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Top 5 Most Popular Weed Strains in the UK
The UK has contributed some stellar genetics to the cannabis gene pool. Growers in this nation generally have strong preferences for compact strains with rapid growing times, as well as those packed with fruity and cheesy terpenes. Get to know the five most popular cannabis varieties grown in the UK.
Cannabis growers in the United Kingdom don’t have the luxuries enjoyed by those in parts of the United States and Europe. Unable to grow weed out in the open, cultivators in the UK have become experts in concealed indoor operations and outdoor guerrilla growing. However, not all strains are compatible with these approaches.
UK growers often look for several specific qualities when selecting cannabis strains. A compact height and structure rank among the most important; however, cultivators also have a penchant for stoning highs, sweet and savoury terpenes, and excellent yields. Discover the five most popular weed strains in the UK below.
Contents:
Quick One
Many UK growers are all too familiar with keeping their grow-op as covert as possible. Using grow tents, boxes, and even buckets, they’re able to procure a stash in the most discreet of locations. Having access to small and speedy genetics makes this endeavour much easier. Hence, Quick One has become a popular choice in the country.
As the progeny of Lowryder #1 and Old School Indica, Quick One possesses 60% indica genetics, 10% sativa, and 30% ruderalis. Her THC content of 13% might seem minuscule to some users, but her compact buds deliver a satisfying and stoning high, in large part thanks to her abundance of relaxing terpenes. Expect delicious flavours of citrus, earth, and fruit with every hit.
Quick One maintains a stealthy height of 50–60cm indoors and produces up to 325g/m². Prepare to harvest buds in as little as 9–10 weeks following sprouting. Outdoors, she peaks at 100cm and produces up to 150g/plant.
Quick One
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Lowryder 1 x Old School Indica |
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275 - 325 gr/m2 |
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50 - 60 cm |
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5 - 6 Weeks |
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THC: 13% |
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Sativa 10% Indica 60% Ruderalis 30% |
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100 - 150 gr/plant |
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60 - 100 cm |
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9 - 10 weeks after sprouting |
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Physically Relaxing |
Northern Light Automatic
Almost every grower has heard of Northern Lights, and many have experienced the deeply relaxing effect that this cultivar has to offer. Our breeders at Royal Queen Seeds created an autoflowering version of this classic, which has been exceptionally well-received by UK growers. North Light Automatic's speedy growing time makes her the perfect fit for areas with a short outdoor growing season.
We created this cultivar by crossing the original strain with a high-performing ruderalis specimen, resulting in a low-maintenance but highly productive autoflowering cultivar. Overall, Northern Light Auto features 80% indica genetics and 20% ruderalis. Her THC content of 14%, paired with a lively set of terpenes, makes for a subtle yet stimulating high. Her aromas and flavours are characterised by notes of citrus, earth, fruit, pepper, and pine.
Grow this strain indoors, and you’ll watch plants peak at a height of 120cm and produce up to 550g/m² after 10–12 weeks from germination. Outdoors, she grows to 130–160cm and churns out up to 220g/plant. Northern Light Auto responds well to organic growing practices, including companion planting, mulching, and microbial inoculation.
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 |
Cookies Gelato
The UK has a big soft spot for this sugary hybrid. But why Cookies Gelato above all else? Hint: it has a lot to do with massive quantities of THC! Our breeders created this powerhouse hybrid by crossing legendary parent strains Girl Scout Cookies and Gelato 33. The progeny emerged with a perfectly balanced profile of 50% sativa and 50% indica, exhibiting outlandish THC levels of around 28%—enough to keep you elevated for hours at a time. But aside from her formidable potency, Cookies Gelato’s complex terpene profile, characterised by notes of citrus, earth, fruit, and mint, are also responsible for luring in connoisseurs.
You don’t need the status of “master grower” to successfully raise Cookies Gelato. This cultivar performs both indoors and outdoors, so long as you keep her well-fed and exposed to lots of light. Indoors, you can expect a weighty yield of 550–600g/m² after a relatively brief flowering time of 8–9 weeks. Outdoors, prepare to harvest 600–650g/plant during mid-October. This relatively early harvest time makes Cookies Gelato a suitable photoperiod variety for the British growing season.
Cookies Gelato
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Girl Scout Cookie X Gelato 33 |
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550 - 600 gr/m2 |
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90 - 130 cm |
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8 - 9 weeks |
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THC: 28% |
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Sativa 50% Indica 50% |
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600 - 650 gr/plant |
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140 - 180 cm |
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Middle of October |
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Balanced, Calming, Physically Relaxing |
Blue Cheese Automatic
When you think about the geography of cannabis breeding, several locations probably come to mind. California has gained a reputation for creating strong hybrids, and Morocco, Thailand, and Colombia are known for their legendary landraces. However, the UK has also contributed to the world of classic cannabis strains in the form of Cheese, an indica-dominant powerhouse loaded with gassy and savoury aromas.
Our breeders harnessed Cheese genetics and crossed them with Blueberry and ruderalis to create Blue Cheese Automatic. Naturally, the Cheese components of this strain have made her a hit in the UK, along with her sweet berry accents and uplifting high. This variety features a THC content of 14%, imparting an energetic effect perfect for daytime use.
Blue Cheese Automatic performs superbly indoors, where she grows to a stealthy height of 40–70cm and produces 325–375g/m². Outdoors, plants grow to a slightly taller height of 60–110cm and produce 60–110g/plant. Prepare to harvest after just 10–11 weeks after sprouts emerge.
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Blue Cheese Auto
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Blueberry x Cheese x Ruderalis |
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325 - 375 gr/m2 |
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40 - 70 cm |
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6 - 7 weeks |
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THC: 16% |
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Sativa 35% Indica 40% Ruderalis 25% |
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60 - 110 gr/plant |
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60 - 110 cm |
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10 – 11 weeks after sprouting |
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Clear, Uplifting |
Royal Runtz
This new-school cultivar has earned some serious prestige in recent years; so much so that she ranks up there with the classics in the eyes of many UK weed growers. In a quest to generate industry-leading potency, our skilled breeders crossed Gelato and Zkittlez. After stabilising the progeny, they achieved a beast exhibiting a THC content of 27%. As such, beginner smokers should approach this strain with caution. Nevertheless, both novices and veterans will enjoy an uplifting, happy high with Royal Runtz.
Potency aside, how does Royal Runtz perform in the grow room or garden? Inside, she returns up to 450–500g/m² after 8–9 weeks of bloom. Grow her outside, and you can expect to trim up to 450g/plant in mid-October.
Royal Runtz
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Gelato x Zkittlez |
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450 - 500 gr/m2 |
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90 - 130 cm |
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8 - 9 weeks |
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THC: 27% |
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Sativa 50% Indica 50% |
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400 - 450 gr/plant |
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160 - 180 cm |
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Middle of October |
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Euphoric, Uplifting |
Popular UK Strains: Did You Spot the Theme?
Did you catch it? Weed growers in the UK have several obvious preferences that make the above strains such hits. They’re drawn to compact plants that grow well in hidden locations, and they value rapid growing times that are compatible with the short outdoor season experienced in the northern regions of the UK. Finally, they’re also a fan of flavour extremes—they like terpenes as fruity and as cheesy as they come!
