Spring is here and the garden is calling! For medical cannabis growers it is a time for planning, preparation and planting the many aspects of the coming season. In Washington, the days are getting longer and the soil temperature for sprouting of about 45 degrees is finally here. Due to the light cycle in the PNW most cannabis planted before May will be at the risk of flowering, however the coming grow season is nearly here and there are plenty of things to do. Organization and planning NOW make the rest of the year a success.
Never before have there been so many different cultivars and novel combinations available that are produced for a variety of conditions. The days of breeding for just THC have been replaced by breeding for Terpenes and effect. There are questions that might help direct and organize the spring garden preparation.
What conditions am I trying to mitigate? (strains for sleep are different than those for glaucoma). What kind of effect do I seek? What do the medical laws in my state allow for homegrow? How many plants can I cultivate? Will it all go into FECO or will it be smoked as flower? What is my level of gardening experience? Do I have the correct supplies? The answers to these will direct the type of strain, the time to flower it and other preparations for a full outdoor season May through October.
The names for the plants have changed due to the breeding and hybridization of cannabis and so pure Indica and or pure Sativa are truly rare. Additionally there are now more options in how cannabis flowers because of breeding. There are feminized seeds, autoflowering seeds, and regular photoperiod cultivars available as well as THC:CBD ratios.
Cannabis produces both female and male plants. Regular seeds means that plants will grow under the sun or a normal photoperiod from May through October. Feminized seeds are strictly female and only produce flowers and no male parts. This makes it much easier than having regular male/female seeds that must be separated after flowering begins.
Autoflowering varieties do not depend on a strict light cycle of 12 hours of light and 12 of darkness to produce buds. They flower depending on their age and finish before many problems emerge. It also makes multiple crops possible during a single growing season if staggered.
Hemp and CBD cultivars have many interesting benefits. Many minor cannabinoids like CBG, CBC, and even CBN have emerged in recent years that make it easier to fine tune your medicine. Hemp has become popular to smoke if grown and cured correctly and there is no intoxication, just relaxation. Ratios of cultivars that have both THC and CBD and the true full spectrum are popular, also having many different ratios of THC:CBD (1:2, 1:5, 1:10, 1:20) means one can find what works best for their needs.
Where does a medical patient get the genetics for their garden? Not that long ago it was pretty hair raising to find seeds from overseas or you had to “know a guy” to get a plant. Now the PNW is home to hundreds of breeders and seed sellers! Check out Mr. Nice Seeds, Exotic Genetix and Pacific NW Roots for Washington based seeds.
An option is always the internet and there are a ton of seed banks that have all of the flowering types listed as well as many very popular strains for sale. They are then discreetly shipped to your address and it is all perfectly legal.
In the PNW we have the addition of acquiring clones (though we have never successfully found them in WA) and they are readily available in Oregon. Places like the Progressive Collective and Archive Portland have many sought after clones of popular and sometimes hard to find cuttings that are pretty clean. Many shops ramp up the clone selection for the summer growing season so there will be plenty to go around.
Regardless of how green your thumb, the options in the types of cannabis means you can find something that will work best in your garden with your experience level and be successful. It can also be pretty fun. Good luck gardening in 2022
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