Here is a list of the strains that CannaDan has grown outdoors in the San Francisco Bay Area along with notes. All strains are reviewed on a 1-10 scale that is based primarily on two factors; easiness to grow/trim/process and average size of yield. Indica plants are graded on a curve (slightly higher) than sativa as they tend to be more difficult to grow outdoors and typically result in a lower yield. All reviews are entirely unscientific and merely based on personal experience.
Blue Dream (10/10): An easy to grow, high yielding sativa that is highly recommended for all growers. The plant can grow VERY tall and may have to be trimmed down if you are trying to keep your crops secret from neighbors. Blue Dream produces very large buds which are easy to trim making it ideal for consumers interested in smoking it’s flowers while it’s high THC content makes it ideal for those interested in processessing it into hash, edibles, tincture, or even decarbing the THC into CBN.
Dream Queen (9/10): An easy to grow, high yielding sativa that is flavorful and makes a great “daytime high”. Dream Queen isn’t as tall or as pungeant as some other sativa which makes it great for stealth growing and it’s buds grow to a decent size which makes it easy for trimming. Overall a highly recommended sativa.
Dutch Treat (6/10): A once popular strain that seems to have disappeared form the market, Dutch Treat is an indica-dominant strain that just didn’t do very well in my garden. This one is probably best left to indoor growers who want to recreate the flavors of the late aughts.
Headband (4/10): A popular strain that is a hybrid of Sour Diesel and various Kush, this plant seemed to catch every disease possible! Out of the three I purchased, only one survived to harvest and only produced two ounces of flowers; not even enough for my favorite tincture recipe! If you try to grow this make sure you give it plenty of room, both to grow and to avoid trapping moisture which can cause powdery mildew, rot, and other issues.
Keylime Pie (6/10): An indica-dominant hybrid that seems to have disappeared from the market, Keylime Pie did not do particularly well in the garden.
Lemon Haze (8/10): An outdoor grower’s classic sativa that seems to have been replaced on the market with Super Lemon Haze. The original Lemon Haze does very well outdoors and is another great choice for a first time cannabis farmer.
Mango Kush (9/10): Perfect for outdoor growers interested in indica and edibles, mango kush is relatively easy to grow and has decent sized yields. The mycrene terpene is what gives this strain it’s mango flavor and it is believed that eating mangos while consuming cannabis with that terpene will amplify the effect! Mango Kush’s flavor is enjoyable smoked but is best appreciated when vaporized. Overall a versatile indica that will do well in your garden.
Pre-98 Bubba Kush (8/10): A classic indica that is surprisingly easy to grow outdoors; a great choice for beginning growers looking to diversify their portfolio. Like most indica, Bubba Kush doesn’t grow particularly tall which makes it great for stealth growing.
Purple Trainwreck (7/10): A hybrid strain that is a cross between Mendo Purps and the classic Trainwreck, this plant does well outdoors but literally comes up short against other plants in that it doesn’t grow very tall and isn’t particularly productive. Despite it’s relatively small yields, Purple Trainwreck is a welcome addition to your garden as it is a hearty plant with gorgeous flowers.
Romulan Grapefruit (9/10): A great outdoor indica! Romulan Grapefruit gets bigger and taller than most indica and it’s larger size contributes to a larger harvest. The large buds are easy to trim and it’s flavor profile really lends itself to vaporizing.
Sour Diesel (8/10): Probably the single most reliable strain of all time, Sour Diesel can be found at almost any dispensary and has retained its popularity for decades. It is a very easy to grow sativa that produces high yields. It won’t grow as tall as some other sativa and it’s relatively small buds making trimming by hand tedious; electronic trimmers, a spin trimmer, or just processing the plant can save you a lot of time. This strain is particularly pungent so you might want to keep it far away from neighbors who might complain of the smell around harvest time. Every cannabis grower should give Sour Diesel a try at least once just to see why it’s so popular year after year!
Trainwreck (7/10): A classic strain that seems to have been around forever, Trainwreck (and it’s descendants) can be found at most dispensaries year round. It is a fairly easy to grow sativa with decent yields and decent sized buds. Overall, Trainwreck is a reliable plant when there aren’t many options but most modern growers will want something more productive.