Month: September 2023

While feminized and autoflowering seeds may be all the rage, cultivating regular cannabis plants can still be highly rewarding. Properly understanding which plants belong to each sex and how to identify them early on, is key.

Often used by breeders, regular seeds are the preferred choice of experienced growers. This is because they offer many benefits compared to their counterparts.

Stable Genetics

Before feminized and autoflowering seeds stole the spotlight, regular seed strains were the only option for cannabis enthusiasts. These unmodified varieties develop both male and female plants, with males producing pollen sacs that fertilize the flowers of female marijuana plants. This can be a major pain for a self-sufficient grower, as mistakes in cultivation can lead to hermaphrodite plants.

With a little patience and careful selection, breeders can eliminate undesirable genes from a strain over multiple generations. The result is a genetically stable cultivar that retains the desired traits over time.

Experienced breeders rely on regular seeds to explore the full potential of their plant creations. These cultivars allow breeders to experiment with different combinations of traits that produce unique and diverse phenotypes. These seeds also give growers the opportunity to experiment with hybrids that may not be possible with feminized and autoflowering seeds.

Variety

When cultivating regular seeds, you will grow a mixture of male and female plants. This is normal and it gives the grower an opportunity to experience the full genetic lineage of the strain, observing how each specimen expresses common growth, organoleptic and psychoactive characteristics.

In contrast, feminized seeds produce crops that are 99% female. This makes them ideal for professional growers who want a uniform and predictable harvest.

Feminized crops are also easier to manage because there is no risk of hermaphrodite plants pollinating the buds. However, hermaphrodite plants will emerge in any crop that is stressed with techniques like topping, fimming or lollypopping. This is why many growers still choose to plant regular seeds. It is easier to deal with hermaphrodites by separating them from the rest of the crop early into flowering.

Reputable Breeders

There are many breeders that sell feminized seeds, but only some of them can be trusted. The best breeders are those that offer high-quality strains and have a good reputation among growers. They also provide useful growing information. You should avoid the seed providers that have paid large amounts of money for advertising.

Regular seeds are unaltered and if you are looking to grow organically, they may be a better option for you. However, they can produce both male and female plants and this can be a problem for growers who want a specific ratio of female to male plants.

You can also use regular seeds to create your own unique cannabis strains. This will give you the ability to pick and choose specific specimens based on their terpenes, effects and colours.

Hermaphroditic Plants

Before feminized seeds were available growers had to deal with hermie cannabis plants that develop both male and female flowers. While hermies are less common now, some cannabis strains do go hermie toward the end of their bloom cycle. It is therefore advised that growers monitor their plants for hermaphrodite floral structures on a daily basis during the peak of their flowering.

If hermies are found, it is important to remove them as soon as possible because they will release pollen that can contaminate unpollinated female flowers (the whole goal of sensimilla cultivation). This process takes energy away from the plant that could have been used for making larger buds and more THC and other cannabinoids. Hermaphroditism in cannabis plants can be caused by a number of environmental stressors and genetic tendencies.

Environmental Conditions

Environmental conditions affect a seed before it is dispersed and after it is deposited in the soil [1, 2]. After-ripening processes and the environment where seeds are placed determine their physiological, biochemical, and molecular characteristics, including dormancy requirements.

Seeds with innate dormancy require specific conditions of water, temperature, and gases for germination. As seeds lose dormancy, they become more likely to germinate under a wide range of environmental conditions.

The quality of the light also influences a seed’s ability to lose dormancy. Seeds that are exposed to low proportions of red and far-red wavelengths can have their germination rate reduced. Humidity is another factor that affects the germination of seeds. Humidity levels below 8% are susceptible to insect infestation and mold development. This is why the ideal humidity level for storage is between 8% and 10%.

The Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) is a non-profit organization saving heirloom garden seeds from extinction. Their members grow varieties from around the world, including those brought to America by family immigrants and traditional varieties grown by Amish and Mennonites.

A seed is a mature ovule containing a miniature undeveloped plant embryo and food reserves enclosed in a protective coat (testa). Seeds “wake up” and grow when environmental conditions are right for them.

What is a seed?

A seed is a fertilized, mature ovule that contains an embryo or miniature undeveloped plant plus stored food materials. It is enclosed within a protective covering (the seed coat). A seed is the biological way that flowering plants reproduce. Seeds develop from the ovary of a flower after pollination. In gymnosperms, seeds form on scales of cones and in angiosperms they ripen into a fruit such as a pome or nut.

A plant’s capacity to produce seeds varies from year to year in response to weather variables and internal cycles. A good seed crop is essential for forest regeneration and for the production of quality timber. In natural plant populations, seeds are dispersed by wind, birds and animals. Some seeds, such as those of dandelion or acorn, have wings to help them fly and many—including Brazil nut seeds and sea-beans—have buoyant parts that allow them to float far from their parent plant, where they can land at a place and time favorable for germination.

What happens inside a seed?

Seeds come pre-packaged with an embryo, food reserves and vital genetic information to become a plant like its parents. Inside, the embryo is surrounded by a hard seed coat and nutrient-rich endosperm. The seed monitors the environment for ideal conditions specific to that species and remains dormant until it finds them. When the seed is soaked in water, a process called imbibition, enzymes begin to hydrate and the outer seed coat swells and breaks open. Cells start respiring and metabolizing the food stored within the seeds.

Seeds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, some have fleshy appendages to entice animal dispersers to eat them; others have hooks or barbs to attach to fur or feathers; still more float on water or are spread by wind. Some seeds are even equipped with wings or fins to help them fly away on a current. Then, when they find their way to the soil, they start growing! The first sign of growth is the radicle, a tiny root that emerges from the embryo.

How do seeds grow?

Seeds require a suitable environment, water and oxygen to begin growing. Unlike spores, which can germinate in many different conditions, seeds remain dormant until conditions are ideal to grow.

To initiate germination seeds must be scarified, which allows water and air to penetrate the hard or impermeable seed coat. Seeds may be scarified naturally by rodents chewing on them, rubbing against rocks or other surfaces, freezing and thawing of surface water or even passing through an animal’s digestive system.

Seeds come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Some are round (like beans), ellipsoid, or globose. Others are long and pointed (like larkspur seeds). Some have wings to help them travel on the wind. The seed coats can be smooth or rough (like conkers), shiny or dull, and striped with parallel lines or ridges. Some seeds are dispersed by birds, mammals and insects. Some are adapted to catch on hair or fur so they can be carried away for miles and then dropped in a new place where they can grow.

What are seeds used for?

Seeds are packed with a wealth of nutrients and health benefits, many of which can reduce the risk of certain health conditions. From chia seeds to flaxseeds, sunflower seeds to sesame seeds, each variety brings its own unique blend of nourishing properties.

Whether sprinkled over soups, salads and grain bowls or used in homemade breads and cookies, they provide plant-based iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc and a range of vitamins and minerals. They also have gut-friendly soluble fibre and plant-based omega-3 fats, plus they’re an excellent source of protein, calcium and antioxidant polyphenols.

Seeds are classified into groups based on their botanical families; grains (cereals) and legumes (pulses) belong to the Poaceae and Fabaceae families, respectively, while nuts, pseudocereals and spices (cumin, coriander, cinnamon, fennel, mustard, nutmeg, etc.) are part of the Fabaceae family. Many cooking oils are made from seeds, too. These include olive, rapeseed (used to make canola oil) and peanut. Seeds are also a key ingredient in many tahini pastes and spreads.

If you are looking for a more natural and organic experience, regular seed is the way to go. These seeds are not altered by human hands and produce a proportion of female and male plants. This is how cannabis has been grown for centuries.

This type of seed is also ideal for breeders who want a specific ratio of female to male plants. They are also more vigorous than feminized seeds and better tolerate stress.

They are 100% unaltered

Regular seeds are not genetically modified, and are a great choice for growers who want to preserve traditional cannabis strains. They can also be more resilient than feminized seeds and are better equipped to handle stress. However, they do have a higher chance of producing hermaphrodite plants (developing male and female flowers), which can lead to pollination and reduced yields. To avoid this, careful monitoring is required during the flowering stage.

Creating new strains and phenotypes with regular seed requires patience and cultivation experience. To achieve desirable traits, select the best male and female plants and crossbreed them. It is also important to provide the best possible growing conditions to encourage bud sites to develop. In addition, it is important to switch to a 12/12 light cycle at the beginning of the flowering phase. This will help your plants to develop dense, potent buds. Despite their challenges, regular seeds offer the potential for a wide variety of high-quality cultivars.

They are a great way to go back in time

When you purchase a regular seed, you are buying a direct link to the plant’s genetics. This is important for some growers, as they want to preserve the original phenotypes of their favourite strains. This type of seed is also ideal for breeders who want to create new genetics by crossing different varieties.

When it comes to germination, it’s best to use a fridge or some other storage place with a stable temperature. This is because seeds are wired to only sprout when their soil temperature reaches a certain range. So, if the environment changes too much, they will do the Goldilocks thing and just stay there, waiting for it to get warm enough to germinate.

While feminized seeds offer an easier way to get good harvests, regular seeds have their own special charm. With their breeding potential and phenotype variation, they open the door to endless possibilities for any grower. Just remember that they require sexing and can be susceptible to hermaphroditis, so it’s best to only grow them in the right conditions.

They are a great way to create your own strains

Regular seeds are a great way to create your own strains, as they can produce both male and female plants. They are the preferred seeds by breeders because they can be used to create a large variety of hybrids. The seeds are also cheaper, which makes them a popular choice for first-time growers. They are more tolerant to stress throughout the growing process than feminised cannabis seeds, making them easier for novices to work with.

In addition, a grower can cross a phenotype that they like with another specimen to create a new strain with their favourite traits, such as terpenes, flavour, yield, and flowering time. They can then use clones to reproduce this strain. Clones have the exact same genetics as their mother plant, which means they will have all of the desirable characteristics that you want in a strain. This is called selective breeding and is a vital part of creating your own cannabis varieties.

They are a great way to go organic

Go organic to treat your crops more responsibly and protect the planet. Commercial food crops are largely built on a chemical foundation, including chemical sprays for pest and disease issues and chemical fertilizers. Organic farmers can help to reduce the amount of chemicals used in production by growing their own seed.

Regular seeds will produce both male and female plants, so they are great for growers who want to experiment with crossing different varieties to create new genetics. However, they are not ideal for beginners as they can be more difficult to manage and may take longer to flower than feminized or autoflowering seeds.

When feminized seeds are produced, they are created by choosing a specific phenotype and using its “reversed” pollen to preserve it. When growing regular seeds, a variety of phenotypes will emerge and each plant will have its own unique traits in terms of growth pattern, development of the leaves and stems, scent, yield, insect resistance, terpene profile, THC/CBD ratio, and more. The grower can choose which phenotypes to keep in vegetative growth as mother plants and which ones to take clones from to retain the characteristics they like the most.