Top 10 best outdoor cannabis seeds for US growers

The USA offers some of the best outdoor grow conditions in the world. Dry yields of several pounds per plants are quite possible when growing photoperiod feminized seeds. Autoflower seeds and ‘fast’ feminized seeds are also popular choices. We explain why & how the outdoor grower can use the specific strengths of each type of cannabis seeds to great advantage. And with over 35 years of noteworthy outdoor breeding experience to back their selections, the Dutch Passion team present their top 10 marijuana seed picks for USA outdoor growers.

Much of the US lies at latitudes like those in, or near, mediterranean Europe. There are important regional variations which will influence seed choice and type. But in general, many outdoor USA growers will be able to grow a reasonably wide selection of feminized seeds and just about all autoflower seed varieties too. Before getting into the top 10, here’s a couple of useful guidelines for outdoor growers: 

•   Those growing at altitude, in the mountains or Rockies are strongly advised to favour high altitude marijuana seeds. Dutch Passion’s Snow Bud & Pamir Gold were selectively bred by professional geneticists outdoors over several years in their 1980’s Swiss Alps project. Naturally adapted to grow at 7000ft+ these strains are game changers for high altitude growers.

•   Those growing in the north near the Canadian border will find the Dutch Outdoor marijuana seed collection especially relevant. This outdoor seed collection was created by Dutch outdoor breeders in Holland for conditions which can be more demanding/cooler.

•   Autoflower seeds produce shorter plants & smaller yields (around 2-4 oz per plant outdoors for typical growers, 6 oz+ for the experienced). But autoflowers complete their outdoor life cycle in around 3 months, meaning 2 or even 3 outdoor auto harvests are possible in states with longer grow seasons.

Passion #1 is a potent, very-high THC hybrid cannabis strain with an XXL yield (5lbs+) and a relatively rapid flowering time. Most plants will be ready for harvest in September and tend to have green buds. A proven outdoor champ since her 1980’s introduction, Passion #1 is a tough and robust outdoor variety. She does very well in temperate climates but in the sunnier states she can grow into a plant of epic proportions, 12ft tall and almost as wide with long heavy blooms in every direction.

European outdoor growers love the powerful, heavy harvests of Holland’s Hope. The solid indica buds pack a satisfying punch with a blissfully enjoyable soothing effect. Expect multi-lb. harvests when grown in good quality earth with ample sun. Ready to harvest in early October

Related:
100% mold-free Holland’s Hope with 3lb dry harvest, outdoor grown in Canada alongside Frisian Dew & Blueberry

Think Fast is a ‘fast’ feminized seed variety. This means she contains recessive autoflower genetics. She grows in a similar way to a typical feminized strain, but the recessive autoflower genetics allow her to complete bloom a few weeks before traditional feminized strains. Useful for those who need to harvest in September before Fall weather arrives. 

Related:

Think Fast grown outdoors in Canada with XXL yields and the growers most potent outdoor buds yet!

Probably the best-performing of all Dutch Passion sativa autoflower strains when it comes to outdoor performance and weather resilience. The tough skunk genetics allow Auto Euforia to thrive even in demanding, cool/damp outdoor weather. Takes around 3 months to grow from autoflower seed to harvest. Like all autos (& indeed all outdoor seedlings), she benefits from being started indoors for 2-3 weeks under 24-hour light. Auto Euforia is part of the easy-to-grow Skunk family of marijuana seeds.

Related:
Auto Euforia barely survives a slug attack and goes on to deliver killer outdoor harvest

Scorchingly powerful and resilient Afghani genetics make Auto Mazar a cut above the rest when it comes to dependable outdoor performance. One of Dutch Passion’s toughest indica autoflower seed varieties, but also one of the best sellers with both indoor and outdoor growers who love the rich hashy taste and slam-dunk potency. 

Related:
Scandinavian outdoor grower gets two successive harvests in one season with Auto Mazar

Pamir Gold is a specialized high altitude marijuana strain, a western Himalayan hybrid from the Tajikistan region. These tough genetics were further refined over several years selecting and crossing only the best specimens from hundreds of outdoor grown plants. Professionally adapted to thin cold mountain air, Pamir Gold is a must-grow strain for anyone keen to maximize their quality levels from a high-altitude grow.

Related:
Pamir Gold grown 7000ft above seal level in Colorado with a 15oz harvest!

Blueberry is a classic cornerstone cannabis strain, this version comes directly from Dutch Passion’s early collab with DJ Short and comes with rock-solid potency, unique dark-fruit dankness and great outdoor performance. Multi-lb. harvests are the norm in good quality conditions with rich, moist aerated earth to grow in. Founding member of the Blue family of marijuana seeds.

Most often grown indoors as one of Dutch Passion’s acknowledged elite 25% THC strains, Sugar Bomb Punch also grows well outdoors. However, she will require a grow season that extends with reasonably sunny/settled weather until mid-October. If your grow season can offer this, you can expect genuine top-shelf buds with maxed-out potency levels.

Critical Orange Punch is a hybrid feminized seed variety known for her heavily branched, XL-yielding plants with a citrus fruity and earthy terpene profile. Very easy and unfussy to grow outdoors, she is known for her commercial yields of powerful fruity scented sticky dense buds. Part of the Orange family of marijuana seeds.

A stout, dependable and heavy yielding auto. Auto Banana Blaze has creamy, sweet fruity tropical taste with a hint of ripe banana. She tolerates cooler temperatures well and the budget-priced seeds give premium quality outdoor results.

A professional seedbank since the 1980’s, Dutch Passion have been collecting cannabis genetics from around the world since the 1970’s. All the early breeding was done outdoors (in the days before indoor cultivation was popularized), giving Dutch Passion un-paralleled experience refining & stabilizing the best outdoor genetics.  When you buy outdoor seeds from Dutch Passion you benefit from decades of know-how from the original seedbank that created the world’s first feminized seeds. 

If you haven’t grown weed outdoors before the following tips will help:

•   A small amount of preparative effort goes a long way when it comes to outdoor growing. Aerate the soil by digging it and improving it with the right additives. This often includes well-rotted manure, fish/blood/bone meal, bat guano, dolomite earth (Ca/Mg rich) etc. Poor quality soil can always be improved, if necessary, with supermarket soil and general-purpose fertilizers.

•   Many outdoor growers germinate their marijuana seeds indoors and give them few weeks of indoor growth under 18-24 hours of daily light. This helps the seedlings avoid the perils of early-season outdoor weather/pests while they are at their most vulnerable and gives them the foundation for faster growth outdoors, once fully acclimatized of course.

•   Use of greenhouses and polytunnels can extend the growing season and mitigate the effects of inclement early/late season weather. This can facilitate the growth of strains which might not otherwise survive in a fully outdoor environment at your location.

•   Many USA outdoor growers use both feminized seeds and autoflower seeds. The autoflower seeds allow them an early-summer harvest, low (easy-to-hide) plants and possibilities of multiple harvests in a single season. Feminized seeds offer the heaviest per-plant yields, with multi-lb. harvests from the biggest girls. 

Good luck with your outdoor grow!