Top Strains to Grow Outdoors: A Comprehensive Guide to Outdoor Cannabis Cultivation

Are you ready to step into the sunlight and explore the best strains to grow outdoors? You’re in the right place.

Outdoor growers harness sunlight to power plant development and bud production. They operate in concert with the seasons to produce healthy, cannabinoid-dripping weed in lush green fields.

Today, we delve into outdoor cultivation and the benefits it bestows. We uncover the secrets to success and introduce a curated selection of strains that thrive under the open sky.

Let’s jump into it.

Introduction to outdoor cannabis cultivation

Before diving into the best strains to grow outdoors, let’s see why you may be interested in this endeavor.

Benefits of growing cannabis outdoors

Growing weed outdoors is an enticing choice for cultivators, and here’s why:

• Lower cultivation costs: The best outdoor weed strains rely on sunlight, rainfall, and seasons instead of devices. This setup reduces initial investments and operational costs of cultivation.
• Larger yields: Outdoor plants have the space to spread their roots and elongate upwards, producing higher harvests.
• Sustainability: By using natural resources, you reduce energy consumption, reliance on synthetic inputs, and the environmental impact of weed growing.
• Healthier plants: Outdoor environments offer fresh air, optimal humidity, and beneficial soil microorganisms. They make weed robust and able to survive pests and diseases.

Factors to consider for outdoor cannabis cultivation

When venturing into outdoor cultivation, consider these crucial factors for a successful and rewarding experience:

• Climate stability: Pick the best outdoor strains to grow in your region. Consider temperature ranges, humidity levels, rainfall patterns, and the length of the growing season.
• Pest and disease management: Be aware of common pests and diseases in your region and implement preventive measures.
• Security and privacy: Protect plants from theft, unwanted attention, and potential legal issues. Use fencing, natural barriers, or strategic placement to safeguard your garden.
• Compliance with local laws: Familiarize yourself with the weed regulations in your area. Most states limit plant numbers; some may ask to keep your garden hidden from the public.

Climate and regional adaptation

To pick the best strains to grow outdoors for your state and area, consider the following factors:

• Temperature range: Sativa strains thrive in warmer climates, while indica is more suitable for cooler regions.
• Humidity levels: High humidity leads to mold and bud rot, while arid air causes dehydration and stunted growth.
• Rainfall patterns: Some strains need consistent precipitation, while others are drought-tolerant. If your state experiences heavy rainfall, pick rot-resistant cultivars.
• Growing season length: The growing season determines the time available for plants to reach maturity. It starts after the last spring frost and ends when the days cool in early fall.

Best strains for outdoor cultivation: Sativa-dominant varieties

Originating from sunny regions with extended growing seasons, sativa thrives in the Mediterranean-type climates of some US states.

Explore the tropical weed family with these four best sativa strains to grow outdoors.

Durban Poison: A South African powerhouse

Durban Poison is a landrace strain from Durban, South Africa. It exhibits 100% sativa genetics, stable growth patterns, and consistently high yields of citrus-smelling buds.

The cultivar is mild compared to some powerhouses but still delivers a heavy-hitting, buzzy high. Its 14% THC is perfect as a wake ‘n’ bake or afternoon pick-me-up.

Due to its landrace genetics, Durban Poison is one of the best strains to grow outdoors in coastal areas. It needs consistent warmth, watering, and feeding to flourish. Each medium-tall plant produces 21 ounces of bud after a short flowering stage.

Haze: The classic sativa

Haze rocked California in the 1960s, and it stayed a star since. This classic strain is 100% sativa, boasting a wealth of flavor and the heady effects its family is famous for.

The 19% THC and the sweet, peppery aroma make this weed accessible to rookies. The effects begin as buzzing behind the eyelids and expand into full-bodied, energetic bliss.

Haze grows in various climates, resisting common pests and diseases. This strain is easy to raise outdoors due to its medium height, long internodes, and slim leaves. Ample sunshine and moderate feedings let you reap over 17 ounces of bud per plant.

Jack Herer: A legendary strain

Jack Herer is a Northern Lights x Shiva Skunk cross with 18% THC. Named after the legendary cannabis advocate, its energizing effects inspire action even in the most sluggish tokers.

The sweet and skunky taste pays homage to the classic strains from the 1990s. The high is cerebral, motivational, and long-lasting, helping you see through any task.

With a slim and towering stature, Jack Herer reaches its fullest potential in the open air. It’s one of the best sativa strains to grow outdoors in warm climates with lower humidity levels. The flowering time is short for its genetics, and the yields surpass 28 ounces per plant.

Super Silver Haze: High-yielding and potent

Super Silver Haze has won three Cannabis Cups. Combining Haze, Skunk, and Northern Lights, this sativa-dominant hybrid delivers the best traits of its renowned family tree.

The citrus, herbal, and spice scents prepare you for a manageable experience. Its 16% THC and energizing effects leave you elevated but clearheaded enough to enjoy any activity.

Super Silver Haze is super-high-yielding, making it among the best outdoor weed strains. It suffers in cold weather and enjoys warm, sunny conditions. It’s ideal for intermediate growers, who can get around 35 ounces of weed after a straightforward growing journey.

Best strains for outdoor cultivation: Indica-dominant varieties

Hailing from harsh mountain regions, indica can survive and thrive in most environments. Explore this family with our four best outdoor strains to grow in the US.

Northern Lights: A highly resilient strain

Northern Lights is an Afghani x Thai hybrid with 80% indica genes. It has a sweet-and-spicy bouquet and mind-body effects folks see as synonymous with quality cannabis.

These buds produce a creamy smoke and treat your body to calming effects. With 18% THC, they deliver quick relaxation without feeling overwhelming.

If you’re looking to explore cannabis superstars, Northern Lights is the best strain to grow outdoors. It’s medium-tall and requires minimal attention to thrive, yielding 17 ounces of weed per plant.

Blueberry: Flavorful and relaxing

Blueberry is an award-winning breed between Thai, Purple Thai, and Afghani. Famed for its berry-sweet flavor, this strain will leave you craving another puff.

With 80% indica genes and 20% THC, this heavy-hitting strain best suits nighttime use. It’s uplifting, slightly cerebral, and incredibly relaxing.

Blueberry is a good choice for novice outdoor growers, producing mid-sized, bushy plants. It’s sensitive to excessive humidity but resists inclement weather and pests. Keep it in a sunny spot, and you get over 35 ounces of buds per crop.

Granddaddy Purple: A colorful and aromatic choice

Granddaddy Purple is an almost 100% indica Purple Urkle x Big Bud cross. It’s the top pick for tokers seeking enjoyment, offering jaw-dropping bag appeal and pleasurable effects to boot.

The cultivar’s 24% THC delivers a heavy-hitting relaxing high that starts immediately and lasts for quite a bit. Its purple buds smell like berries and grapes.

Newbies will love this herb’s ease and efficiency. It thrives in most environments and remains relatively compact. It’s among the best strains for growing outdoors if you enjoy a colorful garden. You get 19 ounces of bud per plant.

Afghan Kush: A hardy and potent strain

Afghan Kush has its roots in the Hindu Kush mountain range. The landrace has been perfected over centuries, matching modern strains in quality.

The scent of tar, wood, and spices oozes from these resin-soaked nugs with 15% THC. The strain has powerful sedating effects for relaxing after a long day.

As a resilient landrace, Afghan Kush is among the easiest and best strains to grow outdoors. It’s bushy, full of bud sites, and near-impossible to kill. Raised in a hot, dry, and sunny climate, it produces 21 ounces of weed per plant.

Best strains for outdoor cultivation: Balanced hybrids

Pairing the top traits of indica and sativa heritage, hybrids accommodate anybody’s preferences. Below are the four best strains to grow outdoors from this category.

White Widow: A highly resistant hybrid

White Widow is a balanced cross between sativa and indica landraces. Its family tree makes it resistant to pitfalls, reliable in output, and superior in quality.

The smoke smells like pine, earth, fruit, and spices, carrying 26% THC. It brings an avalanche of buzzy effects that make you forget physical or psychological discomfort.

White Widow is the best outdoor strain for growing in chillier weather. Cool air enhances its prolific trichome production. It prefers the usual gardening practices: gentle pruning, feeding, and climate. The yields are 10 ounces per plant.

Girl Scout Cookies: A high-performing favorite

Girl Scout Cookies is a delectable award-winner made by crossing OG Kush and Durban Poison. Its mind-and-body effects are wellness-boosting.

A grassy, fruity scent with hints of chocolate, nutmeg, and kerosene emanates from these 20% THC buds. The creamy smoke brings pleasurable sensations to all five senses.

Girl Scout Cookies is an accessible strain with abundant harvests. It’s short and low-maintenance, thriving in mild climates of the continental US. Its resistance to pests and pathogens lets even rookies collect 19 ounces of cannabis per crop.

OG Kush: A staple in the cannabis world

OG Kush is a West Coast powerhouse mixing Chemdawg with some original Kush. It has a balanced genetic composition and an unforgettable psychoactive punch.

This weed smells like pine and citrus and delivers a whopping 27% THC. It offers a full-bodied high that promotes creativity, uplifts the mood, and completely relaxes the body.

OG Kush is among the best outdoor weed strains for intermediate growers. It starts tall and slim but gets bushy with age, requiring regular pruning to avoid moisture issues. It yields around 21 ounces of bud per plant.

Gorilla Glue #4: A high-THC hybrid

Gorilla Glue #4 is the result of crossing Chem Sister, Chocolate Diesel, and Sour Dubb. It’s a balanced hybrid with sky-high potency and mind-blowing effects.

The complex flavor profile makes a Gorilla Glue blunt hard to put down, but the 26% THC necessitates slow toking. The high begins with a mental uplift and ends with a couch lock.

Due to its horizontal and vertical size, this cultivar grows best outdoors. It’s resistant to disease and rookie errors and thrives in almost any environment. Plus, you get over 21 ounces per plant.

Best strains for outdoor cultivation: High-CBD varieties

The modern marijuana market’s brimming with potent, psychoactive, high-THC strains. While getting socks-off high is a fun ride, we shouldn’t disregard the cannabinoid’s gentle, feel-good cousin.

ACDC: A high-CBD, low-THC strain

ACDC is a phenotype of the renowned CBD-rich Cannatonic strain. It contains 60% sativa and 40% indica genetics, offering a blend of relaxing and uplifting traits.

This cultivar’s 2% THC and 15% CBD promise a lucid experience that may address many health conditions. The sweet citrus flavor adds to the enjoyment.

ACDC is among the best strains to grow outdoors for intermediate cultivators. The plants are naturally bushy and need little or no pruning. They enjoy stable, balmy climates of temperate regions and gentle amounts of fertilizer. The yields are 10 ounces per plant.

Harlequin: A popular CBD-rich strain

Harlequin is a famous descendant of cannabis landraces, and our version combines it with OG Kush. Despite this family tree, it remains 75% sativa and is suitable for daytime use.

With 18% CBD and 1% THC, this strain brings pleasure without intoxication. Its mango-flavored smoke clears your mind and uplifts your mood, leaving you comfortable and productive.

Undemanding and disease-resistant, Harlequin is among the best sativa strains to grow outdoors. It has a tall stature and long flowering stage and prefers sunny environments. Expect around 14 ounces of sticky bud per plant.

Charlotte’s Web: A world-renowned CBD variety

Charlotte’s Web is a hemp cultivar bred for high CBD levels and minimal THC. It has 60% sativa and 40% indica genetics, delivering a well-rounded experience for daytime use.

Thanks to its hemp heritage, this strain has 0.3% THC and 15–20% CBD. Its fresh earthy, lemon, pine, and woody aroma hints at its rejuvenating effect profile.

Charlotte’s Web is a straightforward strain to grow, thriving in moderate humidity and high temperatures. The plants have a bushy, indica-like shape and flower quickly, making them suitable for colder regions. The harvests are around 14 ounces per crop.

CBD Critical Mass: A balanced CBD strain

CBD Critical Mass is a heavily indica-dominant hybrid with only 20% sativa genetics. It combines S. Indian, Brazilian, and Critical Mass cultivars into a therapeutic heavy-yielder.

The light, buzzy effect comes from this strain’s 7% THC and 5% CBD. It induces physical and mental relaxation that doesn’t incapacitate. Its flavor is earthy, piquant, and oh-so-ganja.

CBD Critical Mass is the best outdoor strain to grow for its yield size. It’s susceptible to mold, so don’t sow it in humid regions. Pruning, disease management, and branch support help it thrive, and you get over 35 ounces of cannabis per plant.

Tips for successful outdoor cannabis cultivation

Outdoor plants need assistance regarding location, stress prevention, and growth support. Let’s break down these factors to maximize harvest quantity and quality.

Choosing the right location for your outdoor grow

You can grow the best outdoor weed strains in a yard, field, balcony, or rooftop. Whichever location you pick, it should tick the following boxes:

• Sunlight exposure: Look for a location that receives ample direct sunlight throughout the day, preferably at least six hours. South-facing spots are preferable.
• Air circulation: Choose a location that allows for natural airflow. Avoid areas with stagnant or trapped air, like low-lying or densely vegetated spots.
• Accessibility: You should be able to move between plants, keep a foot of space between canopies, and easily transport water, tools, supplies, and harvested material.

Managing pests and diseases in an outdoor grow

Get educated on regional pests and diseases, especially those that affect cannabis. Read up on the telltale symptoms and appropriate, non-invasive treatment options.

Using your new knowledge, establish preventative measures to deter pests and diseases. Start with disease-free soil, clear the garden of debris, keep your tools clean, and enrich your garden with compatible plants and animals.

If prevention doesn’t work, rely on organic cures. Use natural sprays and solutions to combat infestations without damaging the buds. Diluted hydrogen peroxide addresses fungal issues, for instance, while pests hate neem oil.

Watering and feeding outdoor cannabis plants

When it comes to watering, cannabis prefers slightly acidic moisture sources. You should water deeply and infrequently, letting the top inch of the soil dry between showers. Alter the amount and frequency based on the climate, soil composition, and plant size.

Start feeding your plants when they enter the vegetative stage, following the instructions on the fertilizer package. Adjust the schedule based on your plants’ response and appearance.

If you prefer all-natural cultivation, use compost, worm castings, or natural fertilizers to feed the plants. Organic options provide slow-release nutrients and improve soil health over time.

Harvesting and curing your outdoor cannabis plants

You’ve chosen and raised the best strains to grow outdoors: now’s the time to collect the fruits of your labor.

Identifying the optimal time for harvest

Ripening is a progressive process for cannabis, and picking the optimal moment lets you grab buds at their most potent and fragrant. Here are the signs to look out for:

• Expected harvest time: The best outdoor weed strains come with typical flowering times in weeks. Mark the date on your calendar to give you an idea of what to expect.
• Milky-white trichomes: This color signifies the cannabinoids are reaching their peak levels, so grab the buds before they go amber.
• Orange, curled pistils: The shift in color and shape is a visual cue that the plant is nearing harvest.

Proper harvesting techniques for outdoor-grown cannabis

Proper harvesting helps you preserve bud quality and potency of the best strains to grow outdoors. It requires pruning shears or scissors, gloves, and sterilized containers for the buds.

You can remove the entire plant from its stem and hang it upside down to dry before taking down individual buds. Alternatively, remove the buds from the plant by cutting above the node where they emerge. Handle them gently to avoid damaging the trichomes.

Drying and curing your outdoor cannabis harvest

Proper drying preserves weed flavor, potency, and quality. Hang the plant or trimmed buds in a well-ventilated, dark area with 50% humidity and a temperature of 60–70°F. Ensure ample airflow around the plant, but avoid direct wind that can cause them to dry too quickly.

After the initial drying process, transfer the buds into airtight containers like glass jars for curing. Open them daily to release excess moisture and get smooth-tasting, long-lasting buds with well-preserved terpenes.

Embracing the great outdoors: Main takeaways

Outdoor cannabis cultivation is a gateway to a world of remarkable possibilities. It lets us tap into nature’s abundant resources and witness our green companions flourishing under the open sky.

Use the tips we’ve discussed and other educational resources on our site to make the most of your journey.

Don’t neglect the significance of cultivar selection for bountiful yields and a satisfying smoking experience. Our guide has 16 of the best strains to grow outdoors, so you’re not lacking suitable starting points.

Are you ready to get growing? Visit our shop for a diverse selection of high-quality weed seeds to set yourself up for cultivation success.