Cannabis seeds: What you need to know
27th February 2019
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced grower, choosing the right seeds and understanding their characteristics is fundamental to success. Here's what you need to know to get started.
Regular cannabis seeds
Regular cannabis seeds are the most natural form of the seed. They are the result of classic pollination between a male and a female, and will produce approximately 50% male and 50% female plants. No genetic modification has been made to regular cannabis seeds.
Advantages of regular cannabis seeds
- Genetic purity They retain their original genetic integrity, often synonymous with increased vigor and resistance.
- Breeding (reproduction) Essential for breeders who wish to create new varieties, stabilize lines, or produce their own seeds. The presence of males is necessary for pollen production.
- Phenotype searches (phenohunt)They allow us to discover a greater diversity of phenotypes within the same genetic line, offering the possibility of finding exceptional "mother plants" for cloning.
Drawbacks
Sex identification: They require careful monitoring to identify and remove the males as soon as the pre-flowers appear, in order to avoid pollinating the females (which would lead to the production of seeds in the flowers).
Loss of space: Part of your space and resources will be dedicated to male plants which will eventually be eliminated if you are not looking to reproduce.
Autoflowering cannabis seeds (autos)
Autoflowering cannabis seeds produce plants that flower automatically, regardless of the light cycle. They begin flowering after a fixed vegetative period (usually 3 to 5 weeks). Most autoflowering varieties are also feminized.
Advantages of autoflowering seeds
Speed: They have a very short complete cycle (often 8 to 12 weeks from seed to harvest), allowing several harvests per year, even in climates with short summers.
Beginner-friendly: The management of the light cycle is simplified, making them very accessible. They generate fewer constraints.
Discretion: Their generally smaller size and rapid cycle are appreciated for discreet cultivation as well as for small spaces.
Resistance: Often more resistant to climatic variations. Their cycle being very short, the risk of the plant suffering from bad weather is reduced.
Disadvantages of autoflowering seeds
Yields are generally lower: Due to their short cycle, they often produce less than photoperiod varieties. That said, many new genetics offer yields that approach those of photoperiodic feminized varieties.
Less Control: Their transition to flowering is automatic. It is impossible to manage the vegetative phase at will.
Feminized cannabis seeds
Feminized cannabis seeds are the most popular type today. They are designed to produce almost exclusively female plants (over 95% chance).
The arrival of feminized cannabis seeds
Although there is no single person or company that can be credited as the "inventor" of feminized cannabis seeds, the Dutch seed bank is generally credited. Dutch Passion a major pioneering role in their commercialization.
It was in the 1990s that the first feminized cannabis seeds began to appear on the market. Before that, growers had to plant regular seeds and identify and then eliminate the males, a process that took time, space, and resources. In the 2000s, Dinafem Dinafem has literally exploded the feminized cannabis seed phenomenon, making it accessible to everyone. They have multiplied the creation of modern genetics and popularized cannabis cultivation from feminized seeds.
Advantages of photodependent seeds
They offer many advantages for many growers. Feminized seeds are currently the most popular type of seed. They are designed to produce female plants more than 95% of the time. Here are their other benefits:
Maximizing the harvest: Every cultivated plant is potentially a flower producer, optimizing the use of space, light, and nutrients.
Saving time and effort: There is no need to identify and eliminate males, which greatly simplifies crop management, especially for beginners.
Photodependent: Most feminized varieties are photodependent. This means you control when they flower by modifying the light cycle.
Drawbacks
Less suitable for breeding: Although it is possible to use them for reproduction via specific techniques (such as silver thiosulfate to force a female to produce pollen), they are not the primary solution for creating new lines.
Cannabinoid seeds: CBD, CBG, THCV
The collectors' market demands seeds with high cannabidiol (CBD) content and other cannabinoids. CBD seeds are rich in CBD and contain little THC. Where permitted by law, they are used for medicinal or therapeutic purposes. Today, in addition to CBD flowers, oils, cosmetics, infusions, and other derivatives are available. Many varieties of CBD seeds are now available on the market.
Other cannabinoids
In recent years, other cannabinoids have been discovered. CBG, THCV, and CBDV, among others, have become popular, and cannabis seeds rich in these new cannabinoids are now available. Research continues and is very active.
Landrace seeds
A pure "landrace" variety is a cannabis strain that has never been crossed with any other variety. It has been bred only with itself for many generations. Landrace varieties therefore produce very stable seeds with little variation from one plant to another.
Most landrace varieties are 100% Indica or 100% Sativa, but there are some exceptions. Landrace cannabis varieties are often named after their country or region of origin. For example, the Hindu Kush or the Pakistan Chitral Kush.
Landrace cannabis varieties are the basis of other cannabis varieties.
Pure strains have the advantage of offering a wide range of unique flavors and effects. They are an exceptional choice for creating new hybrid strains.
Most landrace varieties are " Old School "and known to collectors since the 60s. At that time, there were many more landrace varieties than today."
Buy cannabis seeds in France
In France, it is possible and legal to buy cannabis seeds. However, it is It is forbidden to germinate and cultivate themThese seeds are intended for collection or for preserving seed species only, in accordance with the legislation.
