Taigi by Dutch Passion

Dutch Passion, Holland

Indica-Dominant

Genetics: Auto-flowering Ruderalis/Indica x Power Plant

www.dutch-passion.nl

Holland’s Dutch Passion have been big players in the scene since their inception in 1987, and now stand as one of the oldest and most well-known seed companies. Taiga, along with Tundra, was one of the first Dutch Passion auto-flowering strains released to the market in early 2009, and their success and popularity led the company to develop their new AutoFem strain line. The ruderalis line which gives this range its auto-flowering trait can all be traced back to plants obtained from the Northern latitudes in Russia and Canada. To create Taiga, the breeders at Dutch Passion took the pollen from an extremely early-flowering male Power Plant and fertilized the female ruderalis/indica cross.

With usual ruderalis resilience, Taiga does not ask for a special fertilizing regime, which means that it’s easy to grow and can thrive almost anywhere. As the plants never grow huge, with a maximum height of about 24 inches, containers of 1.5 to 2 liters are sufficient to guarantee a good harvest, but for a good quality yield, the plants will need a place with a lot of sunlight. If given this, she will reward you with big, compact buds in less than 10 weeks. Under artificial light, 18 hours of light during 2 to 2.5 months is fine to ensure a decent harvest. As neither the fertilizing nor the light cycles need a lot of attention, with Taiga you can dedicate yourself to ensuring that she has plenty of grow space under your bulbs, that each flowering part of the plant has access to that light, and that no pests or diseases even have a chance of taking hold. Ladybugs, spider mites and aphids can all create problems that quickly become serious and can effectively kill half your crop. The dreaded botrytis is probably the main disease to look out for, as this grey mold loves humid rooms that are lacking in good ventilation. The only way to treat this is to remove every single part of the plant that has been touched by it, meaning that your vigorous, bushy plant can quickly end up as a spindly, pathetic wreck. With the correct protection and action against these problems, however, you should find Taiga a hassle-free strain to grow, and one that’s particularly great if you’re new to growing your own pot or are an industrial grower without a lot of time to tend to each individual plant in your massive garden.

Taiga buds carry a soft smoke with a cozy body stone and a very pleasant emotional warmth, but won’t put you out for too long. The smoke is very reminiscent of Power Plant, with a sharp taste. 

Towerful by Tropical Seeds

Tropical Seeds Company, Spain

Indica-Dominant

Genetics: Congo Pointe Noir x Pakistan Chitral Kush

Potency: THC 19%

www.tropicalseedscompany.com

Spain’s Tropical Seeds Company has taken advantage of their subtropical location and amazing climate to grow and breed all year round, allowing for huge leaps forward in the few years that the company has been in business. To create Towerful, they’ve used their own pure sativa Congo Pointe Noir, a company favorite, and a Chitral Kush from Pakistan, resulting in a pretty spectacular indica-dominant hybrid.

Despite such fantastic sativa genetics, Towerful grows like a pure indica – exhibiting strong stems and branches with dark, wide leaves. Its tendency to form just one solid top cola makes it ideal for high-density indoor grows. The flowering period of this strain lies between 60 and 65 days, during which time you’ll see big white buds appear, with a high calyx-to-leaf ratio that will leave you itching to harvest! In time, purple shades will also come through, along with woody aromas of hash. While your bud will smell good enough to smoke right after it’s dried, a longer curing process will only enhance the fragrance, taste and potency of Towerful, so leave it as long as you can!

This strain is a very quick hitter, and even while you’re enjoying the earthy smoke and trying to place that taste – it’s a hint of wine – the lively, giggly high will grab you and refuse to let go. The inspiring and energetic feeling gently gives way to a narcotic effect as time passes, and you’ll be amazingly relaxed.

Whitaker Blues by JD Short

JD Short of DJ Short Seeds, Canada

Indica-Dominant

Genetics: Thai x Oaxaca x Afghani

Potency: THC 17%

www.legendsseeds.com 

www.greatcanadianseeds.com

Generations of breeders within the same family aren’t common in the pot world, but DJ Short’s son, JD Short, has done his family proud with this fantastic indica-dominant strain known as Whitaker Blues. This is a true Oregon heritage cross that connoisseurs and new tokers alike will adore. The mother of Whitaker Blues is a plant referred to as “Quimby” – an old-school, West Coast cut that is reminiscent of a classic, early indica lineage with a strong, sleepy effect on the smoker. The Quimby mother was crossed with DJ Short’s personally selected Blueberry father, making Whitaker Blues 80% indica and 20% sativa in structure.

Whitaker Blues is a stout hybrid with short branching structures and large, compact buds that are loaded with resin. Be sure to check the buds for mold, as their density can give rise to the warmth that mold loves. Growers like this plant’s vigor, productivity, and fantastic violet and blue coloration. This plant finishes in 55 to 62 days and can be grown indoors or outdoors as in the lovely accompanying photographs taken by Sarah from the crew.

Finished buds have a pungent/sweet velvety grape flavor with undertones of vanilla. The high from smoking or eating this bud is pleasantly strong with a slight initial buzz that causes increased appetite and a very relaxed and calm experience. JD Short has done a great job of combining the body-stone effects of an Afghani plant with the gently relaxing Thai and Oaxaca genetics. 

Clockwork Orange by Riot Seeds

Riot Seeds, USA

Indica-Dominant

Genetics: Clockwork Orange S1 x G13 Black Widow

Potency: THC 21%

www.riotseeds.nl

Riot Seeds is a seed company from the US, and the home of the fantastic and enigmatic Clockwork Orange. Its predecessor, from which it got its name, was either the result of a crazy mountain growers’s colchicine project or a mutant bag seed find, depending on who you’re listening to or what day of the week it is. What we do know is that this was then bred with a G13/Black Widow hybrid from Mr. Nice Seeds to recreate the original mutation while keeping the hard-hitting potency.

If your set up is aeroponic or hydroponic, this strain has the potential to do really well for you, though it also grows great in soil. Bear in mind that a SOG set up isn’t advisable as the plants grow giant leaves that necessitate a lot of space. An insider grow tip is to raise these plants organically for the full flavor and potency explosion.

You’ll see where the name originally came from when you hold a dried orange/gold bud in your hand, and if you can get over its gorgeous good looks, you can enjoy a very different woody, earthy taste. You should be ready for a massive stone, however, as this strain can be overwhelming if you’re unprepared. A very introspective high with therapeutic qualities, it can also leave you with unusable body parts for a short time, which is fun in the right situation! Just don’t toke before an athletics competition.

TNT Kush by Eva Female Seeds

Eva Female Seeds, Spain

Pure Indica

Genetics: Pakistani Kush

Potency: THC 19-21%

www.evaseeds.com

Eva Female Seeds is a Spanish seed company with a variety of excellent strains that are popular throughout Europe and the rest of the world. TNT Kush is a well-respected variety that was carefully selected from seeds brought to Spain from the mountains of Pakistan. TNT Kush is a landrace Pakistani, and has been carefully backcrossed for years in order to create a highly reliable and potent strain.

If you get your hands on some TNT Kush seeds, you’ll be pleased to see that, like all Pakistani indicas, she produces large numbers of trichomes and hard, compact buds. Though this is a great sight for any grower, it does means that you need to stake your plants carefully, and avoid touching the buds too much before harvest or else you risk getting sticky fingers and a powerful contact high. TNT Kush is very easy to grow, especially in nitrogen-poor soils, and requires very few nutrients to thrive.  The plant flowers in 55 to 60 days, indoors and out. Expect long shoots during outdoor grows.  Indoor growers should keep the temperature high during flowering to promote bigger, more resinous buds.

Expect a nutty smell with hints of fruit and cypress evergreen undertones.  The taste is very rich, with hints of bitter almond and even chocolate. Due to the high THC content, be sure that you are prepared for a very strong smoke when you enjoy TNT Kush bud. Get some treats ready in advance, and have fun!