Last Updated February 21st, 2023: Since its legalization across Canada in the fall of 2018, many cannabis consumers were delighted to discover new products available and a safer legal market for the popular plant.
Another window opened through legalization: home growing! Ontario cannabis strains have taken off in popularity. Folks have strived to buy local, but not everything grows in this vast province.
What are the best strains to grow in Ontario? There are many to choose from, but we’ve come up with 5 of the best strains. These strains thrive in Ontario’s hot summers and don’t give up during the province’s long winters. This part of Canada isn’t the easiest to grow in, but don’t let that daunt you. Read on to hear our 5 favorite strains for Ontario!
5 Cannabis Strains To Grow In Ontario
| 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 |
Strain 1 – AK-47
AK-47 is a high-yielding plant that’s grown and enjoyed around the world. Being a 45 day autoflower strain, it will flower quickly regardless of light conditions. This makes it a perfect match for the cooler Ontario springs and autumns. AK-47 is an excellent choice for outdoor growing.
There are some specific quirks to growing this strain that require a little research, but it is pretty easy to grow. It starts growing in the spring and harvesting in the fall.
The shorter daylight hours during spring and fall are part of why autoflower plants thrive in Ontario. The summer months between these transitory seasons allow more light for your AK-47 plants to thrive.
What happens after harvest? You should have somewhere between five and fifteen ounces of usable flower for every square yard of plant matter.
The experience of smoking it is described as mellow yet potent, which makes sense given its relatively high THC percentage in a smooth outdoor styled delivery.
Strain 2 – Girl Scout Cookies Extreme
This strain can be grown in a wide array of settings, from indoor to outdoor in a Mediterranean climate, all the way to lovely Ontario, Canada. This versatility makes it a relatively foolproof strain. It’s great for new growers or those who have taken a break from green-thumbed activities.
It’s important to note the distinction between this plant and its less extreme brethren. The flower produced from Girl Scout Cookies Extreme is more potent in THC content and leans more heavily towards an indica feeling when consumed. This makes sense since it’s 80% indica balanced by a little CBD and 20% Sativa.
Girl Scout Cookies Extreme will yield a hearty amount of usable product, but look out when choosing a space for your plants. They grow quite high and can stretch out amongst the area in which they’re planted.
While the strain works well in cooler climates like Ontario’s, you may see a deeper purple color and more crystalization than you would indoors or farther south.
Strain 3 – Super Skunk
Looking for another indica-heavy body buzz from your homegrown outdoor plants? Super Skunk has been a relaxing crowd pleaser for some time now. It’s a refined strain that’s been experimented with over the years. The super incarnation of Skunk is skunky indeed, but with dense buds.
While most growers agree that this plant can function at its highest when in a controlled indoor environment, it matches well with the cooler Ontario spring and fall seasons. Fertilizers and germination aids can help this plant along, but it’s generally considered an easier plant to grow.
Once you harvest the fruits of your labors, or more accurately, the plants of your labors, you will get rewarded with a relaxing smoke that leaves you clear-headed. It’s not as strong as some of the others on our list. But, Super Skunk is an excellent choice for those who prefer the physical effects of cannabis over the mental ones.
Strain 4 – White Widow
White Widow is a hybrid, slightly favoring indica over Sativa dominance. The result is a great product for those who don’t want to get put to sleep by their cannabis buzz. This strain is best for those who want to remain mentally clear.
On top of all this, it’s an easy plant to grow in a handful of different environments, making it one of the best strains to grow in Ontario.
The roots of White Widow stray back to Amsterdam as one of the earliest imports to Europe. It’s since become popular amongst the city’s coffee shops, winning numerous awards. Some of these are for the relaxed and mellow buzz its flower provides. Other accolades are a result of the incredibly high yield White Widow offers.
White Widow is one of the more tolerable strains when faced with cooler temperatures. Since most of Ontario’s growing regions are fairly flat, it’s worth considering that this strain loves the ample sunlight found in Canadian farms and yards.
Yet another reason this is a favorite among cautious growers is that it’s incredibly disease resistant.
Strain 5 – Amnesia Haze
White Widow is a fantastic high-yield plant to try out, but Amnesia Haze takes the cake from our list. Amnesia Haze boasts ample grams per plant when grown and harvested correctly. What’s the downside to this? Amnesia Haze is less pest-resistant than other strains we’ve discussed and likes a hotter temperature too.
While Canada isn’t known for its warm and inviting weather, its summers (especially in Ontario) are generally warm and pleasant. Amnesia Haze can be planted in the spring to take advantage of late spring and summer weather.
If it’s harvested later in the fall, the entirety of its growth cycle can take place during warmer months. Growers will get rewarded with a high yield of premium cannabis.
Final Thoughts about Ontario Cannabis Strains
Ontario isn’t the warmest place around, and residents describe the chills of winter and hot humid summers like a roller coaster. Fortunately, these summers are long, especially farther into Southern Ontario, and sync up perfectly with a spring planting and fall harvest.
These 5 strains of Cannabis all have their pros and cons. But, they are undoubtedly the best strains to grow in Ontario if you’re considering a new outdoor growing project. Happy planting!
Resources:
http://omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/climatechange.htm
Other Climates To Consider: