Outdoor Cannabis Strains for Growing in Cool Climates

Not every grower lives in the ideal environment for cannabis to thrive; some grow plants in cold climates such as Canada. For these intrepid cultivators, choosing cultivars that are hardy, fast-flowering, and highly resilient against mold is crucial. Autoflowering cannabis strains are ideal for outdoor cultivation in cold climates. 

Auto-flowering and Photoperiodic Varieties

Autoflowers are a strain created by crossbreeding an indica or sativa variety with a ruderalis plant. Different from both indica and sativa, ruderalis is a species of cannabis that was discovered in Siberia. It’s most known for not being dependent on a changing light cycle to start flowering and having excellent resistance to insects and diseases.

Due to Siberia's harsh growing conditions, Ruderalis can withstand colder temperatures and developed a hardy nature. Its traits were bred into many cultivars to create robust autoflowering varieties like the ones featured in this list. Are autoflowers the only option for growers in high latitudes and cold climates? No, you can grow regular (photoperiod) strains in frigid temperatures. However, you’ll face some additional challenges. Timing is everything when growing photoperiodic plants. 

What is Considered Cold For Cannabis?

When growing in colder climates, temperatures below 65°F (18°C) are too low for most cultivars as they cause plant metabolism to slow down. At 55°F (12°C), the plant is at risk of dying.

Some 'cold weather' strains can handle colder temperatures. For example, Yuzu Euphoria, a Phylos autoflower strain, can tolerate temperatures as low as 55°F (12°C) due to its robust ruderalis genetics. While this strain can tolerate cold temperatures, it is still not ideal. It can endure chilly temperatures without wilting, but avoiding temperatures this low altogether is best for a successful harvest.

How Cold Affects Cannabis

Cold temperatures halt cannabis growth. Your plant's metabolism slows if it falls below 65°F (18°C). Low temperatures result in lower dissolved oxygen concentrations in the soil for your cannabis to absorb. A lack of dissolved oxygen inhibits a plant’s metabolism. This creates a domino effect as cannabis plants cannot complete the enzymatic processes needed to fuel photosynthesis, ultimately slowing or stunting growth.

Low temperatures also affect plant growth by inhibiting nutrient uptake. In soil temperatures below 65°F (18°C), roots cannot absorb essential micronutrients like magnesium.

In addition to growth and nutrient issues, mold growth is also a concern in cold, damp environments. That’s why resilience is crucial when finding cultivars for a cold climate. 

LA Kush Cake Autoflower

While LA Kush Cake is a strain born and bred in California, it’s not fussy. Even if you take it out of the idyllic climate of the Emerald Triangle, this hybrid strain will show how versatile it is by thriving in cooler climates. On top of being adaptable to colder regions, LA Kush Cake handles various growing techniques such as topping, mainlining, and supercropping to increase its yield.

LA Kush Cake Autoflower Seeds

Both flavorful and effective, this potent cake strain combines the sweetness you expect from kush cake weed with all the benefits of a West Coast strain, including the tendency to be slow hitting and relaxing. The flowers are potent, and growers should expect heavy yields.

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As an autoflower, while possible, it is not a great idea to apply high-stress training (HST) to this indica-hybrid. Autoflowers have a short life cycle, with LA Kush Cake Auto growing from seed to harvest within 74 days. A shorter life cycle means less time for your plants to recover from stress, which is required in HST since its benefits come from your plants bouncing back from the training.

The cold outdoors already adds stress to plants, so putting them through HST overstresses your plants and causes them to hermie. Plus, with LA Kush Cake Auto, you already get a considerable yield of around 283-567 g/m2.

LA Kush Cake Autoflower cultivar profile

OG Kush Autoflower

Another standout autoflower strain is OG Kush Auto. The robust Indica-dominant hybrid can tolerate colder temperatures. Like its photoperiod counterpart, OG Kush Auto is known for its heavy trichome coat, hinting at its potency and hardiness. It needs both to handle colder climates.

OG Kush Autoflower Seeds

OG Kush autoflower seeds are a best-selling Cannabis strain. It's slightly pricey when compared to other strains because it's always in such high demand. It delivers a powerful euphoria that leaves you feeling relaxed and 'gone' to the world.

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This autoflower has a total life cycle of 77 days from seed to harvest. You can expect about 255-397 g/m2 of smokable flowers from cultivating OG Kush Auto. The flowers have a THC concentration of 20%, with an effect that leaves you euphoric and relaxed. OG Kush Auto’s mix of pine and citrus notes will make you and your room smell like a Christmas tree.

OG Kush Autoflower cultivar profile

Durban Poison Autoflower

One of the most significant benefits that ruderalis gives growers is the ability to grow sativas in places with shorter growing seasons. As we know, sativa strains take longer to grow and mature than indicas. This is because sativa strains are typically found in environments with longer growing seasons. While Durban Poison, a popular sativa heirloom in Holland, was originally grown in a tropical climate, its autoflowering variety can handle colder environments.

Durban Poison Autoflower Seeds

Durban Poison is 100% sativa and delivers energizing, long-lasting highs with focus and creativity, making it the perfect daytime strain and autoflowering seeds make the process of growing this strain easier.

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Durban Poison is a landrace strain originally cultivated near its namesake city in South Africa. Growers shipped it to a Holland coffeeshop called Transvaal, where it was sold to consumers. As an heirloom, Durban Poison became a crowd favorite thanks to its unique aroma of licorice blended with notes of black pepper and sweet citrus.

Durban Poison was also a standout strain among growers because of its unique fast-flowering and fast-growing nature. These standout features are also in its autoflowering version. This classic strain has a cycle of 56-70 days from seed to harvest.

Durban Poison cultivar profile

Bubba Kush Autoflower

Like LA Kush Cake, Bubba Kush is a versatile strain that adapts to cool climates. We highly recommend growing Bubba Kush Auto over its photoperiod counterpart. This is because the autoflower variety has a short life cycle of 56-70 days from seed to harvest, suitable for regions with cold climates and shorter growing seasons.

Bubba Kush Autoflower Seeds

If you're looking for big relaxation from a small plant, Bubba Kush autoflower seeds should be on the top of your list. These Cannabis seeds produce high THC marijuana plants with a potent couchlock and just enough sativa to put a smile on your face.

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Cultivating Bubba Kush requires ample light to grow its dense and resin-heavy flowers. Its buds are so heavy in resin that you might mistake the thick layer of trichomes for a layer of frost.

You can expect Bubba Kush Auto to yield around 397-454  g/m2 of smokable flowers with THC concentrations that hover around 18-20%.

Bubba Kush Autoflower cultivar profile

Critical Mass Autoflower 

Critical Mass is an indica-dominant hybrid created by two legendary breeders, Scott Blakey (Shantibaba) and Nevil Martin Schoenmakers. It was their way of redefining the high-yielding cultivar Big Bud. While Critical Mass was made using most of the same strains as Big Bud, they decided not to include Northern Lights.

Critical Mass autoflower seeds

Critical Mass autoflower seeds produce a robust indica hybrid with potent buds. It's a second-generation auto-flowering strain that combines popular indica varieties.

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Critical Mass lives up to its name. It is a high-yielding hybrid that flowers around 63 days and yields around 595g/m2. Critical Mass Auto delivers impressive yields of around 397-454g/m2. While it may be less than its photoperiod counterpart, the shorter life cycle of around 56-70 days from seed to harvest makes it a better choice for the cold.

Critical Mass Auto also has resistance to mold and mildew, an issue faced by many growers when cultivating the original photoperiod strain.

Critical Mass cultivar profile

Hindu Kush

Hindu Kush is the most recommended strain for growers in cold climates. This landrace originated in its namesake mountain range, known for its harsh growing conditions.

Hindu Kush feminized seeds

Any Cannabis that can take on the harsh conditions of this homeland's climate must be strong. This strain is conditioned to create crystal trichomes coats that protect it from its surroundings.

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As an heirloom, Hindu Kush is a hardy cultivar popular among growers, so many recommend it for those looking to grow robust plants that can thrive in colder climates.

On top of choosing hardy strains like Hindu Kush, starting your plants indoors is also a good idea. Especially in areas with shorter growing seasons, this can prevent your plants from getting caught by the first frost. Plus, if you plan to keep your cannabis in pots throughout the entire grow, you can move them back inside if you feel like the weather’s about to turn.

Hindu Kush cultivar profile

Afghan

Afghan is a cannabis landrace that originated in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border near the Hindu Kush mountain range. Before its seeds were brought to the US, this landrace had long since already been domesticated by local farmers who, for generations, used Afghan to make potent hash.

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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Over centuries, farmers developed this landrace into an ideal hash plant that produced resinous flowers. Its high trichome content also made it a hardy heirloom cultivar that can thrive in the cold outdoors. Trichomes are more than glands full of cannabinoids and terpenes; they also protect the plant against harsh environmental factors such as UV rays, insects, and extreme temperatures.

When growing the photoperiod Afghan, start your plants indoors before moving them outdoors at the start of the growing season. For an easier growing experience, start with Afghan Autoflower. This hardy autoflowering strain has a total life cycle of 70-84 days, which is suitable for even a short growing season.

Afghan cultivar profile

Granddaddy Purple

Like Afghan, Granddaddy Purple is a great strain to grow in cold outdoor climates thanks to its high trichome count. Its high resin content also makes GDP a crowd favorite. Smoking this strain gives you a relaxing body high, and its grape flavor perfectly complements its sedating effects.

Granddaddy Purple Feminized Seeds

This is a product of crossbreeding Purple Urkle and Big Bud, two popular indica strains! If you love indica strains, you are going to fall head over heels in love as this bad grandpa is a 100% PURE indica!

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Granddaddy Purple can handle a little cold, thanks to its hardy nature. While its trichomes can help protect it from slight temperature fluctuations, plants can still have issues with cold soil temperatures. Although not foolproof, a seedling heating mat can help. It raises soil temperatures to an ideal 70-75°F. However, this approach only works if you’re growing in pots.

You could also grow the autoflower variant of Granddaddy Purple. This variety has all the traits people love about GDP in a robust autoflower. 

Granddaddy Purple cultivar profile

Blue Cheese

Blue Cheese is an excellent option for growers with colder outdoor climates and shorter growing seasons. It can endure cooler temperatures and has a relatively short flowering time of 63 days. In addition to those benefits, its unique flavor profile blends sweet blueberries and savory cheese.

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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If you think your growing season is too short to accommodate photoperiod strains, don’t worry! We also have Blue Cheese auto, a fast autoflower that only takes 56-70 days to grow from seed to harvest.

Blue Cheese cultivar profile

Cheddar Cheeze

Another fast-flowering strain is Cheddar Cheeze, a Phylos Elite cultivar that has a flowering time of 61 days. If you know how to apply the light deprivation technique to shorten its veg time, you could grow this indica strain in places with notoriously short growing seasons.

Cheddar Cheeze Feminized Seeds

Cheddar Cheeze stands out with its unique combination of cheese, garlic, and mango aromas. The nose on this cultivar harkens back to the classic legacy aromas of UK Cheese.

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Cheddar Cheeze can endure low temperatures of around 65°F (18°C). Still, it would be better for your plants if you kept the ambient temperature higher and the soil temperature at around 70-75°F (20-24°C). Growers highly suggest using a seedling heating mat to raise your soil temp.

If you apply light dep to your plants, a heating mat is a safer alternative to a space heater. A heating mat won’t produce artificial light that will interrupt the dark cycle of your cannabis.

Cheddar Cheese cultivar profile