Top 10 Cannabis Strains for Colder Climates in 2024

So, you live in a colder part of the world. Your region experiences late and early frosts and a short growing season. Can you still grow weed outside? Absolutely! Never underestimate this adaptable plant. After originating in Central Asia, cannabis made its way around most of the world (with plenty of help from humans). As well as settling in warmer regions close to the equator, marijuana also ended up further north and even adapted to the short summers in Siberia.

Cannabis can handle the pressure of such a short growing window, but you need the right genetics for the job. Modern breeders, including our skilled team at Royal Queen Seeds, have created hybrids that boast lightning-fast flowering times and excellent growing vigour, making them perfect for cold weather growers. Below, you’ll discover the 10 best strains for a cold climate.

1. Legendary OG Punch

Make no mistake; Legendary OG Punch deserves her title. This is especially true if you live in a cold climate with short summers. This progeny of Legend OG and Purple Punch is quick to put out eye-catching purple buds with a THC content of 19% and medium levels of CBD. Throw in some fruity terpenes, and this phytochemical combination exerts a relaxing and clear-headed high ideal for daytime use.

How’s life in Norway? What’s Finland like this time of year? No matter where you're located, Legendary OG Punch’s speedy flowering time will ensure she reaches maturity before the first frost arrives. You can expect a rewarding return of 17.6 – 19.4 oz after 8–9 weeks of bloom, in late September or early October.

Legendary OG Punch

Legendary OG Punch

	Legend Og x Purple Punch
	12 to 14 oz/m²
	3 to 5 feet
	8 - 9 weeks
	THC: 19%

	Sativa 40% Indica 60%
	18 to 19 oz/plant
	6 to 7 feet
	Early October
	Calming, Clear

Buy Legendary OG Punch

2. Blue Cheese

By no means are you limited to boring, stale varieties when growing cold weather strains. Blue Cheese proves that. Harnessing parent strains Original Cheese and Oregon Blueberry Blend, this delicious indica-dominant hybrid thrives in regions with short summers. Her THC content of 19% makes for a relaxing yet manageable effect, and her contrasting tastes of candy and cheese make her utterly unique.

In the garden, this relatively stocky strain races through the flowering period in 8–9 weeks. Prepare to harvest 17.6 – 19.4 oz during late September. If you live in a particularly cold region with late frosts, sow seeds indoors during February/March and transplant when the risk of frost passes.

Blue Cheese

Blue Cheese

	Original Cheese x Oregon Blueberry Blend
	18 to 19 oz/m²
	3 to 5 feet
	8 - 9 weeks
	THC: 19%

	Sativa 40% Indica 60%
	18 to 19 oz/plant
	5 to 7 feet
	Late September
	Clear, Physically Relaxing, Stoned

Buy Blue Cheese

3. Bubble Kush

Bubble Kush ranks as one of the most flavorful strains compatible with cold climates. Her plump and resinous colas emit a complex aroma featuring notes of earth, fruit, pepper, and pine. Her THC content of 19% gives rise to a clear and stoning high, making her a great choice for relaxing afternoon and evening smoking sessions.

This indica-dominant hybrid reaches above-average heights of 5.2 – 6.6 feet outdoors. Employ topping early on to keep her closer to the ground. If your area experiences a high risk of late frosts, transplant under low tunnels made of fleece or polythene to protect your plants. All going to plan, expect to harvest impressive yields of up to 22.9 oz in late September.

Bubble Kush

Bubble Kush

	Bubble Gum x O.G. Kush
	19 to 21 oz/m²
	3 to 5 feet
	8 - 10 weeks
	THC: 19%

	Sativa 20% Indica 80%
	21 to 23 oz/plant
	5 to 7 feet
	Late September
	Clear, Physically Relaxing, Stoned

Buy Bubble Kush

4. Green Crack Punch

Yes, even sativa-dominant strains can be grown in cool climates. Our breeders created this ingenious spin on US genetics by crossing Green Crack with Purple Punch. The result? Dark purple-green flowers that exert a relaxing and euphoric high. Are you in the mood to chill and watch a film, or just stare at the stars for a while? Green Crack Punch will make the experience all the more enjoyable.

This strain is primed to perform well outdoors in cooler climates. If you’re growing in containers, consider covering plants with bell cloches after transplanting to minimise potential frost damage. This sativa-dominant hybrid can reach a height of 85.8 inches outdoors; top and train early if you don’t have much free space. Come late September, prepare to harvest 19.4 – 21.2 oz.

Green Crack Punch

Green Crack Punch

	Green Crack x Purple Punch
	16 to 19 oz/m²
	3 to 5 feet
	8 - 9 weeks
	THC: 18%

	Sativa 60% Indica 40%
	19 to 21 oz/plant
	6 to 7 feet
	Late September
	Calming, Euphoric

Buy Green Crack Punch

5. Pineapple Kush

Pineapple Kush looks and smells good. Really good. This progeny of Pineapple and OG Kush erupts into a storm of color and aroma come the flowering stage. Her buds sport shades of purple, green, and pink, and emit scents of diesel, fruit, pepper, and pineapple. She sounds tropical and exotic, but she loves cooler climates and handles short summers with ease.

Featuring a flowering time of 8–9 weeks, Pineapple Kush will reach harvest during the tail-end of September. However, you can help her on her way by using greenhouses and polytunnels to enhance growth during the start and middle of the season, and to protect mature plants from early frosts or heavy rain. This generous strain will reward you with 17.6 – 19.4 oz for your efforts.

Pineapple Kush

Pineapple Kush

	Pineapple x O.G. Kush
	18 to 19 oz/m²
	2 to 4 feet
	8 - 9 weeks
	THC: 18%

	Sativa 20% Indica 80%
	18 to 19 oz/plant
	4 to 6 feet
	Late September
	Calming, Laughter

Buy Pineapple Kush

6. Special Queen #1

Skunk genetics. Powerful effects. Epic yields. What else could you want from a cold climate cannabis strain? We brought Special Queen #1 into the world by crossing Skunk and Power Bud. This legendary combo produced a reliable strain with a THC content of 18%, stoning the body with much more might than her moderate potency suggests. She’ll get you through the winter, that’s for sure.

Do you have snow on the ground well into spring? Then give Special Queen #1 the special treatment and create a hotbed^[1] From here, your plants will be ready to grow to a height of 6.6 – 8.9 feet and produce up to 19.4 oz by late September. Some plants are ready even earlier, allowing growers to achieve a hefty haul before the weather really takes a turn.

Special Queen 1

Special Queen 1

	Power Bud x Skunk
	18 to 19 oz/m²
	3 to 5 feet
	8 - 9 weeks
	THC: 18%

	Sativa 50% Indica 50%
	18 to 19 oz/plant
	7 to 9 feet
	Late September
	Long Lasting , Physically Relaxing, Powerful

Buy Special Queen 1

7. Northern Light

Now that’s a fitting title! Most cannabis users have heard the name Northern Light. She earned this level of prestige thanks to her 100% pure indica profile and deeply stoning yet clear-headed high. Reserve these buds for camping, strolling woodland trails, and other soul-soothing activities. Adding to her effects, tastes of earth and fruit make every hit a delight. 18% THC may not sound like a lot, but she hits where it counts.

As her pure indica nature suggests, this lady thrives in areas with a short growing season. She peaks at a height of 85.8 inches and produces a canopy loaded with dense colas ready to harvest in late September. Make sure you have enough stash jars to store up to 22 oz—this plant is a real producer!

Northern Light

Northern Light

	Northern Light S1
	18 to 19 oz/m²
	3 to 5 feet
	8 - 9 weeks
	THC: 18%

	Sativa 0% Indica 100%
	20 to 22 oz/plant
	6 to 7 feet
	Late September
	Balanced, Clear, Stoned

Buy Northern Light

8. Critical

Most cannabis growers decide to give Critical a chance when they find out she descends from Afghan and Skunk. The pedigree of her parents suggests that she exerts a heavy physical high that melts the muscles; she does. A THC level of 19% paired with high levels of the stoning terpene myrcene underpin this euphoric but soothing state.

Despite her indica dominance, Critical can surge to a height of 85.8 inches. If you want to keep her more compact, consider topping and main-lining to create a more uniform canopy. Treat these plants to good soil rich in organic matter, and an insulating layer of mulch, and you can expect to harvest up to 22.9 oz.

Critical

Critical

	Afghani x Skunk
	19 to 21 oz/m²
	3 to 5 feet
	7 - 9 weeks
	THC: 18%

	Sativa 40% Indica 60%
	21 to 23 oz/plant
	6 to 7 feet
	Late September
	Heavy, Physically Relaxing, Stoned

Buy Critical

9. Special Kush #1

Special Kush #1 descends from indica royalty. As the offspring of Afghan and Kush, this lady packs a seriously stoning punch. Although her THC levels clock in at a relatively modest 17%, her terpenes work to instil a sense of euphoria, peace, and tranquillity. If you’re a fan of edibles, try infusing her tastes of earth and fruit into some rich brownies.

Are you looking for a huge, sprawling canopy? Then transplant Special Kush #1 directly into the ground and let her reach a height of 105.3 inches. If you’re looking to keep a lower profile, cultivate her in small containers and administer some LST. By late September, get ready to trim and dry 17.6 – 19.4 oz.

Special Kush 1

Special Kush 1

	Afghan x Kush
	15 to 17 oz/m²
	2 to 3 feet
	7 - 8 weeks
	THC: 17%

	Sativa 20% Indica 80%
	18 to 19 oz/plant
	7 to 9 feet
	Late September
	Heavy, Physically Relaxing, Stoned

Buy Special Kush 1

10. Royal Cheese

Royal Cheese powers through the flowering phase, developing dense purple-green buds in the process. This daughter of Old School Skunk and Afghan produces a wildly complex yet complementary terpene profile that tastes of candy, cheese, earth, fruit, and pepper. Brace your taste buds for something new.

If you live in a cold climate and want to keep your horticultural hobby under wraps, Royal Cheese will work for you. You can keep this variety at a height of 50.7 inches by employing some training. Or, sow some tall, bushy companion plants nearby to keep her out of view. By early October, clear your calendar for a full day and get ready to trim up to 21.2 oz.

Royal Cheese (Fast Flowering)

Royal Cheese (Fast Flowering)

	Old School Skunk x Afghani
	16 to 19 oz/m²
	2 to 3 feet
	7 - 8 weeks
	THC: 17%

	Sativa 40% Indica 60%
	19 to 21 oz/plant
	4 to 7 feet
	Early October
	Balanced, Clear, Stoned

Buy Royal Cheese (Fast Flowering)

Growing in the Cold: Make Cannabis Work for You

Living up north doesn’t mean you can’t grow fire weed. The use of low tunnels, greenhouses, hotbeds, and insulating mulches can help, but choosing the right genetics forms the keystone of the whole operation. The 10 strains above are bred for such cool climates and short growing seasons, and prove that, despite your location, you have a wealth of genetic and phytochemical diversity at your fingertips.