How to grow cannabis outdoors in Spain, month by month in 2021.
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Spain is one of Europe’s top tourist destinations, especially during the summer. But the warm, sunny weather isn't just great for sunbathing; Spain also boasts the perfect conditions for growing weed outdoors.
If you live in Spain and want to grow your own outdoor weed, keep reading; below you’ll find a month-by-month walkthrough of how to grow cannabis in Spain.
IS WEED LEGAL IN SPAIN?
The commercialisation of cannabis remains illegal in Spain. However, adults can legally consume and cultivate cannabis in a private space as long as they do so for personal use and keep their plants out of public sight. Consuming, buying, or possessing cannabis in public is not a serious offence, but a misdemeanour punishable by a fine.
In Spain, autonomous communities have limited control over their local laws. In 2017, Catalonia legalized the cultivation, consumption, and distribution of cannabis via registered cannabis clubs. These clubs must be self-sufficient non-profit organisations, can only produce 150kg of dried weed per year, and must follow certain regulations in order to comply with local laws.
THE DIVERSE CLIMATES OF SPAIN
Spain is Europe’s most climatically diverse country, combining 13 different Köppen climates. Hence, summer in Spain can be very different from one region to another.
Northern Spain has an oceanic climate characterised by warm summers with plenty of rainfall. Temperatures peak at 23–26°C and rainfall averages at about 7 days per month. Make sure to keep an eye on the rain in these areas, as it can cause problems with pests and plagues.
Continental or mainland Spain, on the other hand, boasts some of the hottest summers. Summer highs in Cordoba, for example, range from 32–36°C, while Madrid experiences peak temperatures of 28–33°C. These areas also get very little rain, so you’ll want to keep that in mind when planning your watering schedule.
Mediterranean Spain, on the other hand, has milder summers with scarce rainfall. Barcelona and Valencia, for example, boast summer highs ranging between 27–30°C. Meanwhile, temperatures on Spanish islands vary greatly. The Canary Islands, for example, are known for having warm temperatures all year round, with summer temperatures reaching the mid-20s. The Balearics, on the other hand, have much hotter summers peaking at about 30°C.
A MONTH-BY-MONTH GUIDE ON GROWING CANNABIS OUTDOORS IN SPAIN
In Spain, the outdoor cannabis growing season firmly starts in May. If you want to grow larger plants with lots of foliage, you’ll want to germinate your seeds indoors in April. Harvest time is in late October, although this can vary depending on the particular strain you’re growing.
Below, we’ll walk you through the process of growing weed outdoors in Spain, month by month. Remember, this is only a general guide; the specifics will vary depending on where you live and what strain you’re growing. That said, we’ve included some average figures from Madrid and Málaga to give you an idea of what different growers might encounter.
APRIL
• (Madrid) Day length April 1st: 12h 42m
• (Madrid) AVG temperature: 5–17°C
• (Málaga) Day length April 1st: 12h 37m
• (Málaga) AVG temperature: 11–21°C
This is the time to prepare your outdoor grow space and germinate your seeds.
If you’re growing in northern Spain, we recommend germinating your seeds indoors in late April to avoid the last of the harsh winter. If you’re growing in southern Spain, you can start germinating in early April to take advantage of the longer growing season.
While you wait for your seeds to sprout, go out and source your pots, soil, nutrients, pH meter, scissors, and any other equipment you’re missing for your grow. Also, use this time to prepare your grow space, making sure it's clean, receives as much sunlight as possible, and isn’t visible from any public place.
Cannabis seedlings are super fragile, and you should keep them indoors for the first two weeks following germination. To grow strong, resilient seedlings, we recommend using our Starter Kit (which includes feminized or autoflowering seeds). Complete with a propagator, Easy Start starter pods, LED lighting, and perlite, this kit contains everything you need to start propagating your seeds.
MAY
• (Madrid) Day length May 1st: 13h 57m
• (Madrid) AVG temperature: 8–22°C
• (Málaga) Day length May 1st: 13h 43m
• (Málaga) AVG temperature: 14–24°C
If you time things right, your seedlings should be ready to move outdoors by mid-May, just in time for the start of summer. As soon as they’ve developed leaves with at least five fingers, we recommend feeding your plants with a 4:2:3 N:P:K fertiliser to start encouraging more vigorous vegetative growth.
JUNE
• (Madrid) Day length June 1st: 14h 52m
• (Madrid) AVG temperature: 13–29°C
• (Málaga) Day length June 1st: 14h 31m
• (Málaga) AVG temperature: 18–28°C
June marks the beginning of summer across Spain. However, the temperatures in north/northwestern cities like Bilbao, Oviedo, and A Coruña are still relatively cool at this time of the year, peaking in the low 20s. These areas also receive considerable rainfall throughout June.
Overwatering cannabis is even more harmful than underwatering, since it can drown the roots and attract fungi and other pests. Oidium, for example, is a common fungus affecting cannabis. Pay attention to the weather forecasts, and move your plants indoors if there’s a risk of prolonged heavy rainfall. Also, remember to keep your young plants out of heavy winds.
In Barcelona, temperatures are higher in June, peaking at about 27°C. Rainfall is lower, averaging at about three days per month. This climate is ideal for young cannabis plants; you don’t have to worry about your plants drowning in heavy rain, and the temperatures also aren’t high enough to cause heat stress.
In Cordoba, Madrid, and other inland cities like Seville, June is usually already very hot, with temperatures peaking at around 32°C with very little rainfall (1–3 days per month). These conditions are also very good, though you’ll want to be careful with young plants during the first 2–3 weeks of the month to ensure they don’t get damaged by the high temperatures and long, sunny days. While cannabis loves sun and heat, too much of either can be damaging to young plants.
In southern Spain, temperatures are a little milder in June. Peak temperatures in Málaga, for example, are between 27–28°C, with rainfall limited to about one day per month. These conditions are ideal for growing a wide variety of cannabis strains—both large sativas and bushier indicas.
By June, your weed plants will be well into their vegetative phase. At this stage, it’s a good idea to ramp up your nutrients with a 10:5:7 fertiliser. Watering will depend on the weather in your area, but as a general rule of thumb, only water once the top 2.5–5cm of soil is completely dry.
JULY
• (Madrid) Day length July 1st: 15h 0m
• (Madrid) AVG temperature: 16–33°C
• (Málaga) Day length July 1st: 14h 38m
• (Málaga) AVG temperature: 21–31°C
July is mid-summer in Spain and marks the beginning of the hottest part of the year across the country. By this stage, your weed plants will be about 6–8 weeks into their vegetative phase, depending on when you germinated your seeds. Remember to feed your flowering plants a phosphorus-rich fertiliser to encourage budding. Most growers start their flowering plants off on 5:10:7, before moving to 6:15:10.
If you’re growing autoflowering strains, they’ll likely start flowering at the end of June/beginning of July. If you’re growing feminized strains, they’ll probably still be vegging in July or just starting to develop their first pistils. If you’re using regular seeds, July is also the time to separate your males and females unless you're breeding.
If you’re growing in central Spain, July and August can be extremely hot. Temperatures in Seville, for example, can top 35°C during these months. Make sure to keep a close eye on your plants to ensure they’re capable of dealing with the heat, and consider giving them some shade if they’re showing signs of heat stress. You’ll also want to water your plants regularly to help them deal with the high temperatures in these areas.
AUGUST
• (Madrid) Day length August 1st: 14h 17m
• (Madrid) AVG temperature: 16–33°C
• (Málaga) Day length August 1st: 14h 0m
• (Málaga) AVG temperature: 21–31°C
August in Spain is harvest time for most autoflower growers. Depending on when exactly you germinated your seeds, you should be doing your two-week flush somewhere between late July and mid-August.
For the best results when harvesting, we recommend trimming your buds while wet and hanging them upside down in a dark place. If possible, keep the temperature and relative humidity in your drying room at 20°C and 50%, respectively, for the first three days. Then, change your temperature and humidity to 17–18°C and 60% to slow the drying process and produce a better smoke.
Most photoperiod strains will still be flowering during August. If you’re growing in the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, and Formentera), beware of the humidity (which can reach up to 70%).
To prepare yourself for harvest season, we recommend cleaning and preparing your drying room towards the end of August. Make sure your drying space is clean, equipped with drying racks and lines, and, if possible, invest in an air conditioner and dehumidifier to have extra control over the drying of your weed.
SEPTEMBER
• (Madrid) Day length September 1st: 13h 04m
• (Madrid) AVG temperature: 14–29°C
• (Málaga) Day length September 1st: 12h 56m
• (Málaga) AVG temperature: 19–28°C
September marks the beginning of the harvesting season in Spain (for photoperiod strains). If you’re growing indica strains with a short flowering time, your plants should be heavy with big, frosty buds by now. Use a jeweller’s loupe to keep a close eye on your flowers—your plants will be ready to harvest once most of the trichomes are cloudy, with some turning amber.
In northern Spain, the rain tends to pick up towards late August and September. Make sure to pay close attention to this, as excess humidity and rainfall can cause bud rot. If your area is expecting heavy rainfall, you may want to move your plants indoors or consider harvesting them a little early to prevent fungus from ruining your entire harvest.
OCTOBER
• (Madrid) Day length October 1st: 11h 45m
• (Madrid) AVG temperature: 9–21°C
• (Málaga) Day length October 1st: 11h 47m
• (Málaga) AVG temperature: 15–24°C
October is harvest time across most of Europe, and Spain is no different. By this time of year, most cannabis strains (including sativas) will be heavy with big, mature buds. If you’re growing a Haze, however, you may have to wait until early or mid-November to harvest.
Again, watch out for the increased rainfall and keep your budding plants as dry as possible throughout the final weeks of flowering.
PROS AND CONS OF GROWING CANNABIS OUTDOORS IN SPAIN
Pros:
• Private cultivation for personal use is decriminalized
• Summers are long, warm, and sunny
• Mediterranean and Southern regions have an ideal climate for growing cannabis
• Spain is home to some world-class cannabis genetics
Cons:
• Growers can be fined for plants visible from a public place
• North/northwestern Spain has a shorter, wetter growing season
• Fungus and pests can strike in areas with heavy rainfall
TOP 3 RQS STRAINS RECOMMENDED FOR OUTDOOR GROWING IN SPAIN
Due to Spain’s climatic diversity, finding the right strain to grow here can be tricky. Luckily, we’ve taken the guesswork out of the equation. Here are three of the best strains to grow outdoors in Spain.
• White Widow Automatic — Ideal for northern growers
White Widow Automatic is pretty unbeatable; it’s small, discreet, highly resilient to pests and plagues, and ridiculously easy to grow. Regular feeding and a solid watering schedule are all this lady needs to produce exceptional bud. Plus, with a total crop time of just 75–85 days, this strain is ideal for northern growers facing a short, wet grow season.
Buy White Widow Automatic
• Critical — Perfect for inland growers
Critical is a profit-yielding strain capable of putting up with some pretty tough conditions. It is especially drought-resistant, which is what makes it our top recommendation for growers living in central Spain. Just remember to feed and trim it regularly, and use some LST to really bring out the best this strain has to offer.
Buy Critical
• Amnesia Haze — The choice plant for coastal growers
Amnesia Haze was bred using top-shelf Haze genetics. It produces big, airy buds that prevent fungus problems even in very humid conditions. Capable of producing up to 700g/plant, Amnesia Haze is also one of our best yielders. And while it can take up to 11 weeks of flowering to reach full maturity, trust us—the wait is well worth it!
Buy Amnesia Haze
SUMMARY — GROW YOUR STRAINS IN SPAIN!
Spain is one of Europe’s most weed-friendly nations. If you’re lucky enough to live here, make sure to take advantage of the country’s great climate and cultivation laws to grow your very own weed under the sun!
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