How to Grow the Best Cannabis in 2020

Written by Ella Woods

So, you’ve got your sights set on growing the best cannabis crop of your cultivation career? 2020 is the year, your year, to shine.

I hear that.

With the spring equinox just around the corner, the season is fast approaching for every Northern Hemisphere grower, but what sets a spectacular harvest apart from an average one?

Those who grow the very finest crops know how to follow the clues of success. Its secrets fill their arsenal. Simply put, they understand the importance of everything we’re discussing today and how it all combines to create a winning formula anyone can use to grow the best cannabis in 2020.

What type of weed do you love?

Your first step should be an easy one, figure out what type of weed you love.

Trace the names and track down the strains which are going to suit you better than the rest.

This is perhaps tougher for those cultivating for commercial purposes, but I encourage even you guys to focus on the strains you love - trying to chase down the market’s interest is futile, they’re fickle. Trust me, if you grow an exceptional crop of that fruity strain you personally adore, they will love it, too. (At least anyone who salivates at the thought of a strain like Tangie will - and that’s the point, you’ll never appeal to the entire market.)

The whole cultivation experience will be so much more enjoyable and rewarding when you’re deeply excited for the results. And that doesn’t mean stick with the same strains forever, but use what you love as a springboard into similar strains which might just become your new favorite.

Defining the best

‘The best’ is always going to be a subjective matter, so you’d best wrap your head around that before taking another step.

So what does the best mean to you, to your consumer base (if you have one)?.

Is it higher THC levels than anyone in your town or state or country or in the whole world?

Is it ground-breaking CBD records or merely better ratios than you got last time?

Maybe it’s that your cannabis boasts a cornucopia of fruity flavour, perhaps it’s a forest of plants with off-the-charts yields or something special for the swelling medicinal community.

Your best is never going to be the same as the next guy’s, but it can be the best for your audience, your community, consumer base or whoever it is you’re in this game for. If your harvest is for your own private stash, remember that even you can be your own harshest critic.

Define what ‘the best’ means to you in this moment. That clear goal is going to help immeasurably.

Knowledge sharpens expertise

Knowledge isn’t power, rather the application of knowledge brings us that.

Are you brushed up on all the latest growth tips from the cannabis community? Have you studied the myriad content from cultivators on what’s worked for them and what hasn’t?

Do you know what nutrients you’re going to feed your crop? Do you know why you’re using those nutes? Is it because someone said you should, or because you know precisely the benefits they bring to your plants?

If you’re growing outdoors, have you got an eye on the weather forecast? Do you know exactly when the spring equinox is, what date summer solstice hits, how long before the fall equinox to top your plants or the optimal time to harvest?

Are you growing indoors? Will you be using hydroponics, the sea of green or SCROG methods?

It can seem daunting and difficult to know where to begin if you’re a newcomer, and it can be equally as stunting to remain rooted in a method you use ‘just because’.

Do your research into the results and hurdles growers have faced using various methods. Find what fits you best and don’t be afraid to experiment.

Should you really try a method you’ve never used before if you’re hoping to grow the best cannabis you ever have? The thing is, there’s never a better time to try. There will always be a reason (plenty in fact) to stick with what you know, but innovation is what raises the bar, friends, and you don’t get that if you never change a thing.

Find the best weed seeds available

Any grower worth their salt knows the importance of only buying reputable seeds. As legalization spreads, so too do the number of seed banks ready to peddle their wares.

Finding quality marijuana seeds available in the USA can be tricky business, especially as so many sellers seem so willing to flog sub-standard seeds with the sole aim of a quick buck.

Find yourself a seed bank you feel comfortable trusting. One who prizes free-sharing and accurate information over lauding every strain as the next big thing. As more stores readily make weed seeds available in the states, it’s up to each of us to separate the worthy from the sham peddlers.

Nothing will ruin your crop faster than placing faith in having bought 100% feminized seeds from a ‘trusted source’, only to discover you’ve been suckered into duds from a scam artist and have a bunch of male or hermaphrodite plants on your hands.

Check your equipment

Most of you (aside from the super fortunate) likely live in a climate more conducive to indoor grows than out.

No doubt, you’ve done your research and know what cultivation method is best for you.

It’s super important to make sure you have everything you’re going to need before you get started with your grow. Of course, this sounds obvious on paper, but with so much to consider, it’s no surprise that some growers can overlook this key step and simply dive in without a smidge of necessary prep.

Are you using a grow tent to maintain optimal thriving environments and minimise space? Is it ready for use or haggard beyond repair?

How about soil - are you using soil from your garden or a hydroponic solution of nutrients inside your grow room? Do you know the difference between the two and why those hoping for swift growth tend to opt the latter?

Are your LEDs full-spectrum and energy-efficient? Or are you using fluorescent grow lights?

Do you have any environmental control gadgets in place to help you manage cultivation conditions like humidity and air circulation? Are they up to scratch and fit for duty?

Most importantly, does all your equipment work in harmony with each other? Will you have room to navigate your crop and tend to it as and when you need to, or are you going to be clambering over heavy-duty fans all day?

Bringing it all together

With your checklist in hand and every angle we’ve covered ticked off, you should hopefully be feeling primed and ready to grow the best cannabis you possibly can this year.

Whether you’re a novice who’s cultivating their first crop or an expert with decades under their belt, it’s important not to overlook the fundamentals or get caught up in an ‘it’s always been this way’ mindset.

It’s only through dedication that you’re going to grow the best weed you can, so make sure no stone goes unturned as you gear up for your finest harvest yet.

So, have you figured out what strains you love and why you love them? Got yourself clear on what ‘the best’ means to you?

Are you armed with knowledge on how is best to grow your chosen strains and where the best weed seeds are available from?

Excellent. Then good luck, and happy harvest, friends.