By Luke Sumpter

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.


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
Quick One

Quick One
23_genetic background_1 Lowryder 1 x Old School Indica
33_Yield indoors_1 275 - 325 gr/m2
31_plant height outdoor_1 50 - 60 cm
25_flowering time_1 5 - 6 Weeks
29_THC_1 THC: 13%
28_Type Blend_1 Sativa 10% Indica 60% Ruderalis 30%
34_yield outdoor_1 100 - 150 gr/plant
32_plant height outdoors_1 60 - 100 cm
27_harvest period_1 9 - 10 weeks after sprouting
22_Effect_1 Physically Relaxing

Buy Quick One

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
Northern Light

Northern Light Auto
23_genetic background_1 Northern Light x Ruderalis
33_Yield indoors_1 500 - 550 gr/m2
31_plant height outdoor_1 80 - 120 cm
25_flowering time_1 6 - 8 weeks
29_THC_1 THC: 14%
28_Type Blend_1 Sativa 0% Indica 80% Ruderalis 20%
34_yield outdoor_1 170 - 220 gr/plant
32_plant height outdoors_1 130 - 160 cm
27_harvest period_1 10 - 12 weeks after sprouting
22_Effect_1 Clear, Uplifting

Buy Northern Light Auto

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
Cookies Gelato

Cookies Gelato
23_genetic background_1 Girl Scout Cookie X Gelato 33
33_Yield indoors_1 550 - 600 gr/m2
31_plant height outdoor_1 90 - 130 cm
25_flowering time_1 8 - 9 weeks
29_THC_1 THC: 28%
28_Type Blend_1 Sativa 50% Indica 50%
34_yield outdoor_1 600 - 650 gr/plant
32_plant height outdoors_1 140 - 180 cm
27_harvest period_1 Middle of October
22_Effect_1 Balanced, Calming, Physically Relaxing

Buy Cookies Gelato

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.

Blue Cheese
Blue Cheese

Blue Cheese Auto
23_genetic background_1 Blueberry x Cheese x Ruderalis
33_Yield indoors_1 325 - 375 gr/m2
31_plant height outdoor_1 40 - 70 cm
25_flowering time_1 6 - 7 weeks
29_THC_1 THC: 16%
28_Type Blend_1 Sativa 35% Indica 40% Ruderalis 25%
34_yield outdoor_1 60 - 110 gr/plant
32_plant height outdoors_1 60 - 110 cm
27_harvest period_1 10 – 11 weeks after sprouting
22_Effect_1 Clear, Uplifting

Buy Blue Cheese Auto

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
Royal Runtz

Royal Runtz
23_genetic background_1 Gelato x Zkittlez
33_Yield indoors_1 450 - 500 gr/m2
31_plant height outdoor_1 90 - 130 cm
25_flowering time_1 8 - 9 weeks
29_THC_1 THC: 27%
28_Type Blend_1 Sativa 50% Indica 50%
34_yield outdoor_1 400 - 450 gr/plant
32_plant height outdoors_1 160 - 180 cm
27_harvest period_1 Middle of October
22_Effect_1 Euphoric, Uplifting

Buy Royal Runtz

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!

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