Top 10 best outdoor cannabis seeds UK
The UK, despite being at the northern European boundary of cannabis cultivation territory, has thousands of successful outdoor cannabis growers. You can grow both autoflower seeds as well as photoperiod outdoor strains in the UK and expect solid results with the right seeds. One of your main challenges, depending on your precise grow location within the UK, is selecting strains which will finish in time and give high potency results.
This Dutch Passion guide to the 10 best outdoor cannabis seeds for the UK will also offer some useful tips and tricks to maximise your chances of a successful harvest.
Cannabis growing climate in the UK
An outdoor cannabis grower on the English south coast will face a different set of challenges to a grower in Scotland. The UK has a variable and an unpredictable climate. Some growers will be able to fully bloom a photoperiod outdoor strain such as Frisian Dew, whereas guerrilla growers further north may be better advised to stick to autoflower strains which are faster to finish and perhaps more likely to deliver a harvest.
Conditions, temperatures and light hours vary from one UK location to the next. The following table gives an approximate guide to the environment facing many UK growers through the summer months. Note that these are just approximate averages, each UK growing season can show surprising levels of variation from year to year and also from region to region. This presents some genuine challenges to UK outdoor growers.
| Month | Max. temperature C°(F°) | Min. Temperature C°(F°) | Sunlight | Rel. Humidity |
| June | 19 (66) | 10 (50) | 16hs | 75% |
| Jul | 20 (68) | 12 (54) | 16:30hs | 69% |
| Aug | 20 (68) | 11 (52) | 16hs | 72% |
| Sep | 17 (63) | 9.5 (49) | 14hs | 76% |
On top of the regional environmental variations are the normal climatic variations. Some years can produce great growing conditions with long, sunny autumns (fall).
Other years can see the UK summer replaced with a few months of cold, damp and overcast conditions. That’s why many UK outdoor cannabis growers opt for a mix of fast-finishing autoflower seeds as well as some dependable photoperiod outdoor strains. The autoflower seeds should provide a mid summer harvest even if the late-season autumn/fall weather is bad and compromises your photoperiod harvest.
One other consideration is the last frost date. Many UK growers germinate their cannabis seeds indoors and give them a few weeks of indoor light (with e.g. an 18/6 or 24/0 light schedule). The seedlings should only be planted out after the last frost date for your location. With the benefit of indoor protection during their most vulnerable first few weeks, these plants should go onto deliver good growth and harvests.
Best outdoor autoflower cannabis seeds UK
The Dutch Passion autoflower seed collection are all great options for UK outdoor growers. They will often grow from seed to harvest in UK conditions in around 100 days, possibly a little faster in warm and sunny conditions. With the benefit of some planning and perhaps the use of greenhouses, you may be able to get two successive outdoor autoflower crops in one season if the weather is kind.
Many UK auto growers germinate their seeds in May and grow them indoors for a couple of weeks before planting out after the last frost. This allows mid summer harvests.
Even growers in the far north of the UK should be able to get an autoflower harvest if they grow in their warmest and sunniest 3-month period.
Giving the seeds a week or two of indoor growth after germination is always a good way of giving your plants a head start. All the Dutch Passion autoflower seeds would be good choices for an outdoor cannabis grower, but the following 5 strains are particularly recommended and produce great results for outdoor growers.
Auto Mazar
Auto Mazar is a tough and dependable autoflower strain using hardy genetics. She is part of the Afghani Kush cannabis seed collection. Auto Mazar typically grows into short, stocky cannabis plants with numerous side branches. Yields are heavy with a supremely enjoyable high and a rich hashy taste.
As with all outdoor strains, giving the plant the benefit of a couple of weeks of indoor growth after germination helps them become better prepared for eventual outdoor life. Gradually acclimatise your outdoor plants for increasing periods of time before eventually planting them out after the last frost.
Auto Mazar grows well outdoors across the UK. Choose a sunny grow location and where necessary offer some protection from the prevailing wind if planted in an exposed location.
Related:
Auto Mazar grown outdoors in Scandinavia
Auto Ultimate
Any UK outdoor autoflower grower wanting the heaviest possible yields should look no further than Auto Ultimate. This is one of Dutch Passion’s undisputed heavyweight yielders. The genetics can take a week or two longer than other autoflower strains but repay the grower with unusually heavy harvests.
The large, dense blooms may need supporting to prevent them drooping down and touching the (potentially damp) ground towards the end of bloom. Harvests of 100g+ of dried buds from Auto Ultimate are not unheard of in the UK, especially when she has enjoyed an uninterrupted sunny/warm bloom period.
As with all outdoor strains, growth under the cover of a greenhouse or polytunnel will protect your plants from the worst of the weather and tend to increase harvest quantities.
Related:
Guide to growing large outdoor cannabis plants
Auto Think Different
Lovers of fine quality outdoor autoflowering sativa genetics look no further! Auto Think Different is a best selling, fully-proven autoflower strain that delivers very heavy yields. In the UK she grows from seed to harvest in around 100 days. As with all autoflowers, she benefits when grown in good quality, nutritious soil. If your local soil is poor quality, you may find superior quality/quantity harvests if you supplement with supermarket soil (or grow shop soil).
You can expect the typical Dutch Passion autoflower structure of a dominant heavy central bloom surrounded by a ring of slightly smaller blooms. Part of the Classics cannabis seed collection with very high THC levels – really easy to grow!
Related:
Top 10 tips for growing cannabis in cold climates
Auto Power Plant
Auto Power Plant is the autoflowering version of Dutch Passion’s original Power Plant. She is noted for particularly heavy harvests and uses cannabis cup winning South African sativa genetics. The numerous repeat growers value her for the prize-winning combination of very high THC levels, fast growth and unmistakably chunky blooms!
UK outdoor growers that enjoy a rich terpene profile from their harvests should enjoy the powerful buds with their intense skunky/hashy scented aroma. She is particularly easy to grow outdoors, just offer a sunny location with nutritious moist soil. Then sit back, relax and let the genetics do the work for you!
Related:
Practical advice for growing cannabis outdoors in difficult weather
Auto Critical Orange Punch
Auto Critical Orange Punch has quickly become a best seller with outdoor growers. These are some of the most affordably priced autoflower seeds in the Dutch Passion collection. With very high THC levels and a fresh, zesty citrus taste this heavy yielding auto produces excellent outdoor harvests. The anti-anxiety, stress-busting high is intensely pleasurable as well as easy to grow.
Auto Critical Orange Punch seeds grow well in large containers. As with all Dutch Passion autoflower strains, air pots or fabric smart pots encourage high levels of root aeration and healthy growth above/below ground. She also responds well to LST and SCROG whether grown indoors or outdoors.
Auto Critical Orange Punch seeds are highly recommended for those seeking highly potent harvests, she made the High Times Top-10 cannabis strains of 2018. A major achievement!
Best outdoor feminised cannabis seeds UK
Feminised outdoor cannabis seeds have the advantage of somewhat longer grow cycles and consequently heavier harvests (compared to autoflower seeds) for UK growers. The growth cycle is typically around 5 months from seed to harvest with plants typically ready for harvest around late September or early October.
However, not all outdoor feminised strains will finish in time in all areas of the UK. If you get unlucky with a cold and wet UK September/October then you can lose your photoperiod harvest to mold and bud rot.
Our recommended top-5 photoperiod outdoor feminised cannabis seeds are the toughest in the Dutch Passion collection. They will finish early, and are particularly resistant to outdoor conditions.
Frisian Dew
Frisian Dew has been a best seller with UK outdoor growers for many years. The robust, tough genetics were selectively bred over several outdoor seasons in The Netherlands. This allowed the genetics to acclimatise and adapt to the demanding and unpredictable northern European climate. Frisian Dew is part of the Dutch Outdoor cannabis seed collection, the home of Dutch Passion’s most popular and most successful outdoor seeds.
Frisian Dew is a durable strain that can withstand just about anything. She responds well to LST, supercropping and pruning. You can also try ‘Pinching’ or ‘Fimming’ several times during the growth phase to produce a bushier plant structure. This produces a shorter plant with many side blooms.
For the tastiest buds we recommend completely organic cultivation – with natural nutrition the taste is optimised. Pay extra attention to dead leaves during the middle and end of bloom. Due to the heavy dense buds, dead leaves can cause top rot and fungi more quickly. Grows well, even in northern England.
Related:
Frisian Dew grown outdoors in northern UK
Durban Poison
Durban Poison is another outdoor strain well suited to UK conditions. This sativa dominant strain originated in South Africa and is often ready to harvest around early October in the UK.
Durban Poison doesn’t mind being bent, topped, super cropped or even scrogged outdoors. The genetics grow well in a range of soil types and are resistant to damp, cool UK summer conditions. Part of the Dutch Outdoor cannabis seed collection. Will grow in Northern England, but may well struggle to complete bloom in Scotland. Growers in the extreme north may prefer to consider growing autoflower seeds rather than relying completely on a mild, dry September/October.
Related:
Durban Poison (and Frisian Dew) grown outdoors on a Welsh hill in a wet summer
Shaman
Shaman is a large yielding, tough outdoor sativa strain. She often produces purple coloured blooms, especially in cooler outdoor flowering conditions. One of the more robust outdoor strains, she is also grown extensively in greenhouses and polytunnels.
Shaman is resistant to mold and bud rot, making her an ideal choice for the outdoor grower with borderline climate conditions. She requires little maintenance or special growing conditions. Just find her a sunny south-facing location and let the genetics do the work for you. Can reach 2-3m tall in good conditions.
Think Fast
Think Fast is a slightly unusual outdoor cannabis seed recommendation for UK outdoor growers. Think Fast is a feminised photoperiod strain with recessive autoflower genetics. This allows her to complete bloom somewhat quicker than most photoperiod outdoor strains. UK growers may be able to harvest her in mid/late September.
Think Fast is a good option for UK growers who typically find that their outdoor grow season is just a few weeks too short. With the extra bloom speed of Think Fast, it may be possible for you to complete the bloom cycle even in a short UK growing season.
Related:
Think Fast grown outdoors in a short Canadian growing season
Frisian Duck
Frisian Duck is a unique outdoor cannabis strain. She was developed with a stabilised leaf deformity, the leaves have a webbed appearance with the individual leaflets fused together. This makes it the ideal outdoor cannabis strain for any grower seeking a naturally stealthy strain!
Especially during vegetative growth, Frisian Duck looks unlike any cannabis plant you have seen before! UK urban growers find this natural stealth camouflage particularly valuable. THC levels may only be medium on this strain, but she still delivers a highly pleasurable smoke/vape. Also available in autoflowering cannabis seeds as Auto Duck.
Related:
Frisian Duck grown outdoors in Northern Holland in a cold Dutch summer
Growing cannabis outdoors in the UK
Growing cannabis outdoors in the UK isn’t that difficult. Plenty of growers harvest their entire annual cannabis requirements from just a handful of outdoor plants grown from a few autoflower seeds or feminised outdoor seeds. One of the keys to outdoor success is to know your growing season well and plan your seed selection accordingly. The further north you are, the more likely that autoflower seeds will be your main outdoor seed choice.
Understanding the typical dates of your last frost allows you to know when to put your plants outdoors. Knowing when the end of season weather turns for the worse is another key piece of information to allow you to plan ahead. One of the most common errors, especially by new UK guerrilla growers, is to germinate their precious outdoor cannabis seeds too early in the season.
If you need some specific help and advice on the growing season at your particular location within the UK then the following guide may help. It offers detailed cultivation advice for outdoor cannabis growers in the UK South East, South West, North East and North West. It also gives detailed advice of germinating your cannabis seeds and the best ways to start your plants indoors and gradually acclimatise them to outdoors.
