The Top 10 Best Marijuana Strains to Grow in Alaska

Alaska is usually known for harsh winters and crisp snow. However, its light/dark schedule is even more notable. During the summer, daylight lasts up to 24 hours, while during the winter, some days experience complete darkness for 24 hours—wild, eh? That alone makes Alaska full of magic and mystery.

There’s a common misconception that extreme cold weather conditions prohibit you from growing anything in Alaska. Fortunately, this isn’t true.

You can grow marijuana in Alaska, but the growing window is much smaller than in the rest of the United States. Interior Alaska (Fairbanks) is the best region for growing cannabis outdoors, as it has a continental climate. However, the other regions also offer some potential. You can expect summer temperatures to be between 45 – 75 °F (7 – 24 °C), making it great for growing plants.

When growing marijuana, knowing the best strains for your region is important. In this article, you’ll find the best strains to grow in Alaska and how they work with the Alaskan climate and not against it.

Northern Lights

Cultivating cannabis plants outdoors in Alaska can be tricky due to the short growing window of around 90 days. To grow cannabis year-round in Alaska, we highly recommend growing indoors using autoflower seeds. Northern Lights autoflower is a 90% indica strain that can produce THC levels of around 18%.

Northern Lights feminized seeds

This strain is what we call 'word of mouth' famous. If you've heard of any one strain, it's usually Northern Lights - and for good reason. Northern Lights seeds grow buds that drip with resin, it has a short flowering phase, and growers at every level love it!

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Not only is the Northern Lights strain potent, but it’s easy to grow indoors and flowers in as little as seven weeks. The compact plants make this ideal for smaller growing spaces, or stealth grows (when you want to be discreet). 

Read our full review of Northern Lights or buy Northern Lights autoflower seeds.

Northern Lights cultivar profile

Purple Kush

All praise to the Kush family! Not only is this strain a favorite amongst cannabis growers and consumers, but the Kush family genetics are also well-known. Purple Kush is a 100% indica strain with THC levels up to 22%.

Purple Kush feminized seeds

Purple Kush seeds grow a potent Cannabis strain that originated on the Cannabis-loving West Coast. It is a pleasantly relaxing indica strain that also delivers pure bliss.

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Purple Kush may not yield the most weed, but the small and compact plants make it a great choice for the average home grower. We highly recommend indoor cultivation, but this strain is a great choice if you prefer to grow Purple Kush outside. Unlike other strains on this list, its high resistance to pests, molds, and diseases makes it suitable for Alaska’s humid west coast. 

Read our full review of Purple Kush, or purchase Purple Kush autoflower seeds.

Purple Kush cultivar profile

Blue Cheese 

Special cannabis strains tend to have signature tastes and scents. Blue Cheese is one of those distinctive strains that combines a unique high with a delicious taste. This 80% indica strain has THC levels of around 19% when grown in the right conditions, and it’s easy to grow, even for new cannabis cultivators.

Blue Cheese feminized seeds

Blue Cheese seeds are known to grow a sweet and savory flavored plant. This taste is just as unique as the euphoric feelings it delivers its user.

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Blue Cheese is another strain with high resistance to molds and diseases, making it a top choice for growing outdoors in Alaska. The ideal weather for outdoor growing in Alaska should be between 68 – 86 Fahrenheit for seedlings and 64 – 80 Fahrenheit during the flowering and harvest stage. If you would prefer to grow Blue Cheese indoors, it’s important to note that it will produce smaller plants and slightly less yield.

Read our full review of Blue Cheese, or buy Blue Cheese autoflower seeds.

Blue Cheese cultivar profile

Afghan

This 100% indica strain is as tough as they come. Its roots come from wild Afghani plants that grow in the elevated Hindu Kush mountains. Not only are the original Afghani plants able to survive the harsh terrain, but they have been refined through selective breeding to produce a cannabis strain that’s strong and resilient.

Afghan feminized seeds

Afghan is a very popular indica heritage strain that delivers a heavy-bodied high. Afghan seeds grow large, fragrant buds known for their happy, relaxed effect.

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Afghan autoflower will perform best when grown indoors, averaging a yield between 4-11 oz of cannabis flowers per plant. However, if you want to grow Afghan outdoors, keep this cold-hardy strain above 55 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

Read our full review of Afghan, or purchase Afghan autoflower seeds.

Afghan cultivar profile

Gold Leaf

Indica dominant strains tend to be more resistant to harsh climates and growing conditions, whereas sativa strains are more suited to Mediterranean and tropical weather. Gold Leaf is a 60% indica strain, which gives you a delightful blend of indica and sativa genetics, and you’ll also be able to grow Gold Leaf in Alaska.

Gold Leaf feminized seeds

When Robert Bergman created the Gold Leaf Strain, he combined multiple plants to produce a refined, sativa style height plant with indica traits users love.

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Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced grower, cultivating Gold Leaf autoflower indoors is a simple process with great benefits. Some benefits include fast flowering times (7 to 10 weeks) and a solid yield of 5-15 oz per plant.

Read our full review of Gold Leaf, or buy Gold Leaf autoflower seeds.

Gold Leaf cultivar profile

Wedding Cake 

This strain comes from the pleasantly powerful Girl Scout Cookies and Cherry Pie. Those strains came from Durban Poison. These genetics helped give Wedding Cake strong resilience to harsh growing conditions when grown inside and outside.

Wedding Cake feminized seeds

Wedding Cake is known for its sweet taste and the harmony between the indica and sativa traits. If you want to chill but still remain sharp, Wedding Cake is a great choice.

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Wedding Cake is a 70% indica strain suitable for multiple environments. Wedding Cake autoflower is an easy strain for indoor growing, even for beginner growers, and the compact plants are ideal for discreet growing. 

Read our full review of Wedding Cake, or buy Wedding Cake autoflower seeds.

Wedding Cake cultivar profile

Purple Punch

Purple Punch is your strain if you’re looking for a strong 80% indica that packs a mean punch. It has THC around the 20% mark and boasts a fruity tropical flavor. With our Purple Punch auto, you can grow this strain indoors and outdoors and still get great results.

Purple Punch feminized seeds

The Purple Punch weed strain hails from the tropical island of Hawai'i. This hybrid is 80/20 indica dominant and first bred by Supernova Gardens in Kauai, Hawai'i.

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When growing Purple Punch outdoors, it usually thrives in plenty of light, a Mediterranean climate, and lots of humidity. While Alaska will give you plenty of light during the summer and the West Coast provides plenty of humidity, it may not be the best choice for growing outdoors due to the brief summer temperatures, however a greenhouse with heaters should work fine.  Growing this strain indoors will give you optimal results and yield 5 – 15 oz per plant.

Read our full review of Purple Punch, or purchase Purple Punch autoflower seeds.

Purple Punch cultivar profile

Do-si-dos

This 70% indica is relatively new in the cannabis space; however, it has become one of the more increasingly popular indica strains since its conception. Archive Seed Bank combined OG Kush Breath and Face Off OG to create a strain with superior genetics, strong effects, and extremely high levels of THC, up to 25%.

Do-Si-Dos feminized seeds

Do-si-dos is a newer strain, hitting the market around 2016. In a short time, though, the strain has built a large fanbase thanks to high THC content, which can reach levels of 30%.

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Growing your own Do-si-dos autoflower couldn’t be simpler indoors and outdoors. Since Do-si-dos prefers a semi-humid and semi-warm climate, you’re better off growing this in the Anchorage area or in Southwest Alaska. However, it’s best to grow this strain indoors since it prefers temperatures that go above 75 degrees, and that period of time is very short in Alaska. 

Read our full review of Do-Si-Dos, or buy Do-Si-Dos autoflower seeds.

Do-Si-Dos cultivar profile

Sweet Tooth

The Sweet Tooth strain grows exceptionally well in colder climates and is perfect for the continental weather in Interior Alaska. This 70% indica strain flowers in as little as 7 weeks, and it’s perfect for beginner growers because it requires little maintenance.

Sweet Tooth feminized seeds

The surprisingly sweet indica crosses Hawaiian and Nepali into an award-winning 'candy-coated' strain with a potent kick. The strain won the 2001 High Times Cannabis Cup and remains a favorite among lovers of sweet Cannabis strains.

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If you’d like to grow Sweet Tooth in Alaska, you can grow this strain indoors and outdoors. When growing outdoors, this strain thrives at cooler temperatures of 65 – 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and the plants are extremely resilient to pests and diseases. If you’d prefer to grow Sweet Tooth indoors, autoflower seeds make it super easy.

Read our full review of Sweet Tooth, or purchase Sweet Tooth autoflower seeds.

Sweet Tooth cultivar profile

G13

This 70% indica strain is completely shrouded in mystery because nobody seems to know where it comes from. G13 has high levels of THC (reaching 20% and above), plus unique full-body relaxation effects.

G13 feminized seeds

G13 is one of the most famous unknown marijuana strains in history. Its origins are unclear. Its effects are unusual, and until recently, it was only grown from clones.

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Growing G13 autoflower is much easier for beginners, but you’ll yield less than photoperiod seeds. If you don’t have the space to grow indoors and prefer to grow outside, you must maintain a temperature of 65 – 85 degrees Fahrenheit for this strain to thrive.  

Read our full review of G13, or buy G13 autoflower seeds.

G13 cultivar profile

Conclusion

Growing cannabis can be a fun and enriching experience that anyone can do; however, it’s always best to learn how to maximize your cannabis plant’s potential. Download the Plant Care Guide to learn how to best treat your plants.