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What Are the Best Strains to Grow in Arizona?
5 min

What Are the Best Strains to Grow in Arizona?

5 min

Arizona bound and wondering if you can grow weed recreationally? The good news is, you can! But if you want to make the most of Arizona’s blazing sunshine, you’ll need the right strain for the job. Keep reading for ten of the best strains to grow outdoors in the Grand Canyon State.

There’s no shortage of incredible attractions in Arizona. From one of the greatest natural wonders in the world, the Grand Canyon, to the Hoover Dam or Saguaro National Park, the state has an innate and synergistic relationship with the natural world that’s rarely matched elsewhere. Well, now it’s time to bring those natural wonders to your back garden by cultivating one of the world’s most influential plants—cannabis.

Of course, to kickstart your venture, you’ll need to pick a strain that can perform under Arizona’s relentless sunshine. Fortunately, the summers are long and temperatures remain favorable even in winter, fall, and spring. The challenge for growers isn’t whether their plants are getting enough sun to thrive; it’s how to limit their exposure to prevent wilting and failed harvests.

Growing cannabis in Arizona: What to expect

Growing Cannabis In Arizona: What To Expect

The good news is that few climates are as perfectly suited to growing weed as Arizona. It’s mostly dry and hot all year round, even in east-central mountainous areas. However, odd pockets of adverse weather and heavy rainfall are still possible, which can easily catch growers out.

Related article

How To Grow Cannabis Outdoors

Climate

Climate

There’s a running joke within Arizona that it only really has two seasons: hot and less hot. And for the most part, this is true. Average temperatures in the winter range from 41–66°F, while summer months experience highs of well over 100°F and lows of 57°F.

Moreover, the weather is mostly sunny and bright, with well over 300 sunny days per year in southwest parts of the state. Even in the mountains, growers can expect an average of 260 sunny days—more than enough to secure a bumper harvest.

Growing environment

Growing Environment

The biggest challenge of growing outdoors in Arizona is managing that beautiful sunshine. Sure, cannabis plants thrive on natural sunlight, but you’ll need a feeding regime that can keep up with rapid growth, while also working hard to shield plants from harm, especially as they enter flowering. Without a robust watering schedule or effective ways to manage unpredictable downpours, you could lose an entire crop in hours.

Don’t panic, though; you can make a few simple tweaks to your outdoor grow-op to help your plants flourish. These include:

  • Shield plants from the midday sun with companion plants. These can also help to block your cannabis from public view.
  • Although rare, east-central parts of Arizona can experience sporadic, heavy rainfall, especially during July and August. Since most strains will be in flowering at this point, planting in pots rather than directly in soil means you can move them to safety.
  • A polytunnel with a removable cover will give plants the sunlight they need during the day while also helping them retain some much-needed moisture at night.
  • All watering should be done at dusk or dawn to prevent scalding plants. Water the soil around your crop well so your plants have the moisture they need during the day.

Legal compliance

Legal Compliance

Thankfully, weed isn’t just legal to grow and buy in Arizona—the regulations surrounding its cultivation are pretty flexible compared to other states.

These are the key requirements:

  • Growers must be over 21 years old.
  • Limited to 6 plants per person or 12 plants per household if there’s more than one adult.
  • Medical cannabis cardholders can grow up to 12 plants each.
  • Plants must not be visible to the public, and growing areas must be securely managed.

As always, if you want to grow ganja in Arizona, check with your local authority for the most up-to-date information. The US is a melting pot of cannabis regulations, and circumstances change quickly.

Top 10 cannabis strains to grow in Arizona

Top 10 Cannabis Strains To Grow In Arizona

If you’ve got a spot in your garden picked out and ready, you just need the perfect seeds to plant. All ten strains listed below promise outstanding results, regardless of your experience.

Green Crack F1 Automatic

If you haven’t experienced the unrivaled uniformity and resilience of F1 hybrids, you’re in for a treat. Green Crack F1 Auto races to harvest in 11 weeks from sprouting and delivers a reliable 7 oz/plant.

Green Crack F1 Automatic (Zamnesia Seeds) feminized

(68)
Parents: Skunk #1 x Afghani
Genetics: Sativa-dominant Auto
Flowering Time: 11-12 weeks from seed to harvest
Potency: 21%
CBD: Low
Flowering Type: Autoflowering

Sour Diesel

Considered one of the most famous strains on the planet, there are few plants you can count on to survive whatever environmental conditions get thrown at them. Thriving outdoors, even novice growers will relish Sour Diesel's generous yields and 19% potency.

Sour Diesel (Zamnesia Seeds) feminized

(39)
Parents: Diesel x Northern Lights
Genetics: 30% Indica / 70% Sativa
Flowering Time: 10-11 weeks
Potency: 18%
CBD: 3%
Flowering Type: Photoperiod

Super OG Kush

You may have heard of OG Kush, but have you ever experienced the super variant? Well, now you can. Not only does it take classic Kush flavors to their limits, but it pushes the yield well beyond the original. Outdoors, you can achieve a whopping 28 oz/plant.

Super OG Kush (Kannabia) feminized

(1)
Parents: Black Domina x Lemon Thai x Hindu Kush
Genetics: Indica-dominant
Flowering Time: 8-9 weeks
Potency: High
CBD: Low
Flowering Type: Photoperiod

Critical Kush

This indica-dominant hybrid has it all. Great yields, a relaxing high, and up to 20% potency. It’s also a lover of the dry heat Arizona is known for, meaning there’s little reason your grow-op won’t be a raving success.

Critical Kush (Royal Queen Seeds) feminized

(20)
Parents: Critical x OG Kush
Genetics: 80% Indica / 20% Sativa
Flowering Time: 7-8 weeks
Potency: 20%
CBD: Medium
Flowering Type: Photoperiod

Super Silver Haze

Give this generous yielder a little support with her branches, and come harvest time you’ll be staring down the barrel of outlandish returns. If you want to keep your outdoor project simple and stick to a handful of plants, why not choose a strain that can deliver over 35 oz of weed per plant?

Super Silver Haze (Zamnesia Seeds) feminized

(135)
Parents: Haze x (Skunk x Northern Light)
Genetics: 25% Indica / 75% Sativa
Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks
Potency: 20%
CBD: 3%
Flowering Type: Photoperiod

Colombian Gold

All that glitters isn’t just gold; it's the resin of Colombian Gold’s dense buds glistening in the Arizona sun. The generous coating of crystalline trichomes doesn’t just look good, either. It’s oozing with moreish terpenes and a moderate 18% potency.

Colombian Gold (Zamnesia Seeds) feminized

(29)
Parents: Landrace
Genetics: Sativa
Flowering Time: 10-11 weeks
Potency: 18%
CBD: Low
Flowering Type: Photoperiod

Sweet Valley Kush

The compact heights of Sweet Valley Kush make her an excellent candidate for recreational growers who want to cultivate the maximum number of plants while keeping their grow-op hidden from the public eye. Plus, she’s an excellent yielder.

Sweet Valley Kush (Greenhouse Seeds) Feminized

(6)
Parents: Afghan Kush x Hindu Kush
Genetics: 80% Indica / 20% Sativa
Flowering Time: 8-9 weeks
Potency: 22%
CBD: 0-1%
Flowering Type: Photoperiod

Jack Herer Automatic

If you’re a little unsure of weather conditions or you simply want the most straightforward grow-op possible, turn to this tried and true classic. A healthy injection of ruderalis to an already stellar genetic makeup ensures you’re ready to harvest in a mere 10 weeks from sprouting.

Jack Herer Automatic (Zamnesia Seeds) feminized

(59)
Parents: Jack Herer x Ruderalis
Genetics: Auto Hybrid
Flowering Time: 10-11 weeks from seed to harvest
Potency: 16%
CBD: 3%
Flowering Type: Autoflowering

Girl Scout Cookies Auto (GSC)

Flying the flag for the best US genetics, GSC is a taste sensation that has taken the world of weed by storm. And now, she can storm her way through your cannabis garden, turning 10 weeks of patience into a bountiful harvest.

Strawberry Cough

If you want to make the most of Arizona’s long summers, why not sit back and relax with some of the tastiest weed this side of the Atlantic Ocean? With Strawberry Cough, that's exactly what you're getting. Juicy flavors and a buzzy high await.

Strawberry Cough (Zamnesia Seeds) feminized

(69)
Parents: Strawberry Fields x Haze
Genetics: 30% Indica / 70% Sativa
Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks
Potency: 20%
CBD: Low
Flowering Type: Photoperiod

Cultivate like a pro in Arizona

Cultivate Like A Pro In Arizona

No matter where you are in Arizona, the state’s climate is primed and ready for a cannabis garden filled with towering plants and more buds than you’ll ever need (well, maybe). And if you’re concerned about the six-plant limit, don’t be. By picking the right strain, you can ensure that every specimen reaches its maximum potential. Trust us when we say you’ll be enjoying your homegrown long after the growing season has ended. Now, you just need to narrow down the excellent choices above!

Weed Seeds

Click here to browse countless varieties of regular, feminized, and autoflowering cannabis seeds from the best banks in the world.

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Luke Sholl
Luke Sholl
Luke Sholl has been writing about cannabis, the wellness potential of cannabinoids, and the positive influence of nature for over a decade. Working with several cannabinoid-centric publications, he publishes a variety of digital content, supported by strong technical knowledge and thorough research.
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