The Best Cannabis Strains to Grow Outdoors in Southern California

California is perfect for growing Cannabis. Because of its lush land and plentiful sunshine, it’s a Cannabis cultivator’s dream. Some of the most famous and best Cannabis strains known today were birthed in California, and they all have that unique vibe that comes from “Cali strains.”

Certain Cannabis strains thrive in tropical and Mediterranean weather, making California perfect for growing your plants. In northern California, the weather is mostly sunny, with summer temperatures reaching up to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.  However, Southern California has 284 sunny days a year, and summer temps are between 75 – 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

This article details the best weed strains to grow in southern California and whether you should grow them indoors or outdoors to maximize their potential. 

As one of the most influential Californian marijuana strains, some say it is the ultimate and first true Cali strain on the planet. OG Kush has a rich and enigmatic history; it’s no surprise that this strain made it onto our list of the best California marijuana strains. OG Kush is a 75% indica strain with THC levels of around 20%. This ‘chilled-out’ strain has potent effects and balances both a body and mind high.

OG Kush thrives and flourishes in a hot and tropical climate, making southern California the perfect choice for growing. If you want to grow OG Kush outdoors, it’s best to create the right environment, as issues such as disease and bugs can be detrimental. Alternatively, OG Kush will happily grow indoors; autoflower seeds make growing the strain even easier. 

Read our full strain review of OG Kush, or shop for OG Kush feminized and OG Kush autoflower seeds in our store.

The most famous California marijuana strain in the world is a combination of OG Kush and Durban Poison. Not only does GSC have famous parents, but it’s also the parent to many other all-star Cali strains (like Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies). Girl Scout Cookies is an 80% indica strain that delivers the perfect blend of deep relaxation and an invigorating social high.

When growing Girl Scout Cookies,expect around 21% THC. In terms of yield, feminized photoperiod seeds average a whopping yield of 21 oz per plant. This Cannabis strain has a grow cycle of around 70 days, and it flourishes in sunny and hot climates.

Read our Girl Scout Cookies strain review, or shop for Girl Scout Cookies feminized and Girl Scout Cookies autoflower seeds in our store.

This 55% indica strain may have a sweet name, but it doesn’t fool around when it comes to potency and powerful effects. Gelato, another popular Cali weed strain, is the offspring of Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies and Sunset Sherbert. The superior genetics of this strain makes it great for growing indoors and outdoors in southern California.

Whether you’re in northern or southern California, the best time to grow photoperiod seeds outdoors is around the beginning of May. If you’d like to grow autoflower seeds, the best time is early summer so your plants drink up the summer sun each day. Gelato loves the heat and humid climates, so if you don’t have the right growing conditions it is best to grow this strain indoors. 

Read our Gelato strain review, or shop for Gelato feminized and Gelato autoflower seeds in our online store.

Embodying the true essence of California strains, Purple Punch is 80% indica with THC levels over 20%. Supernova Gardens in Kauai created this strain by crossbreeding Granddaddy Purple and Larry OG, making it delicious for consumers and great for growers in warm and sunny climates.

Purple Punch autoflower is easy to grow for cultivators of all levels and can be grown indoors and outdoors. If you’d like to try your hand at its photoperiod seeds, know that Purple Punch is susceptible to pests and mold, however it comes with a huge payoff, including large yields of up to 23 oz per plant. The Southern California weather is ideal for growing Purple Punch, as the strain requires a lot of sunshine.

Read our Purple Punch strain review, or shop for Purple Punch feminized and Purple Punch autoflower seeds in the store.

Girl Scout Cookies did it again! Wedding Cake is the lovechild of GSC and Cherry Pie, another Cali strain classic. Wedding Cake is one of the best marijuana strains because of how easy it is to grow for Cannabis cultivators on all levels since it’s resistant to bacteria, mold, pests, and diseases—this hardy strain is quite the tough cookie.

Wedding Cake will grow indoors and outdoors for both autoflower and photoperiod seeds. Autoflower seeds will produce a smaller yield. If growing weed outdoors is your thing and you prefer photoperiod seeds, the southern California climate is perfect. Expect yields ranging from 18 – 21 oz per plant.

Read our Wedding Cake strain review, or shop for Wedding Cake feminized and Wedding Cake autoflower seeds in our online store.

Sunset Sherbert is an 85% indica strain known for inspiring creativity. This tasty Girl Scout Cookies descendant packs a punch but still sets you up for a productive day. The photoperiod variant of the Sunset Sherbert strain contains THC levels of around 20% and will yield around 16 – 21 oz per plant.

Sunset Sherbert prefers sunny, Mediterranean climates of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. When growing your own Cannabis outdoors in Southern California, we recommend planting underneath rooftops and trees to protect your Cannabis plants from extreme temperatures. 

Read our Sunset Sherbert strain review, or shop for Sunset Sherbert feminized seeds in our store.

Sour Diesel is a 60% sativa hybrid strain with THC levels of around 20%. This strain was created in the 90s, and legend says it descends from popular strains like Chemdawg 91 and Super Skunk.

Outside of being a Cali strain, Sour Diesel is also one of the popular weed strains on this list. It’s so popular that consumers love it year-round.  It also grows well in southern California due to the dry sunny climate with little humidity. Southern California has 284 sunny days, which vary in daylight hours, so it’s not really possible to grow Cannabis all year round outside. If you’d like to grow Cannabis all year round in southern California, then it’s best to grow autoflower seeds indoors. 

Read our Sour Diesel strain review, or shop for Sour Diesel feminized and Sour Diesel autoflower seeds online.

As one of the parents of Sour Diesel, it’s obvious why we couldn’t leave this hard-hitting Cali strain out of our list of best strains for southern California. Chemdawg is a 55% indica strain with THC levels around 20% when grown in the right conditions. It’s clear that Chemdawg is a potency powerhouse, just from the smell alone, and some place this Cali strain in the Cannabis hall of fame.

In most climates, Chemdawg seeds are moderately difficult to grow outdoors because the plants need significant protection from molds. However, Chemdawg thrives in Southern California’s warmth and dry air, and when cared for, it will yield as much as 28 ounces per plant.

Read our Chemdawg strain review or shop for Chemdawg feminized seeds in our store.

This enhanced Cali strain is a 60% indica hybrid with THC levels that can reach over 20%. If you’re looking for a strain that can help with insomnia or provide the perfect chilled-out vibes, then Gorilla Zkittlez is a perfect choice.

You’ll need a Mediterranean climate to grow your own Gorilla Zkittlez. Frost can be tough on this strain, so it’s important to stay vigilant and ensure your plants aren’t damaged. That’s why southern California is perfect. It provides the right amount of sunshine towards the end of summer. 

Read our GG4 x Do-Si-Dos strain review, or shop for GG4 x Do-Si-Dos feminized seeds in our store.

GG4 x Zkittlez or Rainbow Glue is a potent enhanced Cali strain that’s 60% indica strain and 40% sativa. It’s perfect for winding down at night and sinking into a deep state of relaxation. Crafted by combining two famous strains (Zkittlez and Original Glue), GG4 x Zkittlez can reach THC levels around the 20% mark and may even surpass 20% under certain conditions.

To grow your own GG4 x Zkittlez, you’ll need a warm, Mediterranean climate with stable humidity around 50%. Since southern California can get quite hot and dry during the summer, it is the perfect growing environment for this strain. It’s important to note that this strain does tend to have a late harvest, so it’s important to protect them from moisture and frost if need be. 

Read our Rainbow Glue strain review, or shop for Rainbow Glue feminized seeds in our store.

Conclusion

Growing your own Cannabis is a fun experience, but it can feel daunting if you don’t have the skills and knowledge yet. To learn how to cultivate Cannabis like a pro, download Robert’s Grow Bible, a free 70-page grow guide.