When you want to grow cannabis plants that tower over you like trees with colas the size of your arms, this article is where you should start.
Growing cannabis outside is a blast, and not simply because you can grow a mini-forest with pounds and pounds of weed.
However, growing enormous cannabis plants has to do with the topic of the day.
In this article, we are looking at the best outdoor cannabis strains that deliver the biggest yields known to marijuana growers far-and-wide.
We'll give you the best outdoor strain for high yield.
Plus, we'll show you the factors that go into picking the best yielding strains for your climate.
That last bit is so important because sometimes the highest yielding strains won’t yield all that well if your climate isn’t right for them.
But don’t worry because we’ve got your back!
Quick Top 5 High-Yielding Outdoor Strains:
Rank | Product | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Super Silver Haze | ||
2 | Blue Dream | ||
3 | Durban Poison | ||
4 | Northern Lights | ||
5 | Super Skunk |
Keep reading or jump straight to the reviews!
Table of Contents
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Why Grow Cannabis Outdoors?
There are advantages to growing both indoors and outdoors, but saving a small fortune and growing cannabis the way Mother Nature intended are hard to ignore.
But the benefits to growing cannabis outside don’t stop there:
- More environmentally-friendly option
- Plants are hardier and less finicky
- Less work and maintenance
- Lowest start-up costs and saves you even more money over time
Is Your Climate Right For Growing Cannabis Outdoors?
Peel, M. C., Finlayson, B. L., and McMahon, T. A. (University of Melbourne).The original File:World Köppen Map.jpg (to be used as a reference) has been converted to a smaller PNG-file (to be used for thumbnailing etc), without extra modifications, by me (Jeroen). [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
Best to Worst Climates to Grow Cannabis in: Mediterranean, Subtropical, Hot Summer Continental, Monsoon, Arid, and Subarctic
After seeing all the benefits to growing cannabis outside, who wouldn't be excited to start their outdoor cannabis garden, but first, is your climate right for it?
Most cannabis strains do best when grown in climates that resemble the Mediterranean.
That means hot and sunny summers with a mild fall and little to moderate rainfall throughout all seasons, especially when the plants are flowering.
You can’t really pick a bad strain to grow with when you live in this climate.
California weed is famous for a reason, and that’s because California followed by Oregon, Washington, Kentucky, and Tennessee provide the best outdoor growing environments in the United States.
But just because you don’t live on the West Coast or in the South doesn’t mean you can’t grow outdoors, you just need to be more careful about picking the strains you grow.
As long as your climate has adequate sunlight, can provide temperatures between 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and doesn’t see humidity go over 60% during bloom, you can likely grow cannabis.
Cannabis is an annual plant like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, etc., and if your climate is good for growing those, it’s likely suitable for growing cannabis.
As well, if there is a will there’s a way, a greenhouse is a great way to grow strains that like hotter and airy climates.
A greenhouse can be simple and just protect plants from the rain, or massively complex with built-in heating/AC, ability to block out sunlight, etc.
Even complex greenhouses often cost less than growing indoors because you still use some aspects of your natural environment like light.
If you're growing indoor, click here to see the best strains.
Are Indica or Sativa Strains Better For Growing Outdoors?
The classic indica vs. sativa debate.
There is a lot of misinformation when it comes to the differences between indica and sativa strains.
Indicas are supposed to mellow you out with a smooth body high while sativa deliver high THC percentages that awaken the creative mind with cerebral delight.
In truth, that’s mostly bunk. However, it does tell you how you can expect a strain to grow.
Indicas grow short and bushy while sativas grow tall and lanky, as well, indicas are ready to harvest a few weeks earlier on average.
However, most marijuana strains are a hybrid of the two.
One great advantage when buying from a seed bank is they’ll give you the ratio of indica to sativa, and this can help you predict final plant height and flowering time.
Most indoor growers stick to indicas, and indica-dominant hybrids because they tend to say short, but when you grow outside, you usually don’t have to worry about that.
There are a lot of fantastic sativa strains out there that are great for outdoor gardeners who want the biggest yields.
Sativas and sativa-dominant hybrids grow huge, can be planted closer together, need minimal to no plant training, and their structure allows for plentiful air flow keeping pests and diseases away.
Choosing The Best Strain For Your Climate
If you plan to rely solely on your climate to give your plants the best environment i.e., no greenhouse, make sure you pick a strain right for your climate.
Follow these general guidelines when selecting a strain fit for your climate:
Sativas: These strains like hotter temperatures and more rain, but take longer to flower as they come from regions that don’t see cold seasons.
- Grows well in tropical monsoon, Mediterranean, subtropical, and hot summer continental climates.
Indicas: These strains tolerate colder temperatures but don’t like high humidity and rain, but they flower faster as they originate from areas with colder seasons.
- Grows well in Mediterranean, arid, hot summer continental, and maritime climates.
There is little to no chance you’ll find a 100% indica or sativa marijuana strain, so it’s impossible for us to say for certain how well our rules will always apply.
If you want to know what your particular strain's ideal growing conditions are, buy from a trusted seed bank who tells you!
Other Factors That Go Into Picking The Best Outdoor Strain
There are a couple of other things you’ll need to consider when choosing a high yielding outdoor strain.
🠊 Photoperiod vs. Autoflowering Strains
In most cases, you want to go with photoperiod strains where the seasons will dictate when they flower and finish as these strains can yield the most by far.
However, there are times when choosing an autoflowering strain may be your best choice.
Autoflowering have short seed to harvest times, flip to flowering on their own, and this can benefit you in three major ways:
- If you have cold springs and can’t plant until close to summer — or you forgot — an autoflowering strain might be the best move so it can finish before cold weather hits.
- By carefully crossing a photoperiod sativa with a ruderalis strain, seeds banks are creating hybrid autoflower that retain the sativa’s signature high but will flower faster and tolerate colder climates better.
- Autoflowering strains are often the only cannabis plants that flower fast enough for subarctic climates that have short summers and harsh winters.
🠊 Mold-Resistant Strains
Choosing a mold resistant strain is a bigger worry for indoor growers, especially those that run hydro.
However, if you live in a humid climate and your plants aren't getting adequate airflow, you can run into mold issues and may want to consider looking for a mold-resistant strain.
The Best Outdoor Strain For High Yield
Harvest | Late September |
Sativa / Indica | 80% / 20% |
Height | Tall |
Yield | 500 - 550 g/per plant |
Climate | Mediterranean / Subtropical |
THC / CBD Ratio | Very High / Very Low |
If you’re living in a hot, wet, more tropical or equatorial climate, and you’re not growing Super Silver Haze, you’re missing out.
This strain is a classic in indoor gardens because it’s mold-resistant and grows to incredible sizes with a hydroponic system. (Make sure to check out this hydroponic system review guide to get started)
That’s why the easy to grow Silver Super Haze is considered one of the best outdoor high yielders.
But if your climate is right, Super Silver Haze will become the champion of your garden and will dwarf any indoor garden.
SSH’s height is the one negative of this beautiful strain, forcing indoor growers to do a lot of plant training, but outside you won’t have to worry about that.
The buds are super sticky, the high brings clarity, energy, and focus to the mind and body, and it’s long-lasting with a mellow comedown.
On inhale, your tastebuds will light up with piney and diesel notes, and the exhale will leave your mouth with a spicy and sage-like flavor.
It’s a classic and legendary sativa making it the the best outdoor strain for high yield.
SSH averages around 70-90% sativa-dominance and first broke onto the cannabis scene by winning High Time Cannabis Cup three years in a row (‘97,’98, & ’99).
Harvest | Late September to Early October |
Sativa / Indica | 60% / 40% |
Height | Average |
Yield | 500 - 600 gr/m2 |
Climate | Mediterranean / Subtropical |
THC / CBD Ratio | High / Medium |
We’ll admit we were a bit trepid about putting Blue Dream on our list.
It’s not because it doesn’t deliver an amazing high or that it’s poor yielding, in fact, Blue Dream excels at both of those.
The thing is, Blue Dream is obnoxiously popular for many because it has dominated grow rooms and dispensaries for the last several years.
But while its popularity might annoy some, it's not without merit!
Blue Dream isn’t finicky about its climate, but make sure you’re giving plenty of nutrients because even with its short flowering time, this strain blows up outside.
As well, the high is uplifting with a perfect balance between head and body, making it great for both recreational and medical use.
Blue Dream has a mysterious origin that gives way to its name, and with its popularity, nearly every seed bank has their version.
A tried-and-true Blue Dream strain will be more sativa than indica, deliver a balanced THC/CBD ratio, have strong blueberry notes, and grow to average heights.
If you’re new to growing outside and want big yields, you won’t be disappointed growing Blue Dream.
Harvest | Late September to Early October |
Sativa / Indica | 80% / 20% |
Height | Very Tall |
Yield | 500 - 600 gr/m2 |
Climate | Mediterranean / Subtropical |
THC / CBD Ratio | Very High / Very Low |
Looking to grow a cannabis plant the size of a tree?
Durban Poison is simply a delight to grow outside as this strain is known for reaching heights of 12 feet, and has a pretty fast flowering time for a sativa of this caliber.
If you’re growing inside that sounds like a nightmare-inducing amount of plant training to keep the height down, but when you’re outside, who cares?
The genetics are beyond solid — first breed in the 70s — and it’s a hardy plant that’s newcomer-friendly as long as you can afford all that height and give it plenty of sunlight.
Originally hailing from South Africa’s second biggest city, Durban, this strain coats the mouth with a sweet earthy flavor that gives way to an energetic, exciting, and euphoric high.
Another advantage of growing this strain outdoors as opposed to inside is its love for the soil and slight weakness to mold.
Growing indoors with a hydro system can often bring too much humidity for this strain, but when you’re outside as long as humidity doesn’t hit over 60%, you should be fine.
Harvest | Mid September |
Sativa / Indica | 10% / 90% |
Height | Short to Average |
Yield | 350 - 500 gr/m2 |
Climate | Warm, Cold, & Dry |
THC / CBD Ratio | High / Medium |
Not all of us live in a bright Mediterranean-like climate where sativa strains can flourish for miles and miles.
Some of us are blessed with cooler climates and distinctive seasons, but that doesn’t mean we can’t grow amazing cannabis — case in point Northern Lights.
Northern Lights is one of the best strains for growing outdoors because it’s sturdy, not picky about its climate, and yields an impressive harvest despite its very short flowering time.
It’s long been one of the most popular strains, so you know it has incredible genetics.
At first, you may think Northern Lights was a sativa by its citrusy aroma and fast onset happy euphoric high, but don’t be fooled.
Upon combusting, the smoke will coat your taste buds in an earthy dankness and enrich your lungs with a relaxing and balance ratio of THC/CBD.
It’s an amazing strain for remedial tasks like cleaning the dishes but be warned if you sit down, you may not want to get back up.
It’s not the biggest yielder on our list, but it's easy to grow and it may deliver the best quality bud.
Harvest | Mid to Late September |
Sativa / Indica | 10% / 90% |
Height | Short |
Yield | 500 - 700 gr/m² |
Climate | Warm, Cold, & Dry |
THC / CBD Ratio | High / High |
One of the best tricks to finding a strain that yields a lot in colder climates is looking for one that has heavy skunk genetics.
Case in point, Northern Lights and Super Silver Haze also make our list, and they both have a skunky past.
However, Super Skunk, in particular, is perhaps the best at tolerating colder climates but still able to turn out massive yields.
Super Skunk is an indica-dominant strain that often packs both high THC and CBD percentages making it popular for medical use and treating conditions such as pain, insomnia, and anxiety.
The aroma is often described as mossy and skunky with an earthy and musky flavor, but not aggressively overpowering.
The full body and rich smoke is a nice alternative to thin-tasting citrusy strains.
Because of its heavy indica-dominance, super skunk is a fast flower both indoors and outdoors, as well, it stays fairly short and bushy.
We also looked at the best strains for a greenhouse here.
Conclusion
There are a lot of fantastic strains that have massive yields when grown outside.
Our most important tip is to research your climate and pick the strain best for it.
An easy way to do that is to look for strains that originated from climates similar to yours.
As well, talk to other cannabis growers in your area and see what strains they’ve had the most luck with.
Last, buy your seeds from a trusted seed bank if you want plants with proven genetics that always deliver massive yields. We reviewed our favorite seed bank in this guide.