10 Early Finishing Outdoor Strains (2024 Update)

Choosing an early-finishing outdoor strain will help you avoid the Autumn rains and frosts that can wipe out your crops.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the fastest finishing strains for your next outdoor grow.

The 10 Best Early Finishing Outdoor Strains

1. Speed+  ~ 7 Weeks
2. Speed Bud ~ 8-10 weeks
3. Big Nugs FAST ~ 6 weeks
4. Passion ~ 6-7 Weeks
5. Early Skunk ~ 6-8 weeks
6. Early Maroc ~ 8 weeks
7. AK47 ~ 7-9 weeks
8. LSD ~ 7-9 weeks
9. Durban Poison ~ 7-9 weeks
10. Orange Bud ~ 8-9 weeks

Read on for a mini-guide about each strain, including grow difficulty, yield, plant height, and more.

1. Speed+ ( 7 Weeks)

The total grow time listed is not a typo; blazing from germination to harvest in only 49 days, Speed+ Auto grows at a remarkably fast rate.

Not just a fast grower, this auto-flowering strain will grow almost anywhere.

In moderate climates with a warm summer, it’s even possible to fit in two harvests back-to-back!

Like all strains it prefers as much strong sunlight as possible, however, this is a strain that is known to grow well in cooler zones.

A balanced hybrid, Speed+ Auto provides a full-bodied Indica high with the mood-boosting and euphoric effects of its Sativa genetics.

Due to its very quick growing time, this is an ideal strain for patients who require a quick and dependable medicinal crop.

The numbers don’t lie – from seed top crop in 49 days, Speed+ Auto is our top pick for early-finishing outdoor strains!

2. Speed Bud (8-10 weeks)

As the name suggests, Speed Bud is another strain that was bred with the quickest harvest possible in mind.

This auto-flowering, feminized variety is known to flower in as little as 56 days, and is highly recommended for growing outside due to very low odor.

It will grow happily in most mediums, and will flower in almost any climate as long as it’s not overly cold!

As with the previous strain, the brief maturing period will mean lower crop yields.

Known for a heady high that isn’t overwhelming, this is a great Sativa-dominant hybrid that won’t stop your day in its tracks.

Though it produces a lower yield, if grow time is your main concern we definitely recommend giving Speed Bud a try!

3. Big Nugs FAST (6 weeks)

Though it may sound like a sketchy payday lender, Big Nugs FAST has a stellar reputation for producing copious amounts of Cannabis quickly!

Large, trichome-covered buds are marked by orange hair and a delicious, fruity scent that will make you excited for harvest!

The only thing heavier than the colas on this strain is its Indica effects – with THC measured between 15-20% it definitely can have a couch-locking effect.

Ready to harvest in September, this is a strain that does well outdoors and the only extra care it requires is a simple support system to hold up the bud-heavy branches!

If a quick harvest is your top concern without wanting to sacrifice yield too much, Big Nugs FAST is a great compromise and has been a go-to for commercial growers for years.

4. Passion (6-7 Weeks)

With an extensive track record of reliability and quality, Passion #1 is another top early-flowering choice.

With slightly secretive genetic lineage, it’s hard to pinpoint where Passion #1 gets its delicious candy-like flavor.

What is known, however, is that yields are surprisingly good for such an early flowerer, and even growers at higher latitudes see successful harvests year after year!

Unlike some of our other strains, this hybrid has much more pronounced Sativa effects and will invigorate the mind as much as it relaxes the body.

Passion #1 can grow very tall (up to 350cm), so it may be more appropriate for grows where stealth is not a primary concern.

This hardy strain is an excellent choice for any outdoor grow and promises faster flowering times that will beat even the earliest signs of Autumn.

5. Early Skunk (6-8 weeks)

Bred with a Ruderalis gene, Early Skunk is so hardy that it grows well in northern Europe as well as the Midwest and Canada!

It’s also mold and pest-resistant, and flowers automatically make it an excellent choice for first-time growers.

If you live in a warm climate, Early Skunk can provide growers multiple harvests per summer with seeds started indoors and then moved outside as temperatures warm up.

A nice Indica body high paired with an uplifting headspace makes this a great choice for reducing anxiety, relieving pain, and combating stress.

With no sacrifice on yield or THC content, if you live in a northern or cooler climate then this may just be the strain for you!

6. Early Maroc (8 weeks)

Another time-tested strain, Early Maroc has been around for centuries and is the ideal choice for guerilla-gardening.

Originally from Morocco, it requires a lot of light, however other than this requirement it’s one of the easiest and lowest-maintenance strains on the planet.

It requires only minimal nutrients and water, meaning it can grow in arid or non-tended areas.

It has a euphoric, mood-boosting high that gives way to a mellow body high that’s very sociable and relaxing.

Harvested as early as mid-august, it does really well in a large pot (rather than a bed) and when trained down is a great choice for any sunny apartment balcony.

7. AK47 (7-9 weeks)

AK47 is a lot less threatening than it sounds – if fits of giggling and increased creativity are prized effects this may just be your new jam!

This is a highly popular strain, with a lovely mix of effects that tend towards the Sativa spectrum depending on the plant.

It has multiple genetic variants; typically the auto-flowering variety is known to flower the fastest.

Keep in mind one drawback is that AK47 is not a predictable yielder; the final harvest is heavily dependent upon environmental factors too.

Don’t let that put you off – many people have been successful in growing this strain and the bud it produces was good enough to win multiple Cannabis Cups!

Often ready to harvest in mid-September, AK47 is another great choice for early flowering crops!

8. LSD (7-9 weeks)

Famous for a strong cerebral high, LSD earns its name for effects that vaguely resemble those of the famous psychedelic.

Don’t worry – this plant is all THC; however, with a 24% THC level, it’s certainly one to be approached with caution.

LSD plants are hardy, strong, and don’t require a high level of maintenance and care.

They do require light and warmth, however, so a sheltered area or the use of a windbreaker is best for cooler climates.

Another strain that harvests very respectable yields in mid-September, LSD is a go-to for growers who have a short but warm summer!

9. Durban Poison (7-9 weeks)

Like a shot of happiness, Durban Poison is a mood-boosting and mind-elevating strain that flowers as quickly as 7 weeks.

It can easily grow to be 220cm tall, so the Screen of Green (ScrOG) method is recommended to ensure heavy top colas don’t break the stems.

Popular for nearly fifty years, Durban Poison is a tried and true outdoor grower that flowers quickly and prefers a lot of sunshine.

If Sativas are your thing, we highly recommend giving this strain a go!

10. Orange Bud (8-9 weeks)

Last on our list is Orange Bud, a strain that both looks and tastes exactly like it sounds!

More compact than our other choices, Orange Bud grows very well outdoors and will benefit from the Sea of Green (SOG) growing method due to its short stature.

With a harvest towards the end of September or the beginning of October, if you’re not wearing a jacket until Autumn this strain will grow fine in your area!

Growing in popularity, Orange Bud provides a euphoric and uplifting high with relaxing properties that make it a great evening smoke.

Final Thoughts

And that brings us to the end of our review of the top 10 outdoor early flowering strains!

As we’ve seen there are some trade-offs as well as some benefits when choosing strains that harvest early, however, there are plenty to choose from.

Most importantly, make sure to plan your grow; proper strain selection and the right planting time will not only ensure a successful harvest but can even mean multiple harvests in a single season!

With that in mind, any of the strains on our list would make an excellent choice for any outdoor grow requiring an earlier harvest time.

Happy growing!

Originally posted 2019-02-20 13:08:04.