Growing cannabis outdoors can be incredibly rewarding, but picking the right genetics for your climate can make all the difference between a fantastic harvest and a disappointing one.
Here at GTR Seeds, we've spent well over a decade breeding, trialing, and growing cannabis outdoors in a wide range of conditions. We've learned that the biggest producers aren't always the best choice, and that a variety that thrives in a dry climate might struggle somewhere with heavy fall rains.
Whether you're growing a few plants in your backyard or filling an entire field, here are some of our favorite THC and CBD strains for outdoor growing, and where we think they perform best.
Best THC Strains for Outdoor Growing
Citrus Slurp & Citrus Slurp Seedless – Best for Small Spaces and Early Harvests
If you're growing in your backyard and don't want plants towering over the fence, Citrus Slurp is an excellent choice.
These plants stay relatively short and compact but produce surprisingly large, dense flowers with some of the most incredible citrus aromas in our lineup. The greasy, pungent citrus flavors are fantastic, and the effects offer a nice hybrid experience.
Citrus Slurp is also a fast-finishing variety, making it appealing to growers looking to get their harvest in before the fall weather turns ugly.
Because of its exceptionally large, dense flowers, we prefer growing Citrus Slurp in drier climates. Some branches may also appreciate a little support as those flowers pack on weight.
Best for: Backyard gardens, discreet growing, dry climates, and growers looking for a fast-finishing hybrid.
Available in both Citrus Slurp and Citrus Slurp Seedless.
Derailed & Derailed Seedless – Best All-Around Outdoor Performers
For growers with plenty of room who want big plants and fantastic production, Derailed is hard to beat.
This variety brings back those classic old-school Trainwreck aromas and flavors, with a wonderfully uplifting experience. Its large, resinous flowers offer excellent cannabinoid production, and the plants have proven themselves remarkably resilient outdoors.
Derailed stands up well to the elements, including wetter conditions that can cause problems for many other THC varieties. Plants can get quite large, so some additional support may be helpful as they reach their full potential.
Even better, Derailed generally finishes around late September, giving growers a nice opportunity to harvest before October weather becomes a concern.
Best for: Large outdoor gardens, wetter climates, heavy production, and fans of classic Trainwreck genetics.
Available in both Derailed and Derailed Seedless.
Garlic Thunder Seedless – Best for Heavy Production in Wet Climates
If your goal is to grow enormous plants with exceptional cannabinoid content, Garlic Thunder Seedless deserves a serious look.
This triploid THC variety is one of our standout outdoor producers, delivering huge yields, impressive cannabinoid content, and excellent resilience in challenging growing conditions.
What really makes Garlic Thunder special is its ability to hold up in wet environments. Dense, high-producing THC flowers and fall rain aren't always a great combination, but this variety has shown excellent performance under those conditions.
Garlic Thunder is a slightly later finisher in our lineup, with growers typically harvesting around the first week of October.
As a triploid, it also offers greatly reduced fertility, helping minimize unwanted seed production when pollen is present.
Best for: Maximum outdoor production, high cannabinoid content, wet climates, and growers with an early October harvest window.
Explore our Triploid THC Seeds.
Best CBD Strains for Outdoor Growing
Lifter – Best for Massive Plants and High CBD Yields
There's a reason Lifter has become one of the most recognized CBD varieties in the industry.
This plant is an absolute monster outdoors. Given adequate space, sunshine, and nutrition, Lifter can produce enormous plants with outstanding CBD content and impressive yields.
It's also remarkably adaptable, performing well across a wide range of climates, including areas with higher humidity. Its manageable plant structure and consistent production have made it a favorite among both commercial hemp farmers and backyard growers.
Lifter is excellent for smokable flower or extraction, and its award-winning genetics have been proven in fields across the country.
If you're looking for a variety that can fill your garden with massive CBD-rich plants, it's difficult to go wrong with Lifter.
Best for: Large outdoor gardens, maximum CBD production, biomass, and growers looking for reliable, vigorous genetics.
Suver Haze – Best CBD Strain for Wet Climates
If you live somewhere with wet, humid fall weather, Suver Haze might be the best CBD variety you can grow.
We've seen Suver Haze perform exceptionally well in some incredibly challenging environments. From the Pacific Northwest to the humid Southeast, its resistance to mold and mildew has made it one of our most reliable outdoor varieties.
Suver Haze produces large plants, impressive yields, and some of the highest CBD concentrations we've seen in our classic genetics. It also offers a fantastic sour apple aroma profile.
It's a slightly later-finishing variety, but its ability to withstand poor weather gives growers more flexibility when deciding when to harvest.
For beginners growing in wetter climates, Suver Haze is one of the first varieties we'd recommend.
Best for: Wet and humid climates, beginners, high CBD production, and reliable outdoor harvests.
Shop Suver Haze and Other CBD Seeds.
Sour Space Candy – Best for Premium CBD Flower in Dry Climates
Sour Space Candy has been one of our favorites for years, and for good reason.
This variety can grow into absolutely enormous plants with huge, dense flowers and a fantastic sour, fruity aroma profile. It's also one of our most decorated CBD varieties, earning recognition in multiple cannabis competitions.
If you're looking to produce beautiful, high-quality smokable CBD flower, Sour Space Candy is an excellent choice.
There is one catch: those massive, dense flowers aren't particularly forgiving in prolonged wet weather. We strongly recommend this variety for growers in drier climates where fall rains are less of a concern.
Give it plenty of sunshine and room to grow, and Sour Space Candy can be one of the most rewarding CBD varieties in your garden.
Best for: Dry climates, premium smokable CBD flower, enormous plants, and exceptional aromas.
Shop Sour Space Candy CBD Seeds.
Choosing the Best Outdoor Cannabis Strain for Your Climate
The best outdoor cannabis strain isn't necessarily the one with the highest cannabinoid content or biggest flowers. It's the one that performs reliably where you live.
If you grow in a wet climate, prioritize varieties with good disease resistance and the ability to withstand fall rains. For growers in drier environments, dense-flowered varieties like Citrus Slurp and Sour Space Candy can really shine.
If space is limited, compact plants may be a better choice than massive producers like Lifter or Derailed. And if your growing season is short, pay particular attention to flowering time and expected harvest dates.
Remember that harvest dates vary with latitude, planting time, and seasonal conditions.
For more help choosing the right genetics, check out our guide to picking the best cannabis seeds or browse our complete selection of feminized cannabis seeds.
We've spent years selecting and breeding these varieties for real-world performance. Whether you're growing THC or CBD, the right genetics can make outdoor cultivation a whole lot easier—and a lot more enjoyable.
Planning for an indoor grow
