Last Updated January 26th, 2023: It has been an entire year since recreational marijuana laws were changed in New Jersey and now anyone over 21 can legally posses up to six ounces of cannabis. However, whilst the laws have changed things on the ground have been a lot slower and growing marijuana is still illegal without a cultivation license within the state – although that could soon change.
Best Cannabis Strains To Grow In New Jersey – Quick Look
| Strain | THC % | Indica/Sativa | Yield | Flowering Time |
| Super Skunk | 14% | Indica | 5-15 Oz Per Plant | 7-10 Weeks |
| Blue Cheese | 19% | Indica | 5-15 Oz Per Plant | 7-10 Weeks |
| White Widow | 19% | Indica | 5-15 Oz Per Plant | 10-14 Weeks |
| Durban Poison | 20% | Sativa | 19 Oz Per Plant | 9 Weeks |
| Northern Lights | 18% | Indica | 5-15 Oz Per Plant | 7-10 Weeks |
If you’re thinking of growing in New Jersey, be sure to check your local marijuana laws before you invest in your grow.
New Jersey is a great place for outdoor grows. Despite the cold and harsh winters, if you get your grow in early enough there is no reason why you can take advantage of the long sunlight hours and warm summer temperatures.
If you’re planting late, or you’re worried about the winter months plant your grows in pots or planters so they can easily be transferred to somewhere warmer when the temperature drops, or you experience an unexpected early frost.
Spring and summer are great months for outdoor grows, but to avoid mold and other cold-weather elements, by the third week of September they should all be either harvested or taken inside to continue the grow.
8 Cannabis Strains To Grow In New Jersey
Whether you’re an indica fan, or you prefer sativa – there are a great range of autoflowering seeds that will thrive outdoors across the state of New Jersey.
Autoflower seeds make growing at home a lot easier – especially if you’re thinking about trying an outdoor grow for the first time. Unlike feminized seeds that often take 15 to 20 weeks to produce buds, autoflower seeds produce a much smaller, more manageable plant that can be harvested within 10 to 14 weeks of planting.
1. White Widow Autoflower
- 10-14-week growing time
- 5-15 oz per 3*3ft area
- Compact plant size
- Beginner friendly
- Up to 19% THC
- 60% indica and 40% sativa
- Outdoor grow friendly
- Earthy flavor when smoked
White Widow is one of the world’s most popular hybrid strains, both in the Americas and across Europe. The strain first appeared in the 1990s, won the Cannabis Cup in 1995 and thanks to the memorable head high and relaxed feelings produced has remained a favorite for many years.
If you’re looking for a heavy-head high that is smooth to smoke, won’t have you glued to your seat for the duration and will still have you feeling relaxed, uplifted, and creative – this hybrid is perfect for you.
2. Blueberry Autoflower
- 10-14-week growing time
- 5-15 oz per 3*3ft area
- Compact plant size
- Beginner friendly
- Up to 14% THC
- 80% indica and 20% sativa
- Outdoor grow friendly
- Berry flavor when smoked
Blueberry is one of the oldest strains available, first spotted in the 1970’s from three already popular strains – Afghani Indica, Thai Sativa, and Purple Blue Thai Sativa. The strain has evolved over the years and has gone on to receive the award of “best indica of the year” in the High Times Cannabis Cup.
Blueberry is known for being best grown indoors, but that said if you live in a sunny climate and get a good amount of fresh, clean air – like in New Jersey – plants can thrive outdoors too. In fact, if grown outdoors you can yield more than double an indoor grow – due to how big the plants can get when not confined.
Blueberry is a heavy indica and is often referred to as a “nighttime strain” due to the heavy relaxing effects of the strain – the sativa content will prevent you getting stuck to the sofa, but it’s best avoided in the mornings.
3. Girl Scout Cookies Autoflower
- 10-14-week growing time
- 21 oz per 3*3ft area
- Average plant size
- Some growing experience recommended
- Up to 21% THC
- 80% indica and 20% sativa
- Outdoor grow friendly
- Diesel flavor when smoked
First grown in California – the cannabis capital of the USA – Girl Scout Cookies or GSC is a hybrid of OG Kush and Durban Poison and the perfect day time smoke. The high produced is balanced and can be easily controlled and it wont knock you out before you start your day.
GSC grows well both indoors and outdoors – but most growers choose to plant outdoors due to how well the plants can grow when space isn’t limited – often largely improving the yield of up to 21oz over a 3*3-foot area.
If you’re looking for a body high that leaves your head clear and ready to work, GSC is a great strain to enjoy at social events or if you’re new to smoking and don’t want to hit something too strong.
4. Sour Diesel Autoflower
- 10-14-week growing time
- 5-15 oz per 3*3ft area
- Compact plant size
- Beginner friendly
- Up to 20% THC
- 40% indica and 60% sativa
- Outdoor grow friendly
- Diesel flavor when smoked
Sour Diesel is believed to have been created through the combination of the parent strains, Chem Dawg 91, and Super Skunk. The strain originated in California and has been popular since the 1990s. Want a good strain to smoke in the daytime without affecting your day-to-day tasks? Sour Diesel is the right strain for you.
The sativa heavy strain will give you an energy boost and encourage a positive high that will last for hours after you indulge. The plant grows best in the sun, but if you’re thinking of an outdoor grow in New Jersey, be sure to check the humidity levels throughout your grow as the plant will struggle in high-humidity areas and need to be moved into a controlled environment.
The strain is named after its strong smell, similar to diesel – however the taste is very different, offering a sweet, sour lemony taste.
5. Zkittlez Autoflower
- 10-14-week growing time
- 5-15 oz per 3ft *3ft area
- Average plant size
- Beginner friendly grow
- Up to 23% THC
- 70% indica and 30% sativa
- Outdoor friendly grow
- Fruity flavor when smoked
If you’re looking for a fruity strain, Zkittlez should be perfect for you. Created from the strains Grape Ape and Grapefruit, this hybrid strain grows well in warmer and more tropical climates. Whilst New Jersey doesn’t strike you as a tropical area, the summer months are more than warm enough to allow the plant to thrive outdoors.
Luckily, even if you’re new to growing, Zkittlez is one of the easiest strains to grow – especially when you opt for autoflowering seeds. The effects of Zkittlez are described as balanced and mellow, despite containing such high levels of THC and although the strain is indica heavy, many people find it uplifting and more sativa leaning in terms of effects.
6. Gorilla Glue Autoflower
- 10-14-week growing time
- 5-15 oz per 3ft *3ft area
- Average plant size
- Beginner friendly grow
- Up to 23% THC
- 70% indica and 30% sativa
- Outdoor friendly grow
- Earthy flavor when smoked
If you’re hoping for a strain that helps you get high, while still enjoying the benefits of a high CBD level – Gorilla Glue is a great place to start. If you’re growing for medical reasons, there are few better strains for balanced CBD and THC levels.
The strain was created from three other strains, Sour Dubb, Chem’s Sister and Chocolate Diesel and the original mother strain (Gorilla Glue #4) has won several different awards including #1 at the LA Cannabis Cup and winner of the Jamaican World Cup.
Gorilla Glue is extremely easy to grow – especially when you opt for an autoflowering seed. The strain can be grown indoor or outdoor all year round and you can expect a much larger yield from plants grown outdoors.
Even in wind, rain and humidity the plants are resistant to mold and rot – perfect for busy growers and those growing for the very first time. Gorilla Glue is often considered a “nighttime” strain, great for relaxing at the end of the day.
7. AK-47 Autoflower
- 10-14-week growing time
- 5-15 oz per 3ft *3ft area
- Average plant size
- Beginner friendly grow
- Up to 23% THC
- 35% indica and 65% sativa
- Outdoor friendly grow
- Earthy flavor when smoked
AK-47 is a sativa heavy strain of marijuana, created from four parent plants from four different corners of the world – Mexico, Thailand, Afghanistan, and South America. Three of the parent plants are sativas, whilst one is an indica – and the strain first appeared in the Netherlands in the 1990s, growing in popularity ever since.
AK prefers a dry, cool growing environment with lots of light but not too much heat – making it a great springtime grow for New Jersey growers looking to grow outside. The plants need for ventilation makes it best grown outside – however the strain is very susceptible to mold so it should be monitored daily for early signs when growing outdoors.
The high produced is euphoric and mellow, helping to relax users without making them drowsy – great for creativity and social events.
8. Jack Herer Autoflower
- 10-14-week growing time
- 5-15 oz per 3ft *3ft area
- Compact plant size
- Beginner friendly grow
- Up to 23% THC
- 40% indica and 60% sativa
- Outdoor friendly grow
- Earthy flavor when smoked
Want a traditional euphoric high? Jack Herer is great for a happy high, whilst also easing the symptoms of some mental and physical conditions – notably, nausea. The strain is a hybrid of indica and sativa, offering high THC levels and a long lasting high.
Named after Jack Herer, a well-known cannabis activist and famous author, the strain is very easy to grow and perfect for those new to the world of growing. The strain was created as a medical strain by combining Haze Sativa, Shiva Indic, Skunk Indica and Northern Lights #5 Indica and is found in many medical dispensaries both in the USA and Europe.
Jack Herer will thrive both indoors and outsides in a Mediterranean climate – perfect for a summer grow in New Jersey. Producing a mellow body high, the sativa heavy strain should leave you feeling high for a good few hours.
This strain isn’t great for before bed as users often experience an energetic high, meaning it’s a preferred “daytime” strain for many people.
If you’re thinking about growing in New Jersey, be sure to check your local laws and licenses needed before embarking on your grow. All strains covered in this article are auto-flowering, meaning they will flower automatically and produce a yield within just 3 months – rather than other types of seed that take much longer to harvest. Buying your seeds from an ethical and trusted seed bank will ensure your seeds are exactly what you’ve been sold – and make for a more successful overall grow.
Other Climates:
- Best Outdoor Strains For The Northeast
- Best Strains To Grow Outdoors In Arizona
- Strains To Grow In Oklahoma
- Purple Exotic Strains
- Best Outdoor Strains For Pacific Northwest
- Best Strains To Grow In High Heat
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