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Top 10 Highest-Yielding Outdoor Autoflowering Cannabis Strains
Autoflowering cannabis strains are known for their resilience and speed. However, some are much better suited to growing outdoors than others. Not only do these 10 cultivars thrive outside, but they reward cultivators with heavy yields at the end of the growing cycle. Prepare to harvest handful after handful from our highest-yielding autoflowers.
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Recently, autoflowering strains have shed their old skin. Once perceived to offer little in the way of yield and potency, modern breeders have worked hard to create strains that smash this stereotype. This new wave of genetics offers harvests that outcompete some photoperiod strains, alongside THC levels that will satisfy your urge to get elevated. Because autoflowering varieties feature hardy ruderalis genetics, they happily grow almost anywhere. However, some fare much better outdoors than others.
Without the luxuries of artificial lighting and heating, outdoor growers are at the whim of their climate. It goes without saying that autos cultivated in warm and sunny climates grow bigger and yield better than those elsewhere. However, growers further north can still ensure a respectable return by placing their crop in the sunniest position possible; greenhouses and polytunnels also help to trap heat and accelerate growth.
Below, you’ll discover the 10 highest-yielding outdoor autoflowering cannabis strains in the Royal Queen Seeds catalogue. These cultivars thrive both in containers and with their root systems directly in the earth.
With these environmental considerations in mind, it's time to choose the ideal genetics for your setup. The following cultivars all offer something different in the way of taste, effects, and size, but share one important trait: XXL yields.
White Widow Automatic
You’ve no doubt heard this name before. This Cannabis Cup champion made an instant impression upon being released in 1994, and to this day, cannabis users all over the world savour her euphoric high and earthy tastes. Breeders at Royal Queen Seeds decided to make this variety easier and quicker to grow by infusing it with ruderalis, creating White Widow Automatic. This impressive autoflower features a subtle THC level of 14%, producing a relaxing and functional high suitable for any time of day. On top of her pleasant effects, delicious flavours of earthiness, pepper, and pine accompany every hit.
Outdoors, White Widow Automatic grows to varying heights of 50–110cm; plants grown in small containers will remain on the lower end of the spectrum, whereas those in the ground will reach the upper end. Over the course of 10–12 weeks, this strain will emerge from a seed into a fully mature plant ready to harvest. Expect rewarding yields of up to 240g/plant.
White Widow Auto
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White Widow x ruderalis |
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400 - 450 gr/m2 |
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40 - 80 cm |
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7 - 8 weeks |
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THC: 14% |
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Sativa 40% Indica 40% Ruderalis 20% |
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190 - 240 gr/plant |
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50 - 110 cm |
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10 - 12 weeks after sprouting |
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Physically Relaxing, Stoned |
Northern Light Automatic
This autoflowering version of Northern Light offers all of the best traits of the original strain while drastically reducing the time it takes to grow. With a THC content of 14%, she won’t render you bound to the couch. In contrast, she exerts an uplifting and empowering high that will put you in the mood to pursue creative projects; you’ll want to reach for your guitar or sketch pad after a bowl or two. What about flavour? Well, Northern Light Automatic delivers a balanced terpene profile characterised by notes of citrus, earthiness, pine, and fruit.
In the garden, this strain reaches a peak height of 160cm when left to its own devices. However, you can use training techniques to keep it at a shorter height of 130cm if you want to keep a low profile. Expect a bulky yield of 170–220g/plant after a total growing time of 10–12 weeks.
Northern Light Auto
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Northern Light x Ruderalis |
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500 - 550 gr/m2 |
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80 - 120 cm |
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6 - 8 weeks |
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THC: 14% |
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Sativa 0% Indica 80% Ruderalis 20% |
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170 - 220 gr/plant |
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130 - 160 cm |
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10 - 12 weeks after sprouting |
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Clear, Uplifting |
Royal Cheese Automatic
Are you noticing a theme here? Our skilled breeders have converted some of the most prestigious strains into high-yielding autoflowers that are far less of a challenge to grow. Royal Cheese Automatic stems from the legendary Cheese from the United Kingdom. This auto offers a terpene profile not found elsewhere. Strong notes of musky cheese come to the fore while smoking, making it a unique and undeniably flavourful experience. Adding to this, 15% THC will have you feeling relaxed and in the mood to sit back, listen to some music, and engage in deep conversation.
Royal Cheese Automatic produces dense and resinous flowers that are a sight to behold during the late flowering stage. Expect her to reach a height of 60–120cm outdoors. When placed in a sunny and warm spot, this variety will produce up to 210g/plant—enough to keep you mellow for weeks to come.
Royal Cheese Auto
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Cheese x Royal Critical x Ruderalis |
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425 - 475 gr/m2 |
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60 - 100 cm |
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7 - 8 weeks |
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THC: 15% |
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Sativa 30% Indica 50% Ruderalis 20% |
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160 - 210 gr/plant |
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60 - 120 cm |
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11 - 12 weeks after sprouting |
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Physically Relaxing, Stoned |
Amnesia Haze Automatic
As the progeny of Amnesia and a high-performing Cannabis ruderalis specimen, this strain delivers an invigorating high that will send your mornings into overdrive. Many users elect to incorporate this lively variety into their wake-and-bake routine—alongside a strong cup of coffee—to start their day on the right foot. A citrusy and earthy terpene profile converges with a THC content of 18% to set neurons ablaze and catalyse feelings of motivation and alertness.
Amnesia Haze Automatic stands as one of our most productive autoflowering strains. Although her canopy weighs heavy with buds come harvest time, she doesn’t take long to reach that point (for a sativa). You can expect to harvest a bounty of 130–180g/plant in as little as 11 weeks. Place her in a sunny spot in close proximity to companion plants to maximise your chances of success.
Amnesia Haze Auto
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Amnesia x Ruderalis |
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350 - 400 gr/m2 |
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50 - 100 cm |
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7 - 8 weeks |
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THC: 18% |
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Sativa 50% Indica 20% Ruderalis 30% |
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130 - 180 gr/plant |
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100 - 120 cm |
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11 - 12 weeks after sprouting |
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Clear, Uplifting |
Royal Cookies Automatic
There are no prizes for guessing how this strain tastes. Using the renowned Girl Scout Cookies strain as a genetic foundation, breeders created a high-yielding auto that boasts tantalising flavours of candy, sugar, and fruits. Use a vape to give these terpenes the respect they deserve, or create a sweet batch of cannabutter to bring your brownies to the next level. Flavour aside, Royal Cookies Automatic serves up a THC content of 18% and a euphoric high that will bring a smile to your face after the first hit.
How does Royal Cookies Automatic perform in the garden or a guerrilla grow? Exceptionally. This flexible strain peaks at a height of between 60–140cm. You can shape her to your desires, using smaller pots and training techniques to keep her on the shorter side. As far as yield goes, get your stash jars ready for 130–180g/plant after a flowering time of 6–8 weeks.
Royal Cookies Auto
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Girl Scout Cookies x Ruderalis |
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325 - 450 gr/m2 |
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70 - 100 cm |
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7 - 9 weeks |
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THC: 18% |
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Sativa 20% Indica 60% Ruderalis 20% |
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130 - 180 gr/plant |
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80 - 140 cm |
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10 - 12 weeks after sprouting |
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Calming, Euphoric |
North Thunderfuck Automatic
Hold on to your hats. North Thunderfuck Automatic ranks as one of the most potent autos in the RQS catalogue. Prepare to have your perception of autoflowers changed once and for all. This little firecracker will lift your spirits and relax your body in a matter of minutes. Her dense and sticky flowers are loaded with a THC content of 21% alongside citrusy and earthy terpenes that steer the high into this pleasant direction.
This variety will thrive outdoors with minimal intervention. Her good resistance to pests means you shouldn't run into any problems, considering you keep her well-fed and watered. After a successful germination period, expect to wait 10–12 weeks to harvest as much as 180g/plant. Raise multiple plants, and you won’t have to buy weed anytime soon.
North Thunderfuck Auto
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North Thunderfuck x Ruderalis |
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500 - 550 gr/m2 |
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90 – 140 cm |
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8 - 9 weeks |
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THC: 21% |
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Sativa 45%, Indica 50%, Ruderalis 5% |
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90 - 140 gr/plant |
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120 - 150 cm |
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10 - 12 weeks after sprouting |
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Physically Relaxing, Uplifting |
Royal Haze Automatic
Anytime you see the word “Haze” in a strain name, you know you’re in for a good time. But this variety adds something else to the equation—Skunk genetics. As you’d expect, this combination resulted in a cultivar with highly desirable tastes and effects. Each hit sends waves of citrusy, earthy, and herbal notes over the tongue. Shortly after inhaling, you’ll feel a clear and uplifting high take hold and put you in the mood to get things done. With a THC level of 15%, Royal Haze Automatic occupies the middle-ground and makes for a perfect daytime strain.
You’ll have to wait a tad longer to harvest these flowers compared to some of our other heavy-yielding autos; it takes around 12–13 weeks for plants to reach full maturity. But the additional week or so is more than worth it. Come harvest time, you’ll have up to 180g/plant to enjoy.
Royal Haze Auto
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Amnesia Haze x Skunk x Ruderalis |
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300 - 350 gr/m2 |
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65 - 85 cm |
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8 - 9 weeks |
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THC: 15% |
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Sativa 50% Indica 20% Ruderalis 30% |
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130 - 180 gr/plant |
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120 - 150 cm |
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12 - 13 after sprouting |
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Clear, Uplifting |
Green Gelato Automatic
You’d probably accuse us of exaggerating if we called Green Gelato Automatic one of the greatest autos on Earth, but we’re sticking by our statement. Why? First of all, her dense and trichome-laden flowers produce a THC content of 24%. That’s almost unheard of for an auto, and rare even for photoperiod strains. Together with her sugary and fruity terpenes, the THC swiftly gets to work on providing a fast-acting high that stones the body but leaves the mind clear and lucid. Take things one toke at a time until you find your sweet spot (no pun intended).
It's clear that Green Gelato Automatic provides an unmatched smoking experience, but how does she perform outdoors? Not only does this auto churn out potent flowers, but she does so in as little as 9 weeks. At the end of the flowering phase, prepare to dry and cure between 100–175g/plant.
Green Gelato Auto
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Green Gelato x Cookies Auto |
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375 - 450 gr/m2 |
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70 - 120 cm |
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7 - 8 weeks |
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THC: 24% |
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Sativa 55% Indica 40% Ruderalis 5% |
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100 - 175 gr/plant |
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100 - 120 cm |
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9 - 10 weeks after sprouting |
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Clear, Physically Relaxing |
Fat Banana Automatic
Fat Banana Automatic combines mouth-watering flavours with enough THC to melt you into the couch. Our breeders brought this variety into existence by crossing the fruity Fat Banana with the sugary Cookies Automatic. The result of this breeding project inherited a THC content of 22% and a terpene profile that tastes like—you guessed it—bananas and other tropical fruits. This strain delivers a clear-headed and chilled high best reserved for quiet afternoons and evenings when you have a clear schedule.
If her flavour and effects weren’t enough to win you over, her quick growing cycle and rewarding yields will certainly seal the deal. Fat Banana Automatic churns out up to 175g/plant in as little as 9 weeks. At a height of 80–120cm, plants are easy to manage and conceal.
Fat Banana Auto
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Fat Banana x Cookies Auto |
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375 - 450 gr/m2 |
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70 - 100 cm |
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7 - 8 weeks |
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THC: 22% |
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Sativa 20% Indica 70% Ruderalis 10% |
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90 - 175 gr/plant |
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80 - 120 cm |
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9 - 10 weeks after sprouting |
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Calming, Clear |
Sweet ZZ Automatic
As the lovechild of Sweet ZZ and Diesel Automatic, Sweet ZZ Automatic produces some of the best-looking autoflowering buds out there. These sparkling nugs boast shades of dark green and light purple; you’ll impress the room when unveiling these at a post-harvest smoking session. More than just a pretty face, these flowers possess a respectable THC content of 18% and sugary and fruity terpenes. Prepare yourself for a deeply stoning body high.
When it comes to cultivating Sweet ZZ Automatic outdoors, she reliably produces a harvest 11 weeks following germination. When raised in a sunny spot, within the embrace of a polytunnel in northern latitudes, she'll provide a return of 90–175g/plant.
Sweet ZZ Auto
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Sweet ZZ x Diesel Auto |
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350 - 400 gr/m2 |
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70 - 120 cm |
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6 - 7 weeks |
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THC: 18% |
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Sativa 35% Indica 60% Ruderalis 5% |
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90 - 175 gr/plant |
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100 - 120 cm |
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9 - 11 weeks after sprouting |
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Stoned |
Prepare for Big Yields From Fast Plants
Now you’re familiar with the highest-yielding autoflowering strains in the RQS catalogue. Which varieties intrigue you the most? There are plenty of tasks you can crack on with while waiting for seeds to arrive: Clear a space in your garden, wash out old pots, procure some high-quality soil, and get your germination station ready! Oh, and you’ll need some roomy stash jars to shop your bounty.
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