By Luke Sumpter


Northern climates aren’t ideal for growing sativa cannabis environments. These strains are usually native to warmer climates closer to the equator, and therefore struggle to hold up against the sometimes cold and frosty conditions and short grow seasons of the northern hemisphere.

Luckily, we’ve gone ahead and created this list of the top 5 sativa varieties that can grow in the less friendly climate of the north. Read on to find out what strains made the cut.

UNDERSTANDING NORTHERN CLIMATE

Before we shine the spotlight on a handful of sativa strains that grow well in northern climates, it's important to understand what actually distinguishes a normal climate.

When we talk about northern climates, we are generally referring to grow environments which are cooler and wetter than some of the more southern areas of Europe, such as the UK, parts of Germany, and the Netherlands.

One of the biggest concerns for growers in northern environments is cold weather and frost. Traditionally, most sativa varieties grow in warmer climates, and struggle to grow in these conditions.

Now, the more north you go, the further you get from the equator and you’re potential of dealing with frost and cold weather obviously increases. On the other hand, the the closer you get to the equator, the warmer the climate gets, making it easier to grow sativa varieties.

Due to these conditions, growers in the north general face shorter grow seasons, which can dramatically drive down the overall yield per harvest, especially in sativa varieties.

Now, this is obviously a generalized overview of northern climates, and the local climate where you live (or plan to grow) may vary quite dramatically to other northern regions. Hence, it’s important you take the time to understand your climate and how you can best prepare for it before you actually start sprouting your seeds.

TOP 5 SATIVA STRAINS FOR NORTHERN CLIMATES

Below we’ve handpicked a list of the best sativa cannabis strains to grow in northern climates. Read on for more information and follow the links for more details on each strain.

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1. Painkiller

Painkiller derives from famed high-CBD parent strain Juanita la Lagrimosa. Breeders crossed this powerhouse with Respect 13 to create a strain with 75% sativa genetics and 25% indica. Her dense, sticky flowers generate high levels of CBD alongside 9% THC, giving rise to a clear-headed and subtle high—perfect for daytime use.

Painkiller thrives in both indoor and outdoor settings. Her explosive growth and brief flowering time mean she’ll be ready way before the first frost sets in. Even if you’re a little late with her, she’ll tolerate chilly temperatures for a while. Indoor plants reach 60–100cm tall and produce a respectable bounty of 500–550g/m² after 8–9 weeks of flowering. Outdoors, she really comes into her own, reaching a max height of 150cm and churning out up to 550g/plant in late September or early October.

Painkiller XL

Painkiller XL
23_genetic background_1 Respect 13 x Juanita la Lagrimosa
33_Yield indoors_1 500 - 550 gr/m2
31_plant height outdoor_1 60 - 100 cm
25_flowering time_1 8 - 9 weeks
29_THC_1 THC: 9%
28_Type Blend_1 Sativa 75% Indica 25%
34_yield outdoor_1 500 - 550 gr/plant
32_plant height outdoors_1 120 - 150 cm
27_harvest period_1 Late September
22_Effect_1 Clear, Physically Relaxing

Buy Painkiller XL

2. Mother Gorilla

Mother Gorilla is an epic strain that deserves a space in every growers garden. As a cross between Gorilla Glue #4 and Queen Mother (Reina Madre), this is a sativa-dominant hybrid with strong, stable genetics that can easily stand up to the challenges of a northern grow environment.

Boasting THC levels of 25%, this strain is ideal for recreational use, as well as medicinal use centreed around pain relief. Being a feminized strain, this strain is easy to germinate and grow even for rookies.

Mother Gorilla has a flowering time of just 8 weeks, which makes it perfect for the short growing seasons of the north. They only grow to about 1.8 metres, which still makes them relatively discreet for outdoor growers.

Plants are usually ready for harvest by October, and can easily produce between 600 and 650 grams per plant. The buds offer a full flavour and aroma, and produce a strong euphoric high typical of sativas, underlined with some indica-style relaxation.

Most importantly, thanks to its strong genetic background and the expert breeding that went into creating this strain, you can rest assured that Mother Gorilla will have no problem holding up to the tough grow conditions of the north.

Mother Gorilla

Mother Gorilla (Formerly Royal Madre)
23_genetic background_1 Gorilla Glue 4 x Reina Madre
33_Yield indoors_1 450 - 500 gr/m2
31_plant height outdoor_1 60 - 100 cm
25_flowering time_1 9 - 10 weeks
29_THC_1 THC: 23%
28_Type Blend_1 Sativa 70% Indica 30%
34_yield outdoor_1 500 - 550 gr/plant
32_plant height outdoors_1 140 - 180 cm
27_harvest period_1 Early October
22_Effect_1 Calming, Euphoric

Buy Mother Gorilla (Formerly Royal Madre)

3. Green Crack Punch

The cold won’t stop Green Crack Punch from zooming right on through the flowering stage to harvest. The strain inherited her vigorous genes from indica-dominant parent strains Green Crack and Purple Punch. This combination gave rise to a closely balanced variety with 60% sativa genetics and 40% indica. A THC level of 18% and slight sativa dominance converge for a cognitive and energising high that will motivate you to get your work in order!

Enjoy a rich blend of terpenes alongside these pleasant effects. High levels of myrcene, caryophyllene, limonene, and pinene dominate the mix, generating tastes of sweetness and citrus. Indoors, she’ll reach a height of 90–160cm and produce 450–500g/m² after a speedy flowering period of 8–9 weeks. Green Crack Punch performs best outdoors, and she doesn’t let a bit of cold get in her way. Plants peak at 220cm and produce up to 600g/plant of purple-tinged buds.

Green Crack Punch

Green Crack Punch
23_genetic background_1 Green Crack x Purple Punch
33_Yield indoors_1 450 - 500 gr/m2
31_plant height outdoor_1 90 - 160 cm
25_flowering time_1 8 - 9 weeks
29_THC_1 THC: 18%
28_Type Blend_1 Sativa 60% Indica 40%
34_yield outdoor_1 550 - 600 gr/plant
32_plant height outdoors_1 180 - 220 cm
27_harvest period_1 Late September
22_Effect_1 Calming, Euphoric

Buy Green Crack Punch

4. Green Gelato Automatic

Breeders created Green Gelato Automatic by crossing Green Gelato with Cookies Automatic. This combination took the mind-blowing terpene profile and potency of the Green Gelato and supercharged it with the autoflowering trait. Cannabis lovers need to be careful with these buds. THC levels of 24% can easily overwhelm the mind.

Green Gelato Automatic will grow to an average height of 100–120cm under the sun. Expect a rewarding yield of 100–175g/plant after a rapid growing cycle of 9–10 weeks. Such brevity makes her a suitable option for impatient growers seeking a quick turnaround. Start plants in greenhouses in March, and you’ll be harvesting them just as the weather begins to surge. Stagger your germination schedule, and you can achieve several harvests in one year.

Green Gelato Automatic

Green Gelato Auto
23_genetic background_1 Green Gelato x Cookies Auto
33_Yield indoors_1 375 - 450 gr/m2
31_plant height outdoor_1 70 - 120 cm
25_flowering time_1 7 - 8 weeks
29_THC_1 THC: 24%
28_Type Blend_1 Sativa 55% Indica 40% Ruderalis 5%
34_yield outdoor_1 100 - 175 gr/plant
32_plant height outdoors_1 100 - 120 cm
27_harvest period_1 9 - 10 weeks after sprouting
22_Effect_1 Clear, Physically Relaxing

Buy Green Gelato Auto

5. Hulkberry Automatic

HulkBerry Automatic ticks all of the boxes for a northern sativa. She boasts cold tolerance, rapid harvests, and a cannabinoid profile that will catapult your mind up into the clouds. The descendant of HulkBerry and Diesel Automatic, this cultivar boasts potency that outcompetes most other autos on the market. Her tapered, dark-green flowers put out a THC content of 21%, infusing some serious mental stimulation into this sativa-dominant variety.

Smoke these buds in the morning for a cerebral boost. Each hour at work will fly by as you lose yourself in the moment. Grown indoors, HulkBerry Automatic reaches 80–120cm in height and produces an impressive 450–500g/m². Outdoors, plants can be sown as late as early July. Expect a harvest of 100–150g/plant after a rapid growing cycle of 8–9 weeks.

Hulkberry Automatic

HulkBerry Auto
23_genetic background_1 Hulkberry x Diesel Auto
33_Yield indoors_1 450 - 500 gr/m2
31_plant height outdoor_1 80 - 120 cm
25_flowering time_1 6 - 7 weeks
29_THC_1 THC: 21%
28_Type Blend_1 Sativa 65% Indica 30% Ruderalis 5%
34_yield outdoor_1 100 - 150 gr/plant
32_plant height outdoors_1 80 - 120 cm
27_harvest period_1 8 - 9 weeks after sprouting
22_Effect_1 Clear, Uplifting

Buy HulkBerry Auto

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: