Interview with one of Dutch Passion’s outdoor cannabis seed breeders

Kevin is an outdoor breeder from the north of the Netherlands with over 20 years of experience breeding/crossing cannabis genetics. He is one of the most experienced European outdoor cannabis breeders and has specialised in creating outdoor strains suitable for growing in the demanding Northern European climate. He has been involved in dozens of commercial cannabis seed projects, including at least 8 with Dutch Passion. Normally shy of publicity, Kevin kindly accepted this interview request so he can share his experience and passion for outdoor growing.

“It feels more natural to grow cannabis outdoors. Watching a plant grow up in nature has something soothing about it.”

Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Where are you from and how did you get into the cannabis world?

Kevin: I come from one of the 3 northern-most Dutch provinces. Which one specifically is something I prefer to keep myself to myself. Old-school habits are hard to kick! Like most people, I got into cannabis through the grapevine.

How long have you been breeding cannabis varieties? How many strains did you create to date and what are the achievements you are most proud of?

Kevin: You could easily say half my life has been spent on outdoor cannabis breeding. To say that I have made strains as a lone breeder is going a bit far. It is often a long-term collaboration with other seasoned specialists and genetic experts that creates a new cannabis strain. But I have been involved with dozens of different strains of which Dutch Passion currently offers at least 8.

What has your journey in the cannabis world looked like from your very first steps until today?

Kevin: When first introduced to the world of cannabis, public opinion in the 80’s (mainly that of the government) was more a little more positive towards cannabis than it is today. It was easy to talk about and it was not viewed as a serious criminal activity. It has not become easier for us breeders. You always have to be careful not to attract attention as the hunt for cannabis has only intensified in recent years. A bad thing if you ask me. After all, the government with its lax policy has only created more crime than it has solved or 'fought' as they so beautifully call it. They should have embraced and legalized cannabis a long time ago, then associated ‘crime’ would have been almost non-existent.

Can you remember the early days of Dutch Passion?

Kevin: Great times! The Dutch Passion founder, Henk van Dalen, was a key figure in the emerging cannabis seed world. Especially after he created the world’s first feminised seeds - that was an early game changer.

Feminised seeds made outdoor cultivation much easier and really put Dutch Passion on the map. In those early days indoor growing simply wasn’t quite the industry it is today. For many old-school growers, it all started with a pack of Dutch outdoor cannabis seeds and a guerrilla adventure. Looking back, I absolutely think the Dutch Passion approach to serve outdoor growers so well was the right one.

Since then, of course we have seen both outdoor and indoor cannabis genetics continue to increase in popularity. The arrival of autoflower seeds has been an important modern breakthrough for outdoor growers. Times may have changed, but they have changed for the better so far as outdoor growers are concerned. I feel proud to be part of it.

Where does your preference for outdoor cannabis come from?

Kevin: It feels more natural to grow cannabis outdoors. Watching a plant grow up in nature has something soothing and satisfying about it. In addition, I find the effect of cannabis grown outdoors more pleasant than the indoor varieties with their sky-high (sometimes too high for some) THC content. Many growers feel that outdoor-grown cannabis has some additional benefits from the terpenes/cannabinoids that have been produced under natural conditions. I can only agree.

“The aim is to get the offspring as homogeneous as possible. After all, you want to have those specific properties in all plants and not just half of them.”

How would you best describe your work to those who wouldn’t be familiar with cannabis breeding?

Kevin: Haha that's funny because normally I don't explain that to outsiders. Not because I don't want to, but because of the risk this entails.

Please tell us about your philosophy when it comes to breeding cannabis. In your eyes, what are the main attributes / skills of a good breeder?

Kevin: The first thing is to have a suitable location. Of course, you want to be able to do your thing in peace. After that you need to get hold of good genetics with which to start. A vision of the future cross you want to make with genetics. Then you have to be patient to see what your crosses have produced. Perhaps only a small minority of them will warrant further attention in coming seasons. Insight into genetic processes and the ability to distinguish between quality are important for this. Working systematically throughout this process is a must. I think if you have this as a basis, you can make beautiful crosses.

What does your setup look like? Tell us about your facility as well your process to create a brand-new cannabis seed variety.

Kevin: I always put all plants in the soil. This can be in a pot or in the open ground, depending on which stages of breeding we are at. They are then placed outside in a nice sunny spot or in the greenhouse. During breeding, after the first crossing, a selection is made of the plants with the desired properties with which I cross further. The aim is to get the offspring as homogeneous as possible. After all, you want to have those specific properties in all plants and not just half of them. We repeat this process until a stable species is created with the properties we have in mind.

“Here in the Netherlands the climate is quite unpredictable. Fortunately, over the years we have made enough crossings that can handle this climate well.”

What are the specificities of breeding outdoor cannabis varieties, both in terms of obstacles and advantages?

Kevin: Here in the Netherlands the climate is quite unpredictable. This sometimes makes it difficult to properly ripen/mature your outdoor cannabis. Fortunately, over the years we have made enough crossings that can handle this climate well, but it remains an obstacle. After all, you can't help it if the sun doesn't shine and the rain keeps falling.

On the other hand, if the weather is good during the late flowering period, I find outdoor grown cannabis more beautiful to see than indoor cannabis. It has something soothing to me. The same goes for the effect. Personally, I enjoy a lovingly grown outdoor plant more than the quick indoor hydro-grown buds which you can find in the coffee shop.

What do you consider to be the most critical factors when it comes to breeding premium outdoor cannabis varieties?

Kevin: The stability of the strain is paramount. For this you must start with stable genetics, otherwise over the years the plant will no longer be the same as the first round when it came on the market.

“I am most proud of the achievement that, after more than 15 years, Frisian Dew still has exactly the same genetics.”

How did you first hear of Dutch Passion and what is your relationship with the seedbank?

Kevin: Via Freddy, one of the original Dutch Passion breeders and a good friend of Henk van Dalen, the founder of Dutch Passion. Freddy always needed help in his greenhouses that were full of cannabis. Back then, it wasn't that weird. Nowadays of course I wouldn’t dare to grow the plant numbers that were grown ‘back in the day’ when many of the early selective outdoor breeding projects were in full flow.

How many collaborations did you run with Dutch Passion? Which one did you enjoy the most and why?

Kevin: As long as I'm involved with cannabis, it's in collaboration with Dutch Passion. It is not the case that we see each other every week. But certainly, we meet up a few times a year to keep each other up to date. This works well, otherwise we wouldn't still be doing this. I am most proud of the achievement that, after more than 15 years, Frisian Dew still has exactly the same genetics.

What are the main changes you have observed in terms of outdoor genetics since your first steps as a cannabis breeder?

Kevin: In the past, the taste of outdoor weed was not always something to cheer about. Lots of leaf, little flavour profile, sensitive to mould and poor yields were not uncommon. These days, the best outdoor strains rival indoor grown cannabis when the weather is good.

The cannabis seed market is continuously evolving through time and research. What is your stance on the current industry state and how do you keep up with new trends?

Kevin: I don't think you should have the illusion that you have to follow all trends. I am fascinated by outdoor weed, and this is mainly what I make and breed. There is of course always room for improvement, and I am not done with that just yet.

Where do you see your breeding program in the next decade or two?

Kevin: I think that's up to the consumer. Do they want to buy cheap factory weed from the streets or would they enjoy growing a high-quality plant themselves?

“In the past, the taste of outdoor weed was not something to cheer about. These days, many outdoor strains rival indoor grown cannabis when the weather is good.”

From a breeder’s perspective, what characteristics growers should you always look for in an outdoor cannabis seed variety?

Kevin: Flavour profile is one of the most important points if you ask me. After that, the plant must be able to withstand the climate, so it must be pest and mould resistant. In the Netherlands (or Northern Europe in general) I think the plant should flower early because late summer weather patterns often leaves a little to be desired. It's a shame if you're just halfway through flowering and only have a meagre yield at the end after your hard work because the plant didn’t ripen in time. If you’re going to grow outdoors it pays to focus on proven, professionally bred cannabis seeds.

What are the top 3 adjectives that come to your mind when browsing our Dutch Outdoor collection?

Kevin: Early flowering, high yield, tasty varieties.

If you were a beginner outdoor grower in a temperate climate and had to pick one of our Dutch Outdoor varieties, which one would you go for and why?

Kevin: Frisian Dew for sure. This variety may finish outdoor bloom a few days later than some, but the yield is high, even with a less beautiful grey summer. The Frisian Dew flavour profile is delicious and is not inferior to some of the more recently created outdoor strains if you ask me.

Generally speaking, what are your best recommendations and tips for outdoor growers in temperate climates?

Kevin: Put them in the ground in a sunny spot, protected from most rain. Take good care of your soil quality (so no mineral nutrition, use organics where you can) and don't harvest too early, but don't consume too early either. Curing is worth the wait, enjoy!

Any parting words for your fellow outdoor growers?

Kevin: Be good to nature and nature will be good to you!