What makes one of the best outdoor cannabis strains for the UK? Cool summers, damp autumns and short growing seasons mean that breeders and collectors look for particular traits: an early finish, resistance to mould, or autoflowering genetics. Here are our 20 top picks, chosen only from three ranges we know best: Satdica Bulk Seeds, Europa Seeds and Freedom of Seeds.
Please note: this is a guide for seed collectors, not growing advice. Germinating or cultivating cannabis without a Home Office licence is illegal in the UK. Our seeds are sold as souvenirs and collectibles for adults.
How we chose these 20 strains
Every strain here is in stock at the time of writing and was picked using the details on its own listing:
- An early listed outdoor finish, by the end of September where one is given, ahead of the wettest autumn weather.
- Notes on hardiness, such as mould resistance or suitability for cold and northern climates.
- Autoflowering genetics, which come from Cannabis ruderalis, a type from regions with very short summers.
- Triploid genetics from Satdica Bulk Seeds, on strains whose listings give an outdoor finish.
The 20 best outdoor strains at a glance
| # | Strain | Range | Seed type | Listed outdoor finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Banana Dance | Freedom of Seeds | Feminised | End of September |
| 2 | Durban Poison Auto | Satdica Bulk Seeds | Autoflowering feminised | Autoflower |
| 3 | Godberry | Freedom of Seeds | Feminised | End of September |
| 4 | Cheeselicious | Europa Seeds | Feminised | Mid-September |
| 5 | Freakshow Auto | Satdica Bulk Seeds | Autoflowering feminised | Autoflower, 9–10 weeks from seed |
| 6 | Heavy Grapefruit | Europa Seeds | Feminised | Mid-September |
| 7 | Durban Poison | Satdica Bulk Seeds | Feminised | Early to mid-autumn |
| 8 | Mighty Grape | Freedom of Seeds | Feminised | End of September |
| 9 | Fruit Slap | Europa Seeds | Feminised | Mid-September |
| 10 | Sweet Afghan Delicious | Satdica Bulk Seeds | Feminised | Late September |
| 11 | Easy Cheese Auto | Freedom of Seeds | Autoflowering feminised | Autoflower |
| 12 | Purple Diesel Daze | Europa Seeds | Feminised | End of September |
| 13 | Banana Punch Triploid | Satdica Bulk Seeds | Triploid feminised | End of September |
| 14 | Mini Purps Auto | Europa Seeds | Autoflowering feminised | Autoflower |
| 15 | Stilton Breath (aka Cheesedom) | Freedom of Seeds | Feminised | End of September |
| 16 | Rotten Apple Triploid | Satdica Bulk Seeds | Triploid feminised | End of September |
| 17 | Gumberry Auto | Europa Seeds | Autoflowering feminised | Autoflower |
| 18 | Zookies Triploid | Satdica Bulk Seeds | Triploid feminised | Late Sept to early Oct |
| 19 | White Goblin Auto | Freedom of Seeds | Autoflower | Autoflower, 8 weeks from seed |
| 20 | LSD Auto | Satdica Bulk Seeds | Autoflowering | Autoflower |
Our top 20 in detail
1. Banana Dance (Freedom of Seeds)
Our top pick. Its listing calls it an excellent choice for the UK outdoors and describes it as mould-resistant, the two qualities that matter most in a damp British climate. It is also one of the most popular strains in our own range. View Banana Dance.
2. Durban Poison Auto (Satdica Bulk Seeds)
An autoflowering take on a classic. Durban Poison has long been respected as an outdoor strain in the UK and Europe, and this version was developed with those outdoor conditions in mind. View Durban Poison Auto.
3. Godberry (Freedom of Seeds)
An indica-dominant strain from our own range, listed with a short 55-day flowering period that its description links directly to colder climates. View Godberry.
4. Cheeselicious (Europa Seeds)
One of the earliest listed finishes in this guide, and a good choice for fans of the Cheese family, which has its roots in the UK. View Cheeselicious.
5. Freakshow Auto (Satdica Bulk Seeds)
A favourite among Satdica customers, described in its listing as able to stand up to both extreme cold and high temperatures outdoors. View Freakshow Auto.
6. Heavy Grapefruit (Europa Seeds)
A balanced indica and sativa hybrid with a mid-September listed finish, well ahead of the wettest part of the British autumn. View Heavy Grapefruit.
7. Durban Poison (Satdica Bulk Seeds)
The sativa-leaning South African classic, described in its listing as resilient even in harsh climates. View Durban Poison.
8. Mighty Grape (Freedom of Seeds)
An indica-dominant strain from our own range and one of the names customers most often search for. View Mighty Grape.
9. Fruit Slap (Europa Seeds)
Another early finisher from Europa Seeds: a balanced hybrid listed for the middle of September. View Fruit Slap.
10. Sweet Afghan Delicious (Satdica Bulk Seeds)
Afghan heritage and a listing that highlights mould resistance, which makes it a natural fit for this list. View Sweet Afghan Delicious.
11. Easy Cheese Auto (Freedom of Seeds)
Our best-selling strain by a long way: over 1,000 sold. An autoflowering strain with classic British Cheese character. View Easy Cheese Auto.
12. Purple Diesel Daze (Europa Seeds)
One of the most popular strains in the Europa Seeds range, a balanced hybrid listed for the end of September. View Purple Diesel Daze.
13. Banana Punch Triploid (Satdica Bulk Seeds)
A 50/50 triploid from the Satdica range with Banana OG and Purple Punch in its parentage, listed for an outdoor finish at the end of September. View Banana Punch Triploid.
14. Mini Purps Auto (Europa Seeds)
A compact autoflower bred from Purple Ryder Auto and Himalaya Blue Diesel Auto, with a listing written for UK and European conditions. View Mini Purps Auto.
15. Stilton Breath (aka Cheesedom) (Freedom of Seeds)
As the name suggests, a Cheese-family strain with a British accent, indica-dominant and listed for the end of September. View Stilton Breath (aka Cheesedom).
16. Rotten Apple Triploid (Satdica Bulk Seeds)
A balanced triploid listed for an outdoor finish at the end of September. Its listing says it grows well outdoors, indoors and in a greenhouse. View Rotten Apple Triploid.
17. Gumberry Auto (Europa Seeds)
A Californian-influenced autoflower known for developing purple and blue shades as temperatures drop. View Gumberry Auto.
18. Zookies Triploid (Satdica Bulk Seeds)
A triploid bred from Animal Cookies and Gorilla Glue #4. Its listing gives an outdoor finish of late September to early October and says it performs well in a variety of environments. View Zookies Triploid.
19. White Goblin Auto (Freedom of Seeds)
One of the fastest strains here, listed as ready in only 8 weeks from seed. View White Goblin Auto.
20. LSD Auto (Satdica Bulk Seeds)
A Satdica autoflower whose listing singles out its strong natural resistance to mould and mildew. View LSD Auto.
Why autoflowering strains feature so strongly
Autoflowering strains flower according to age rather than the length of the day, a trait inherited from ruderalis plants native to far northern regions. That heritage is why they are so often associated with cooler climates. Read more in feminised vs autoflowering vs regular seeds, or browse all Satdica autoflowering seeds.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best outdoor cannabis strain for the UK?
Our top pick is Banana Dance from Freedom of Seeds, whose listing describes it as an excellent choice for the UK outdoors and as mould-resistant.
Which strains have the earliest listed outdoor finish?
In this guide, Cheeselicious, Heavy Grapefruit and Fruit Slap from Europa Seeds are all listed for the middle of September.
Is it legal to grow cannabis outdoors in the UK?
No. Cultivating cannabis, indoors or outdoors, without a Home Office licence is illegal in the UK. Buying and owning seeds as souvenirs is not an offence. See is it legal to buy cannabis seeds in my country?
Triploid strains from Satdica Bulk Seeds
Three of our top 20 are triploid strains from Satdica Bulk Seeds: Banana Punch Triploid, Rotten Apple Triploid and Zookies Triploid. Triploids carry three sets of chromosomes rather than two. Beyond the 20, the listings for DONUTZ and GMO Cookies Triploid mention both indoor and outdoor settings, and Mimosa Triploid is listed for one week after the end of summer. Browse the full Triploid Seeds range or read our guide to triploid cannabis seeds.
The best seeds to buy
For the best outdoor strains to buy, we recommend Freedom of Seeds, our own Satdica Bulk Seeds and Europa Seeds. Satdica Bulk Seeds is our house brand, with more than 300 strains in packs from 1 to 100 seeds, and every order comes with free seeds. See our delivery information.
Related reading: How long do cannabis seeds last? · Cannabis strain families explained
A note on the law
Freedom of Seeds sells cannabis seeds as souvenirs and collectibles for adults. In the UK, buying and owning cannabis seeds is not an offence because the seeds contain no controlled substances, but germinating or cultivating them without a Home Office licence is illegal. The same applies in many other countries, so please check and follow your local laws. Nothing on this site is growing advice or medical advice.
