10 Best Cold-Weather Cannabis Strains for a Winter Grow

The best cannabis strains for cold-weather and winter grows are tough, mold-resistant genetics with mountain roots or short flowering times, like Afghan Kush, Northern Lights, Blue Cheese, Critical and White Widow. Picking the right strain is step one, because not all of us get to live somewhere that sits at a lovely 25 °C (77 °F) all year, and Mother Nature isn't always kind to outdoor growers.

Growing weed outdoors in winter can be tough if you live somewhere cold, but it's definitely not impossible. The first move for growing buds in a cold climate is choosing the right strain. Luckily, some strains actually thrive when temperatures drop.

10 cannabis strains that handle the cold

Afghan Kush

One of the classic indica strains, and also one of the best picks for winter buds. It delivers a heavy body high and is perfect for a laid-back smoke session. It was originally grown in the Hindu Kush mountains, so it's naturally built for growing in colder climates, and many growers consider it the best indica around.

Northern Lights

One of the all-time classics, grown in pretty much every climate known to humankind. It's one of the most crossbred strains out there, which makes it adaptable to different temperatures and a realistic option for a winter grow. In the Northern Hemisphere it's usually harvested in late October, so colder temperatures shouldn't be a problem.

Blackberry

A sativa classic with some indica traits mixed in. The high won't melt you into the couch, but it's potent, and many people find it good for anxiety and stress. While it's one of the best-yielding strains for winter indoor grows, it has also proven excellent outdoors. It's highly mold-resistant, which makes it an ideal pick for growing outside in the cold if you need to.

Super Skunk

An indica-dominant strain that delivers an intense body high. It earned the “super” title for its ability to survive in pretty much any growing environment. Super Skunk does best in sunny, Mediterranean-style climates, but it can handle a winter grow if you keep a close eye on it. So even though it needs some babysitting, it's one of the best strains we could fit on this list.

Durban Poison

One of the best sativas out there, with a euphoric, uplifting high. It ideally wants a sunny spot, but it adapts easily to colder climates and can still give you a winter harvest. If it gets too cold, though, you might want to try growing it hydroponically, a setup where it usually thrives.

Jack Herer

It has proven to be one of the most popular hybrids of all time, and also one of the best strains to grow in cold places. Its sativa-dominant nature makes it a great outdoor grow. Plus, its deep genetic background makes it very adaptable to colder climates, especially in its autoflowering version.

LSD

One of the most famous hybrid strains, known for an almost psychedelic high, like the drug it's named after. It's naturally pest-resistant, which makes it an ideal strain for growing outdoors. LSD is usually grown in shadier spots, so a winter outdoor grow suits it well.

Blue Cheese

Blue Cheese is known for a relaxing high that doesn't leave you too sleepy to function. Originally from Europe, Blue Cheese is naturally mold-resistant, which makes it one of the best strains for a colder environment. Growers shouldn't have trouble getting big yields out of Blue Cheese, even when temperatures drop near freezing.

Critical

A high-yielding strain that's versatile enough to grow indoors or outdoors, which makes a winter grow totally doable, even in a place like Argentina. A fast flowerer, Critical should ideally be harvested in late September in the Northern Hemisphere (late March down south). Its short flowering time makes Critical one of the top strains for colder climates.

White Widow

It's probably one of the best strains for a winter grow, indoors or out. It's known for the euphoric high it gives users and is still one of the most popular hybrids around. Thanks to its Dutch origins, White Widow is more than capable of flowering through winter and handling cold weather. It can also fight off diseases and pests.

Finding the right strain isn't always easy if you want to grow outdoors through an Argentine winter (and down here in the Southern Hemisphere, we're right in the middle of it), but there are clearly some solid options.

Sure, a winter grow isn't ideal, but it's totally doable. If you decide to give it a shot, check out the strains on this list. They'll definitely boost both your yield and the quality of your buds.

When to start a winter outdoor grow

There's no exact date to start a winter outdoor grow, but in the Southern Hemisphere, March or April is a good kickoff (that's September or October in the Northern Hemisphere). You can also germinate in May and June (November and December up north), but if the cold is harsh, the plants may barely develop or not make it at all

You can even start as late as July (January in the Northern Hemisphere). In that case, you'll need to pick strains with a very short flowering time.

A winter grow is a great option for outdoor growers: it lets you keep a year-round growing cycle going.

It comes with one big upside: pests are much less likely. And one downside: yields will be lower.

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