The Best Outdoor Cannabis Strains for New England Growers

Growing Cannabis in the Northeast is difficult for many people, which is why our online store has a collection of the best outdoor strains for New England growers to choose from. Our New England seeds can thrive in the region’s notorious, unfavorable weather conditions and grueling short growing seasons.

Growing weed outdoors in the Northeast

The Northeast is known for its harsh winters. Its summers are great but short with unpredictable weather. What you can predict is long periods of rainfall. The New England region’s winters generally last from December to February. The summers, however, are warm and ideal for growing cannabis, but expect rain to show up frequently and plan accordingly.

It doesn’t help that New England’s growing seasons are short, lasting only 15-17 weeks if you’re going to plant your seeds in late spring. This isn’t ideal for outdoor Cannabis growers who are looking to get the highest and most potent yield possible from their garden. But it’s not impossible if you have weed strains that can handle the tough continental climate of New England, weed strains that are fast-flowering to get around the region’s notorious short summers. You would also want your New England seeds to be mold-resistant since the periodic rainfall will provide the perfect breeding ground for them.

Lastly, the best outdoor strains for New England have to be resilient enough to handle dramatic shifts in temperature. This means strains like White Widow are out of the question since you need to accurately provide a particular climate for it to grow properly.

Autoflowers: a solution for difficult climates

Much hard work is required to grow Cannabis in the Northeast regions of the U.S. In this tough climate with minimal sunlight and short growing seasons, what thrives better than autoflowers? Because autoflowers were made by crossing cannabis ruderalis with a sativa or indica strain, they tend to enter their flowering periods with time rather than the amount of light they receive. This is perfect as you no longer have to fight against the short seasons that the New England region is known for.

Additionally, cannabis ruderalis originated from Russia, so you can expect autoflowers to thrive in colder climates better than the standard photoperiod strains, which is why autoflowers are the best outdoor strain for northeast growing.

Lastly, autoflowers require less time to fully mature than standard cannabis strains. So, by the start of the first freeze in September, you would have already made your harvest. With this solution in mind, all that’s left to do is choose the right autoflower to grow, and our online store has your back. Choose from an ever-growing catalog of autoflower seeds that you can grow in continental climates. In fact, one of the autoflowers on this list was developed by Robert (that's me!) himself. Continue reading to find out what I think are the best outdoor strains for New England Cannabis growing.

This is an indica-dominant strain that was developed by ILGM’s Robert Bergman (yes, that's me again). It was already a pretty easy strain of Cannabis to grow, but my Gold Leaf autoflower has put it to a new level.

With a THC content of up to 21%, Gold Leaf will hit you immediately with mood-boosting effects. It provides a steady head high and a boost of energy, which means you’ll still be able to do your daily routine without much problems. 

Additionally, it delivers uplifting and euphoric feelings that brighten your mood, making you happy throughout the day. It’s this perfect mix that boosts your energy and mood that makes this autoflower one of the best New England weed strains to grow.

Gold Leaf autoflower seeds are an easy and simple strain to grow. They don’t require as much attention as standard photoperiod cannabis since they aren’t light-dependent. Additionally, you won’t need to provide as much Cannabis fertilizer to autoflowers as you would with regular cannabis; this is because autoflowers are a lot smaller in size.

It should be noted though, that because autoflowers are smaller than standard cannabis strains, the amount you get is also reduced (something to expect with all autoflowers). But in return, you’ll grow and harvest much faster, which is why this autoflower is one of the best outdoor strains for New England.

Purple Kush has deeply purple-colored buds that match its potent sedative effect. Purple Kush was made by crossing the hardy Hindu Kush with a Purple Afghani. The resulting kush strain was one that not only provided a strong effect but was also easy to grow.

Purple Kush is mold-resistant and can thrive in colder climates better than most other cannabis strains. Purple Kush was made even easier to grow with the introduction of ruderalis genetics. These turned Purple Kush into an autoflower that produces a considerable yield of 4-6oz per 3x3ft.

With THC levels of up to 22%, Purple Kush autoflower retained its strong and potent effect. It’ll provide a deeply calming sensation that’ll leave you feeling relaxed. Its strong calming effect is great for relieving chronic pain as you’ll first feel a strong body high followed by a head high. This does mean that Purple Kush will leave you couch-locked for the day, so it’s best to treat this as an end-of-day strain like Gorilla Glue.

Growing your own Purple Kush has never been easier now that it’s an autoflower. Not only is it resistant to pests and molds, but this strain also grows and flowers faster than most other strains – especially with ruderalis genetics.

Zkittlez got its name not because of its brightly candy-colored buds but instead because of its unique candy and fruity flavor. This indica-dominant strain was a cross between Grape Ape and Grapefruit strains, which is where it got its renowned fruity flavor and candy-colored buds. Zkittles was made into an autoflower using a ruderalis found in Siberia, and true to the strain’s characteristics, the resulting Zkittles autoflower was a hearty plant that grew within only a few weeks.

With high THC levels that can reach up to 23%, and given its brightly colored buds, you would expect that Zkittles would give you an intense sugar-rush-like effect. In reality, Zkittles provides a moderate head high that brings out euphoric feelings that boost your mood and make you happy – all while not being overwhelmed by these effects. It’s great for those who want to get high and still have the ability to do tasks.

Zkittles is a very forgiving autoflower. Given how hearty the plant is, you can get away with a few mistakes, which is why ILGM considers this the best outdoor strain for Northeast growers who are just starting off and have no prior experience in growing cannabis in their area.

Don’t be deterred by its name; this deeply blue-colored strain has nothing to do with the stinky cheese you find in blue cheese pizzas. But Blue Cheese autoflower does carry a strong smell and flavor of cheese. The “Blue” name in “Blue Cheese” comes from its Blueberry parent.

Blue Cheese isn’t just blueberry in color but also in taste. It’s this mix of fruity and cheesy flavors that earned Blue Cheese a spot among many cannabis connoisseurs. However, its taste isn’t the only thing that made Blue Cheese one of the best marijuana strains around.

With a THC content of up to 18%, Blue Cheese has many going back for more as it provides a steady and long-lasting head high that brings out euphoric feelings. Additionally, because it’s an indica-dominant strain, it will also leave you feeling deeply relaxed. Blue Cheese autoflower is great for beginners as it has a natural resistance towards mold and mildew, a problem that you will surely run into when growing in New England.

Lastly, the parents of Blue Cheese were already autoflowers, to begin with, meaning the ruderalis traits are deeply embedded into the genetics of the Blue Cheese, allowing it to thrive in New England’s harsh weather conditions.