Top 5 cannabis strains to grow in the mountains

Most people grow their cannabis seeds at home, or perhaps outdoors fairly close-by in the countryside. But what about those that grow cannabis in the mountains - can specialist cannabis strains really survive for weeks (and perhaps months) at a time without human help? Which are the best outdoor cannabis seeds which have the genetic ability to cope well at high altitudes or the rugged determination to complete bloom even when conditions are far from ideal?

Cannabis seed basics for high altitude growing

Some growers love the peace and solitude of high-altitude mountain growing. A couple of thousand metres (or even a couple of hundred) up in the hills can be all that is required to find some quiet locations to plant some outdoor cannabis seeds. But not all cannabis seeds will cope with the combined challenges of thin air, cool conditions and short grow seasons.

However, the Dutch Passion High Altitude Cannabis Seed Family have been selectively bred over several years in the Swiss Alps. During this project, only the best mountain-adapted offspring from each generation were selected for breeding in the subsequent year.

After many years of professionally controlled selective breeding the resulting Pamir Gold and Snow Bud strains evolved, perfectly adapted to high-altitude cannabis cultivation. But there are other strains which will also do a good job, keep reading for more details…

Best cannabis seeds to grow in the mountains

If you’re growing cannabis in the mountains and hills you need tough, durable cannabis genetics that have been specially bred to cope with the climatic challenges that they will face. Planting your favourite indoor cannabis seeds in harsh outdoor conditions can be a recipe for disaster. Often the outdoor grow season will have a cool start/finish and changeable weather in-between. Your choice of outdoor cannabis seeds needs to reflect the extra demands which will inevitably be placed on your plants.

Pamir Gold, selectively bred for high-altitude cultivation

Pamir Gold is one of the very few true high-altitude cannabis strains available. Her indica-dominant hybrid genetics come from the Western Himalayas. Several years of selective breeding in the Swiss Alps allowed her breeders to create a uniquely well adapted strain that copes superbly well in conditions where lesser strains would quickly fail.

Pamir Gold is tough and robust, relied on by thousands of repeat guerrilla growers. She can withstand a changeable climate better than any other variety. She is known for her ability to deliver a harvest even in the harshest conditions. Pamir Gold buds grow big and heavy, they provide a relaxed, feel-good high with a hybrid effect and a complex/tasty terpene profile. Pamir Gold and Snow Bud form Dutch Passion’s High Altitude Cannabis Seed Family. Note that Pamir Gold also does very well at sea-level or in a greenhouse.

Pamir Gold® Western Himalayas Hybrid
	Feminised		Outdoor
	High Altitude		7 weeks
	Hybrid		L
	High

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Pamir Gold® Western Himalayas Hybrid
	Feminised		Outdoor
	High Altitude		7 weeks
	Hybrid		L
	High

Order Now

Pamir Gold® Western Himalayas Hybrid
	Feminised		Outdoor
	High Altitude		7 weeks
	Hybrid		L
	High

Order Now

Snow Bud, outstanding cannabis seeds for high altitude growers

Snow Bud is Dutch Passion's other specialist high altitude cannabis variety. Snow Bud came from the same 1980’s cannabis breeding project in the Swiss Alps that produced Pamir Gold. She uses Afghani x South African genetics with medium yields and produces great tasting buds with a spicy, earthy and skunky scent.

Snow Bud is easy to grow and, like Pamir Gold, also grows very well at sea-level and in a greenhouse. But her star-quality is her ability to thrive in high-altitude grow conditions where other strains would simply be unable to survive. If you need to grow cannabis at high altitudes up in the mountains, Snow Bud (or Pamir Gold) would be the best choice you can make. Snow Bud and Pamir Gold will also grow well at, or around, sea-level. They are durable enough to grow in often wild and windy conditions with typical Northern European cool/grey summers.

Snow Bud® Afghani X South African genetics
	Feminised		Outdoor
	High Altitude		7-9 weeks
	Hybrid		M
	15-20%

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Snow Bud® Afghani X South African genetics
	Feminised		Outdoor
	High Altitude		7-9 weeks
	Hybrid		M
	15-20%

Order Now

Snow Bud® Afghani X South African genetics
	Feminised		Outdoor
	High Altitude		7-9 weeks
	Hybrid		M
	15/20%

Order Now

Hollands Hope, tough and durable outdoor cannabis seeds

Hollands Hope is an indica strain with large yields and is a go-to outdoor strain for many northern European growers with unpredictable climates and short summers. She’s another Dutch Passion outdoor strain which has been fully proven over a decade or two with thousands of satisfied growers. The plants grown into large, bushy plants with numerous blooms.

Hollands Hope suits the outdoor grower looking for an easy grow experience with minimal effort. Find her a good sunny location with reasonable quality soil and she can really deliver exceptional results. These indica genes are tougher than average and cope better than most with cool weather. The buds deliver a premium quality, relaxing indica effect. Holland’s Hope, along with Durban Poison and Frisian Dew are part of the Dutch Outdoor cannabis seed collection.

Hollands Hope® Original Hollands Hope
	Feminised		Outdoor
	Dutch Outdoor		7-9 weeks
	Indica		L
	High		Cup winner

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Hollands Hope® Original Hollands Hope
	Feminised		Outdoor
	Dutch Outdoor		7-9 weeks
	Indica		L
	High		Cup winner

Order Now

Hollands Hope® Original Hollands Hope
	Feminised		Outdoor
	Dutch Outdoor		7-9 weeks
	Indica		L
	High		Cup winner

Order Now

Durban Poison, legendary cannabis seeds suited to both indoor and outdoor growing

Durban Poison is a famous strain with South African cannabis genetics and a unique taste with hints of aniseed. She is an unusual strain in that she is equally popular with indoor and outdoor growers. The genetics are easy to grow with high THC levels and good yields. The sativa dominant genetics are top quality and have been used extensively by modern breeders to create modern classics such as Girl Scout Cookies (Durban Poison x OG Kush).

Outdoor growers will find Durban Poison uncomplicated to grow and able to fend for herself in a wide range of tough outdoor conditions. She copes well with cool, wet and grey climates and produces numerous branches which yield well. This old-school favourite has found plenty of fans in recent times and remains a legendary strain with plenty of modern appeal, for all the right reasons!

Durban Poison® Durban X Unknown Indica
	Feminised		Indoor/Outdoor
	Dutch Outdoor		8 weeks
	Sativa		XXL
	High

Order Now

Durban Poison® Durban X Unknown Indica
	Feminised		Indoor/Outdoor
	Dutch Outdoor		8 weeks
	Sativa		XXL
	High

Order Now

Durban Poison® Durban X Unknown Indica
	Feminised		Indoor/Outdoor
	Dutch Outdoor		8 weeks
	Sativa		XXL
	High

Order Now

Frisian Dew, Dutch Passion's outdoor champ and multiple cannabis cup winner

Frisian Dew is one of Dutch Passion’s best-ever outdoor cannabis seeds. The XXL yielding hybrid genetics were created by crossing Super Skunk with Purple Star and selectively crossing the best performing outdoor individuals. THC levels are very high and Frisian Dew can be grown outdoors successfully in the northern UK or Southern Scandinavia.

This is an outdoor best-seller with rare levels of resilience and toughness. Perfect for those growers needing that extra bit of reliability from their outdoor cannabis seeds. Frisian Dew is a repeat best seller, a wide-latitude strain that will deliver the goods when other strains would struggle. Yields are high, and in optimum conditions you can get plants 3-4m tall and just as wide, with heavy branches. Some of the plants will show beautiful pink/purple hues.

Frisian Dew® Super Skunk X Purple Star
	Feminised		Outdoor
	Dutch Outdoor		8 weeks
	Hybrid		XXL
	High		Cup winner

Order Now

Frisian Dew® Super Skunk X Purple Star
	Feminised		Outdoor
	Dutch Outdoor		8 weeks
	Hybrid		XXL
	High		Cup winner

Order Now

Frisian Dew® Super Skunk X Purple Star
	Feminised		Outdoor
	Dutch Outdoor		8 weeks
	Hybrid		XXL
	High		Cup winner

Order Now

Are autoflower seeds an option for the outdoor grower?

The strains mentioned above are all proven photoperiod outdoor cannabis strains which have served the guerrilla growing community well. But autoflowering cannabis seeds are another useful option for the outdoor grower aiming to cultivate a crop in the hills/mountains.

Although autoflower strains may not have had the same rigorous selection/breeding process to help them cope with mountain life, they do benefit from a rapid growth cycle which suits the often-short growing season at higher altitudes.

Outdoors, autoflower seeds tend to take around 100 days from germination until harvest. If you choose the sunniest 3 months of your grow season and perhaps start your autoflower seedlings indoors you may well be able to get a crop from them even at high altitude locations.

Tips for growing cannabis at high altitude

Growing cannabis at high altitude brings additional challenges for the outdoor grower. Temperatures (especially evening minimum temperatures) may be lower than your usual strains are used to. The growing season may be shorter and winds can be stronger.

But with the right outdoor cannabis seeds you have every expectation to feel confident. The comparative lack of people to discover your crop high up in the hills is another bonus, that’s often one of the reasons that guerrilla growers are drawn to the hills/mountains. The following tips may be useful if you’re planning to grow cannabis at high altitude.

•    Starting with specialist outdoor cannabis seeds is the most important advice for anyone considering an outdoor grow in the hills/mountains. Even an experienced outdoor grower might find it impossible to get an outdoor crop from a fragile indoor-only cannabis strain.

•    Many outdoor growers will germinate their cannabis seeds indoors and perhaps grow them indoors for a few weeks. This allows them to avoid potentially harsh early-season outdoor conditions while the seedlings are young and at their most vulnerable. It also allows you the chance to shoot for a heavier final yield since your final plant size may well be larger.

•    Choose your location wisely and don't be afraid to spend time scouting various possible grow locations, both on-line and on-foot. Aim for a private spot that gets plenty of direct sunshine perhaps with some protection from the prevailing wind.

•    If the local soil quality is poor it may benefit from the addition of some nutrients, manure, supermarket-soil, slow-release organic nutrients (e.g. BioTabs) etc.

•    Some growers deliberately plant a perimeter of brambles/thorns to deter grazing animals and minimise chances of accidental discovery by people.

•    You may wish to select a location close to a mountain stream just in case a mid-summer drought forces you to consider occasional manual watering.

•    Many mountain growers have a couple of grow locations to maximise the chances of a successful crop. The cost of a few extra cannabis seeds is relatively little compared to the value of the final crop which is produced - if you have the ideal outdoor grow location use it to full capacity!

Enjoy growing cannabis in the mountains!

With a little bit of planning and the right cannabis seeds, a mountain grow can allow you to enjoy the combined pleasures of growing with beautiful scenery/walking.

You can choose between specialist High Altitude Marijuana Seeds, Dutch Outdoor Marijuana Seeds or Autoflowering Seeds. You may get up to/around a hundred grams of dried cannabis from an auto. But potentially you can get several times that from a good-sized outdoor photoperiod feminised strain.

Choose your grow locations wisely, online maps can be a good place to start followed up with a boots-on-the-ground approach which can start in the winter months before the growing season begins. Choose the best cannabis seeds you can and enjoy the outdoor adventure!