Français There are four main types of cannabis seeds: feminized, autoflower, fast version and CBD. They differ in how the plant starts flowering and how long it takes to finish. For growers in Canada, that second point decides whether a plant is ready before the frost.
Types of cannabis seeds
Four types of seeds
Each one starts flowering in its own way and finishes at its own time.
The four types at a glance
| Type | How it flowers | Outdoor harvest in Canada | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feminized | When the days get shorter, or when you change the light schedule indoors | September or October, depending on the strain | Growers who want control over plant size |
| Autoflower | On its own, with no change in the light schedule | Most are ready in August | First grows, small spaces and short seasons |
| Fast version | Like a feminized plant, but it finishes earlier | Many finish in September | Outdoor growers with a short season |
| CBD | Depends on the strain; feminized or autoflower | Depends on the strain | Growers who want CBD or CBG and less THC |
A note on the numbers in this article: harvest dates, flowering times and yields are ranges, not promises. They vary depending on growing conditions: the grower, the method and the season's weather. "Mold resistant" means mold tolerant: less prone to mold and slower to be affected. No strain is 100% mold resistant. How we set these numbers →
Feminized seeds
Feminized seeds are bred to produce female plants, the ones that grow buds. You do not have to find and pull male plants from the garden.
Most feminized seeds are photoperiod plants. Indoors, you decide when they flower by changing the light schedule, which gives you control over their size. Outdoors, they flower as the days shorten, so the harvest date depends on the strain and the season.
Autoflower seeds
Autoflower seeds flower automatically, with no light schedule to manage. The plants stay compact and have a shorter life cycle.
That makes them a popular first choice. Outdoors in Canada, most autoflowers are harvested in August, well before the cold nights. Because they grow fast, they have less time to recover from early mistakes.
Fast version seeds
Fast version seeds are photoperiod varieties with a little autoflower genetics introduced, so they finish earlier than the standard version of the same strain. Most of ours finish in September, and a few reach the first week of October. Timing always depends on the grower and the conditions, such as experience, weather and stress. Because they carry the autoflower gene, stress can affect them more than a standard photoperiod plant.
They suit growers who want a full-size outdoor plant but cannot wait until October.
CBD seeds
CBD seeds grow plants with more CBD, or CBG, and less THC. They come as feminized and as autoflower seeds, so the choice above still applies.
Outdoor harvest
When each type finishes outdoors in Canada
Harvest months are a guide; dates vary by latitude and season.
What about regular seeds?
Regular seeds produce both male and female plants. Breeders use them to make new crosses. For a home grow they mean more work, because the males have to be removed. Nearly all the seeds we sell are feminized.
Which type should you choose?
- First grow: an autoflower, or a forgiving feminized strain from our seeds for beginners.
- Outdoors with a short season: an autoflower for August, or a fast version or early strain for a September harvest.
- Outdoors where fall stays mild: a feminized strain for an October harvest. October brings night frosts, so the plant has to resist mould.
- Not sure yet: a mixed pack, with several strains and 8 seeds per pack.
Good to know
Every QCS pack, in numbers
Common questions
Are autoflower seeds always feminized? Ours are. Every autoflower we sell is a feminized autoflower.
How many seeds are in a pack? Most packs contain 5 seeds. Mixed packs contain 8.
Are the seeds guaranteed? Yes. We send replacement seeds if germination is below 80%, and we guarantee delivery of your order.
Ready to buy? Browse our selection: feminized seeds, autoflower seeds and all cannabis seeds. Discreet shipping from Quebec across Canada and the USA.
