When we enter the first couple of months of the new year, it is the perfect time to start planning our cannabis garden. With the outdoor growing season seemingly always just around the corner, generally running from March through November, it is never a bad idea to stock up on Cannabis Seeds in preparation. The question remains, how many Cannabis Seeds should you buy so that you are always prepared for your new crop?
Today, we are going to explore the world of Cannabis Seeds to better understand how they work, which ones work best for you, and how many you should buy for a successful harvest down the line.
Are Cannabis Seeds Legal to Purchase?
Cannabis seeds are considered a cannabis product just the same as any flower, edible, or concentrate you were to purchase from a dispensary. The legality of Cannabis Seeds will vary greatly from one state to the next, depending on the local legislation that has been passed.
Individuals living in Adult-Use Legalization states can buy, produce, and trade their seeds within their state – but they cannot cross state lines. In states where cannabis has been legalized only for medical use, it is only these patients who can purchase seeds.
Take a moment to browse the internet and you’ll likely run into seed banks that are operating out of the United States. These seed banks offer their wares for souvenir purposes only. These seeds are illegal to transport into the United States and are seized by Customs upon arrival.
The path to the legal acquisition of Cannabis Seeds is relatively clear: a reputable supplier based within your own legalized state.
How Many Seeds Do I Need For A Successful Harvest?
In Mother Nature, cannabis will freely pollinate and reproduce by sending forth countless seeds. In a controlled environment, say your cannabis garden, you can’t depend on this type of method.
Typically, a single regular marijuana seed can result in a plant. That plant will have a 50/50 chance of turning into a female plant that bears the THC-laden buds that we are looking for during harvest.
Some growers like to take advantage of advancements in the cultivation field by opting for feminized or autoflowering seeds. These specialized Cannabis Seeds can help you enjoy a successful harvest by limiting your exposure to male plants while focusing on a timely grow.
Let’s explore the different factors that may impact your seed per plant ratio as you begin to purchase your Cannabis Seeds.
Factors That Impact Your Seed Per Plant Ratio.
Germination rates are the be-all and end-all of cannabis cultivation. Unless you are working with clones, learning to foster seedling growth can be an integral skill in your repertoire. Before you purchase your seeds, let’s look at the different types so we can better understand their impact on germination.
Different Types of Seeds
Regular Seeds
Regular Cannabis Seeds are by far the most affordable option in the cannabis marketplace. Regular seeds offer you a 50/50 chance of yielding a female plant. To succeed in utilizing these seeds, growers must carefully take note of their plant’s sex throughout the entirety of the process.
Regular seeds have roughly a 93% germination rate, but with a question mark regarding the sex of the plant, this number can quickly begin to drop. If you are growing through the use of regular seeds, you will want to order extra to overcome any male plants or germination failures.
Feminized Seeds
One way to get around potential failures during germination is by opting for feminized seeds. Feminized seeds have been carefully bred to produce only the revered female cannabis plant. While ostensibly more expensive than the regular and autoflowering seed options on our list, they offer the best bang for their buck – promising a female plant.
Feminized seeds allow growers to focus entirely on the needs of their plant, rather than wasting time focusing on its sex. Feminized seeds are not without their pitfalls as there is no absolute germination guarantee. Pay attention to the sex of your plants and eliminate any males that potentially pop up.
Autoflower Seeds
Whether you are an expert grower or a newcomer to the hobby, opting for autoflowering seeds may be a great choice to encourage better harvests. Autoflowering seeds don’t change the germination process but they do impact the growth cycle of the entire plant.
Autoflower seeds are ideal because they are bred to automatically switch to their flowering cycle regardless of your lighting or their location in your garden. When growing traditional photoperiod seeds, growers have to manually adjust their lighting and feeding schedule to account for transitioning.
Autoflower seeds flower based on their age, which leaves less work for the grower.
Germination Success Rate
Once you’ve decided which Cannabis Seeds will work best for your needs, you are ready to enter the germination stage. Germination is not a fool-proof process and can be a little difficult at first. As germination is notoriously volatile, you’ll want to buy more seeds than you plan on planting.
So, How Many Cannabis Seeds Should You Buy?
While cultivating cannabis is not an easy hobby, advancements in the field have made it much more approachable than it was in times past. Access to autoflowering and feminized seeds have made it easier than ever for individuals to curate large harvests of healthy female plants from the comforts of home.
To ensure your growing season is a successful one, you should opt to buy and plant 25% more seeds than you plan on germinating. You can save time and money by opting for feminized seeds as they will ensure that there is no time lost on male plants.
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