Seeds 101
by Bob Walloch
For first-time home growers, checking in several times daily on your ‘babies’ is normal while taking the first steps as plant parents. When it comes to starting your cannabis home grow, the connection to the plant is palpable, everyone feels it… the excitement, the anticipation, the months of careful tending and thoughtful attention. Home growing has the unique advantage of healing twice, once as we care for our plants and again after harvest through the consumption of the flowers, the medicinal parts of the cannabis plant. Watch out, though, cannabis is a “gateway drug” to gardening, and you might just have to find extra room in the grow tent or backyard for some fresh lettuce too.
Growing method, equipment selection, and garden location are all critical considerations for a homegrower. Still, one of the most important decisions you will make is choosing the right seeds for you and your cannabis needs. When picking your seeds for your home grow, focus the fire hose of information and nuance available online by honing in on seed type, then consider which strain is right for you.
There are three main categories of cannabis seed types Autoflower, Feminized, and Regular seeds. Each seed type has unique traits that can impact your growing process, yields, and journey to harvest.
If you are looking for a smaller plant with a shorter lifecycle for a faster seed-to-harvest time of only 2-3 months, an Auto-
flower might be the best option. Autoflowers are unique in that they change from the vegetative stage to the flowering cycle all on their own based on how long since planting, usually 3-5 weeks. They are easy for beginners because they can be grown with minimal skill and effort. They’re also a great way to observe the whole life cycle of the plant but have enough nuance even for experienced growers to keep their interest for a few months.
A photoperiod plant might be right for the home grower who prefers flexibility and increased yield. Photoperiod cannabis plants will indefinitely stay in the vegetative stage until the light decreases to under 13 hours. Outdoors in Minnesota, usually early/mid-August. Many growers prefer feminized photoperiods because you can expect all the seeds to grow into a female plant with the buds we want to harvest.
Some experienced growers prefer regular photoperiod seeds. Regular seeds will grow into 50% male and 50% female. Home growers often cull the males (pollen) and only finish flowering the females (flowers) if they do not want seeds in their harvest. But if you’re considering harvesting seeds for future grows, or simply prefer a more traditional approach, regular seeds might be the right choice.
This time of year always has my inspiration flowing while pondering my garden plan for this coming summer. Growing cannabis is similar to tomatoes, both need lots of sun, water, and nutrient-rich soil. Much like vegetable gardening, here in Minnesota, getting a jump start on photoperiod seeds inside in April or May is helpful. Autoflower seeds are perfect to plant outdoors in early to mid-June.
It’s such an empowering time to be able to legally enter the vast genome that is available by this incredible plant. Give yourself time to consider which strains may support your body, choose from the type of desired outcome that you are looking to experience, and find the genetics to meet your needs.
If you have questions, consider stopping by your local cannabis seed bank or dispensary. They have knowledgeable staff that can help guide you. CannaJoyMN, a Mom & Pop shop in South Minneapolis, is a cannabis seed bank and a welcoming place to ask an expert for advice to guide your selections.
