

Keep a list of these strains nearby. Price, availability, and life cycle may also impact your buying decision. You can only grow six plants, so there’s no need to buy six different strains. Start with one or two, then expand only when you’re ready to experiment.

Read Reviews Before You Buy

The grower behind your seeds may also impact your final results. Take some time and read reviews from other growers. In times of social distancing, you won’t be able to talk to your local budtender about top growers and high-yielding strains. You’re going to spend at least 10 weeks with these little seeds - you might as well spend a little extra time searching for the right ones.

And there you have it! Do your research, stay out of trouble, and you’ll have six beautiful marijuana plants in no time!