Best Outdoor Strains For California In 2024

This Article Was Updated On March 17, 2025

California is one of the most popular states in the U.S to grow cannabis because of the year round warm climate as well as the recent statewide legalization of medical and recreational marijuana. This means it is legal to grow cannabis but it also improves the resources and supplies that are accessible in the area. If you are new to growing cannabis or have never grown in California it is important that you understand what it takes to grow in this state as well as only grow strains that are known to grow well in California.

California was one of the first states to completely legalize recreational marijuana which has drastically increased the amount of individuals who are growing cannabis in the state. Thousands of individuals are looking to learn how to grow without any growing experience. But our team is here to help you understand what type of cannabis seeds you should grow in California as well as provide a few tips to help you have a successful grow session.

Let’s learn about the best cannabis strains to grow in California!

The Best Outdoor Cannabis Strains To Grow In California

If you are looking to grow cannabis indoors or outdoors in California it is important that you pick strains that will be able to grow successfully in this climate. Some strains will have a better grow success rate in colder climates or climates with more rain. California as a whole, but especially Southern California is known for it’s warm and dry climates which means you need certain strains in order to survive.

Below are the best cannabis strains to grow in California:

Strain	THC %	Indica/Sativa	Yield (per square meter)	Flowering Time
White Widow	16-20%	Sativa	400-500g	8-9 Weeks
Northern Lights	20-30%	Indica	300-400g	7-8 Weeks
Super Skunk	20-25%	Indica	400-600g	8-9 Weeks
AK-47	16-25%	Indica	400-600g	8-9 Weeks
Sour Diesel	18-22%	Sativa	400-600g	8-9 Weeks

Complete List Of Cannabis Seeds To Grow In California

If you are looking for a more complete list of cannabis seeds to grow in California then you can look at the list below. There are many types of cannabis strains that will grow successfully in this type of climate but there are also certain strains that will struggle to grow in California. This list also gives you more freedom to pick a strain that has your preferred aroma, THC/CBD ratio, flavor, and more.

Below is the extended list of cannabis seeds we recommend to grow in Southern California as well as California as a whole:

• White Widow
• Northern Lights
• Super Skunk
• Blue Cheese
• AK-47
• OG Kush
• Purple Haze
• Sour Diesel

1. White Widow – Most Popular California Outdoor Strain

White widow is one of the most popular outdoor cannabis strains to grow in California because of its ability to handle the West Coast climate. No matter if you are growing in Southern California or Northern California, white widow will be resilient enough to handle the weather without any issues. White widow is known to grow well in warm and dry climates that are common in Southern California such as San Diego or Los Angeles but can also handle the cooler weather that is common in Northern California cities such as San Francisco.

Growing Facts About White Widow

Below are a few quick facts about White Widow strains and why they are the best outdoor strain for California and the West Coast of the United States:

• Plant Type: 60% Indica, 40% Sativa
• THC Percentage: THC percentage average around 19%
• CBD Percentage: Low CBD levels
• Growing Difficulty: Easy growing difficulty
• Climate: Strong weather and disease resistance
• Average Yield: 4-6 oz per 3X3 foot of growing
• Grow Time: 10-14 Weeks
• Smell: Earthy, woody, herbal
• Effects: Euphoric, happy, relaxed, creative, uplifted
• DEAL: Buy 10 seeds get 10 seeds free!

2. Northern Lights – Resilient To Diseases

Northern Lights is one of the most popular strains that is grown all around the world. The genealogy originates from Afghani indica which provides the strain with a high level of resiliency to different types of climates but can also fight off common plant diseases.

This resiliency makes it perfect for beginners who don’t have as much experience in growing and can help to keep your plants healthy throughout the entire growing process. Northern Lights is cannabis strain for growing outdoors in California!

Growing Facts About Northern Lights

Below are the quick facts about the Northern Lights strain and why it is a great option for growing outdoors in Southern California as well as Northern California

• Plant Type: 90% Indica, 10% Sativa
• THC Percentage: THC percentage average around 18%
• CBD Percentage: Low CBD levels
• Growing Difficulty: Easy growing difficulty
• Climate: Strong weather, mold, and disease resistance
• Average Yield: 4-6 oz per 3X3 foot of growing
• Grow Time: 10-14 Weeks
• Smell: Citrus, earthy, pine, lemon, sweet
• Effects: Happy, relaxed, euphoric, sleepy
• DEAL: Buy 10 seeds get 10 seeds free!

3. Super Skunk Strain – West Coast Favorite

Super skunk may not be as well known as White Widow or Norther Lights but it still comes with great resiliency to different weather, disease, and mold which makes it a great strain for California. We believe is a great option for the average grower who is looking to spice up their next grow. It does well in cold climates as well as warmer climates and is strong enough to standup against the most common diseases found throughout the growing process.

Growing Facts About Super Skunk Strain

Below are the quick facts about the Super Skunk strain and why it is perfect for growing on the west coast of the United States:

• Plant Type: 80% Indica, 20% Sativa
• THC Percentage: THC percentage average around 14%
• CBD Percentage: Low CBD levels
• Growing Difficulty: Easy growing difficulty level
• Climate: Strong weather, mold, and disease resistance
• Average Yield: 4-6 oz per 3X3 foot of growing
• Smell: Citrus, cheese, earthy, sweet, skunky
• Effects: Euphoric, uplifting, happy, relaxing
• DEAL: Buy 10 seeds get 10 seeds free!

Tips For Growing Cannabis In California

If you are thinking about growing cannabis in California then you must be prepared to deal with the climate, sunlight levels, soil nutrient levels, and rain level in the state. There are some cannabis strains that will perform better than others but you should also set your grow up for success by planning and preparing ahead of time. It is important to plan your growing session and learn how to have success in this type of climate.

Below are a few of our favorite tips for growing cannabis in California:

California Has A Warm Climate

California has a warm climate as a whole. Some areas of the state, such as Southern California have an even hotter climate. Since the state is so large, the climate can vary depending on where in the state you are planning on planting. Southern California and other areas within the state can have hot weather that can get close to 100 degrees. But more Northern parts of California can also have cold weather, but as a whole, the state of California can be considered to have a warm climate compared to other parts of the country.

The overall weather of California is warm, dry, and stays relatively consistent across the entire year. Other states will have drastically different seasons but California stays consistent across the year. The overall warm climate and dry air can make it difficult to grow because your cannabis plants need enough water to grow. You also have to make sure that your plants aren’t receiving too much sunlight when you are growing indoor or outdoor in California.

This means you should plan accordingly by preparing an indoor growing system or by growing outdoors with a measured amount of sunlight. There are some cannabis strains that will be able to handle the constant sunlight in California but there are other strains that you will have to limit the amount of sunlight they receive.

California Has Lower Levels of Rain

Much of California, especially Southern California, will typically have low levels of rain compared to other climates around the United States. The air will be dry and the sun will be hot and with low levels of rain your cannabis plants may struggle to grow. This means you will have to be prepared to water your cannabis plants on a routine basis. Depending on the type of cannabis strain you are growing, you may have to develop a more advanced water system.

Some cannabis strains will be fine with limited amount of watering that can be done by hand. But other types of strains will require more frequent watering which can be difficult without an automated water system or indoor growing system. For most beginners, the recommended outdoor strains that we listed above will require limited amounts of water in order to grow in California.

Dry Soil Conditions In California

Since most of California has dry air and warm temperatures the soil will typically be dry and lack nutrients compared to more humid climates. More humid climates will typically have more nutrient dense soil because of the extra moisture and water. California soil can sometimes lack the nutrients required to effectively grow cannabis outdoors. This means you may be required to provide additional nutrients to your soil for a more effective grow this season.

It is possible to grow cannabis directly into the outdoor soil in cannabis but depending on the area you live and the strain you are growing, it is possible that it won’t grow. Or if it does grow it might not produce as much yield as it could have done if the soil had more nutrients.

For this reason, it is typically recommended that you take control of the soil condition. You can grow your cannabis seeds in special nutrient dense soil instead of planting them directly into the ground. Depending on the strain you pick will change the type of nutrients and soil that are recommended.

How To Maximize Your Outdoor Cannabis Yield In California

If you are looking to maximize your yield or receive the largest amount of cannabis for your growing session then there are a few different things you must keep in mind. One of the most important things you can do is to pick a cannabis strain that is known to handle the climate and growing condition of your location. California has a unique climate, amounts of sunlight, amounts of rain, and soil conditions compared to other locations around the world. This means in order to have a successful cannabis grow this year you should only plan cannabis seed strains that are known to have success in your location.

This is the reason that we made our list of the best outdoor cannabis seeds to grow in California because if you pick the wrong strain then you might not be able to have a successful grow this year because the strain won’t be able to effectively grow in your climate.

Pick The Best Cannabis Seeds For Growing In California

Now that you have a better understanding of the climate, sunlight levels, water levels, and soil nutrients in California, the last thing you need to know about is the quality of the cannabis seeds you are growing. Low quality seeds will struggle to grow even in the best conditions whereas high quality cannabis seeds will be easier to grow and provide a higher yield.

We only recommend that you grow cannabis seeds that are purchased from reputable and trustworthy seed banks. You can read more about this in our Best Seed Bank article as well as reading the individual reviews below:

• ILGM Review
• Crop King Seeds Review
• Seedsman Review

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