While many seed catalogues focus on feminized varieties, regular seeds are still an important choice for both beginner and experienced growers alike. Regular seeds produce both male and female cannabis plants, and will usually yield a 50/50 ratio of each.
Feminized seeds, on the other hand, guarantee you a crop of female cannabis plants each time.
Unaltered Genetics
Regular seeds are a good choice for growers who want to cultivate organically. Many landrace strains have remained unaltered, such as Afghan and Durban Poison, and their natural genetics can offer growers resistance to disease and a more resilient crop.
In addition, some of the most legendary strains of the old school never made it to feminized seed and are available as regular plants only. For example, Bruce Banner regular is an incredible sativa that lives up to its namesake and delivers high THC levels in a hardy plant.
Like all plants, regular cannabis seeds carry both male and female DNA. This means that a crop of regular sexed plants will produce roughly equal numbers of male and female colas. Growers who choose to work with regulars must identify and separate out the male colas as they emerge, to prevent them from pollinating the remaining female plants and lowering yields. This can be a challenge, and is especially difficult in a greenhouse or outdoor environment.
More Stable Genetics
If you’re a cultivator who wants the strongest, most vigorous and stress-resistant plant then regular seeds are the way to go. They’re the most natural seed type, free from genetic forcing within their DNA as is the case with feminized seeds. It’s also highly rare, if not impossible, for a strain grown from regular seeds to become hermaphrodite.
This makes them a popular choice for experienced breeders who want to produce their own cultivars. When growing regular cannabis, you can expect a 50/50 mix of male and female plants. Male plants are extremely valuable when it comes to breeding, as they produce pollen which can be used to create new phenotypes.
This is a process that requires patience, skill and experience, but can be extremely rewarding for those who are willing to commit to it. This is why it’s best to stick with reputable seed banks that have a history of good customer service, plenty of cannabis cups and some impressive genetic awards under their belt.
Cheaper Seeds
Many reputable seed companies offer cheap seeds that will still give you top-notch genetics. The best cheap cannabis seeds come from renowned breeders. They can be found in large chains or at garden-specific specialty retailers. They usually have return policies of up to 90 days with receipts.
For example, if you want to try Indiana Bubble Gum from Seed Pharm, their cheap seeds are easy for newbies to grow and produce a moderate harvest of high-quality buds in 6 to 8 weeks. Crop King offers a similar option with their Cream auto-flowering seeds. They combine Jack Herer and Russian ruderalis with a 7 to 9 week harvest time and 17% THC content.
You can also find cheap seeds from heirloom and organic vegetable and fruit seeds from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. They sell a wide range of seeds including vegetables, flowers, herbs and more. They are a worker-owned co-op and their prices are very competitive. They also have a wide selection of BOGO and free seed deals that can dramatically reduce the cost per seed.
Better for Breeding
While feminized seeds are gaining in popularity, regular seed offers several benefits for breeders looking to develop new strains. Growers that choose to work with regular seed can easily separate male and female plants to collect pollen for future crops. This process allows them to keep their favourite version of a particular cultivar, or even create a brand-new strain entirely.
In addition, working with regular sex plants provides the opportunity to study their genetics more closely. Knowing which plants are male and which are female will also reduce the amount of space, nutrients and lighting that is wasted on sexing.
Finally, many old school strains have been preserved in regular seed form because they never made it through the feminization process. These landrace cultivars can still be found as a great option for growers seeking a truly organic experience. These are often some of the strongest and most reliable varieties available. They offer superior yields and potency.