Regular seed is a type of cannabis seed that is produced by crossing a male and female plant. This natural genetic origin allows these seeds to produce both male and female plants, a characteristic that many growers find desirable.
However, they have some disadvantages compared to feminized seeds. For one, it is much more difficult to sex the plants growing from regular seeds. Fortunately, there are breeders who still offer their seeds in this form.
Stable Genetics
Seed development is a crucial component of any agriculture industry. However, despite a long and costly process, cannabis cultivators have yet to develop stable genetics that can deliver consistent results and predictable yields.
To develop a new strain, a breeder will select a mother and father plant that have desirable traits, which they can then grow into clones. These are then crossbred with a stable male plant that has traits that also display some of the desired properties in its phenotype.
This process is repeated several times, resulting in a crop of diverse offspring with various sets of desired traits from both parents. Once a strain is established, the breeder will then use selective breeding to stabilise the strain and make sure it keeps returning in new generations of plants with the desired properties.
More Vigorous Plants
Regular seed tends to produce stronger plants that can tolerate stress better and can grow cuttings with more powerful growth. In addition, they are usually hardier and can also root well, allowing you to make clones of your favourite specimens.
Besides, they are also less likely to turn into hermaphrodites (developing both male and female flowers). This makes them more resilient and easy to grow in many circumstances.
Another benefit of regular seeds is that they are more resistant to pests and fungi, which can help you improve the overall health of your garden. It is important to ensure that the environment is clean, avoiding mould and pests that could devastate your crop.
The other major benefit of regular seeds is that they are cheaper than feminized ones. This can be helpful for small scale indoor operations or those capped at a certain number of plants. Feminized seeds, on the other hand, are more expensive and can be difficult to sell once you have used all of them.
Less Risk of Sexing Males
If you’re new to the growing scene, you probably don’t have a lot of experience with cannabis plants. For starters, you have no idea which seeds are female and which are male. Having a male seed in your crop is a recipe for disaster, especially when it comes to pollinating your females. Luckily, there is a way to minimize this risk, and it’s in the form of feminized seed.
Feminized seed is a bit more expensive than their non-fertilized counterparts, but they are worth the extra coin. The best part is that they produce female plants around 95% of the time. The reason is that a female plant will likely be able to reach its full potential, while a male could wind up wasting your time and money.
Cheaper
Regular seeds are a great option for cannabis breeders looking to create new strains. They are also an excellent choice for experienced collectors who want to test out different phenotypes and genetic combinations in their collection.
In order to keep breeding costs low, seed banks are often willing to offer their customers regular seed varieties at a significantly lower price than their feminized counterparts. This makes regular seed one of the most popular options for budget growers.
However, it’s important to note that not all regular seed is created equal. It’s a good idea to do some research and find a reputable seed bank with experience in the field before you make your purchase.
If you’re looking for a wide range of affordable regular seed varieties, be sure to check out our selection at Herbies. We’ve put together an amazing assortment of top-quality seeds from leading seed banks.