Sour Diesel, sometimes called “Sour D” or “Sour Deez,” is a legendary strain known for its uplifting high and distinctive smell.
In this Sour Diesel review, you will learn everything there is to know about this strain, including answers to the most common questions and information on how to grow it.
Let’s dive right into it.
Sour Diesel Strain (Key Info)
- Effects: Happy, Uplifted, Euphoric
- Helps With: Stress, Depression, Pain
- Indoor Yield: 500g/m2
- Outdoor Yield: 700g/plant
- Flowering Time: 10 Weeks
- Outdoor Harvest Time: Early November
- THC Content: 22%
- CBD Content: 0.20%
- Indoor Plant Height: Tall
- Grow Difficulty: Hard
- Genetics: Chemdawg, Northern lights, Skunk no. 1
- Flavors: Diesel, Pungent, Earthy
- Best place to buy seeds: Seedsman.com
Where To Buy Sour Diesel Seeds
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Where Does Sour Diesel Come From?
The origins of Sour Diesel are a mystery.
The strain first became a hit in Staten Island, New York, where it has been grown for decades.
However, there are mixed accounts about its birthplace, with some people believing it may have come from Massachusetts.
When Did Sour Diesel Come Out?
Sour Diesel came out on the streets of New York in the mid-90s.
As the story goes, a breeder accidentally mixed Chemdawg 91, Super Skunk, and Northern Lights.
The resulting strain was a fan favorite among weed lovers and is still smoked heavily by veterans.
How Does Sour Diesel Make You Feel?
Sour Diesel makes you feel energetic, uplifted, elevating your mood and helping you get ready for the day.
People usually prefer it for “wake ‘n bake” sessions.
However, if you want a calm, relaxing, couch-locking high, Sour Diesel is probably not the strain for you.
Instead, you can choose an Indica-dominant strain such as Northern Lights.
Is Sour Diesel Indica or Sativa?
Sour Diesel is a hybrid which means that it contains properties of both Indica and Sativa.
However, it is a Sativa-dominant type with a 90% Sativa to 10% Indica ratio.
So, you should expect to feel more energized and dreamy after smoking up on this epic bud.
What is Sour Diesel THC level?
The THC level of Sour Diesel is relatively high compared to other strains.
The lowest potency that you can find is 12%.
However, Sour Diesel contains 18% THC on average, and the best performing strains can even guarantee 25% THC.
What is Sour Diesel CBD level?
The CBD level of Sour Diesel is around 2%, and it can also retain 4% CBN ( a similar cannabinoid) upon harvesting.
If you want more CBD in your bud, you should explore other options like PlainJane, Charlotte’s Web, etc.
Is Sour Diesel Strong?
Sour Diesel is considered a strong strain, as it gives a pretty intense Sativa high. It’s therefore not very suitable for first-time users.
Is Sour Diesel Top Shelf?
Sour Diesel is a 100% top-shelf strain.
However, poor growing techniques can alter the quality of the stain you are getting.
Strains that you get from a dealer next door will not be of the highest quality.
But, if you are growing Sour Diesel yourself or purchasing it from a local dispensary, then it should be top-shelf.
Is Sour Diesel A Bad Strain?
Many people believe that Sour Diesel is a bad strain as it can cause intense paranoia and anxiety.
In addition, some people may experience a headache on the comedown.
However, not everyone has a similar experience.
So, if you get an adverse reaction from smoking Sour Diesel, you can always choose a milder strain that suits you better.
Is Sour Diesel Exotic?
Sour Diesel is not considered an exotic strain since you can quickly get it from a local dispensary.
However, whether a strain is exotic or not depends on the location and audience.
Exotic strains are usually popular with rap culture and hard to find.
What Does Sour Diesel Taste like?
Sour Diesel tastes like pure diesel fuel when inhaled and gives a citrusy lemon flavor that remains on your taste buds for quite a while upon inhaling.
Moreover, the taste of Sour Diesel can vary from strain to strain, depending on the quality of the bud you are getting.
What Does Sour Diesel Smell like?
Sour Diesel smells like fuel, and some strains may give off slight hints of citrus or skunk.
It is one of the most pungent strains you can get your hands on, thanks to its lineage.
Its strong smell makes it tricky to mask, even in a plastic bag.
If you need to grow discreetly, Sour Diesel is not a good choice.
Does Sour Diesel Smell like Gas?
Sour Diesel has a strong, pungent smell, and it gives off hints of fuel or diesel, which may seem like gas to some.
Why Is Sour Diesel So Popular?
Sour Diesel is a classic strain, and its popularity is rooted in its uplifting, cerebral high without the couch-lock.
It also has higher THC levels than most Sativa strains and enhances your creativity, making it perfect for a daytime sesh.
Many people use it to relieve stress, anxiety, chronic pain, and fatigue.
Is Sour Diesel the same as OG Kush?
Sour Diesel is not the same as OG Kush as they have different lineages.
OG Kush has a similarly strong, earthy taste but without the hints of fuel that you get in Sour D.
Also, OG Kush has similar uplifting effects but with an intense high due to its Indica traits.
There is a different strain known as Sour OG Kush, a cross between the two and equally good.
Sour Diesel Grow Info
Sour Diesel Grow FAQs
Here are common queries that cannabis growers might have regarding Sour Diesel:
How Much Does Sour Diesel Yield?
Sour Diesel grown indoors can produce a yield of up to 18 ounces per plant.
Sour Diesel grown outdoors will yield up to 25 ounces per plant.
However, it’s important to note that the yield you get will heavily depend on your growing techniques.
Is Sour Diesel Easy To Grow?
Sour Diesel is not an easy strain to grow because it stretches during the first month of flowering, so you might need to perform Low-Stress-Training (LST) if your growing area is small.
Beginners should choose a strain with low growing difficulty, like Durban Poison, Northern Lights, or Jack Herer.
How Long Does Sour Diesel Take to Grow?
Sour Diesel usually takes around 9-10 weeks to flower in ideal growing conditions, which is a little longer than most strains.
Also, a lack of sunlight may trigger an early flowering period that might ruin the quality of the bud.
So, make sure your plants get enough of it.
Experienced growers also recommend 18 hour light cycles for indoor-grown plants.
How Tall Does Sour Diesel Grow?
Considering its Sativa genetics, Sour Diesel plants are tall and lanky, primarily when grown outdoors where plants can reach a height of 6.5 ft.
When growing indoors, you should expect the plants to be around 5 ft tall.
Is Sour Diesel Mold Resistant?
The hardy Sativa genetics make Sour Diesel a resilient strain to grow.
It is resistant to grey bud mold and can handle most weather conditions.
However, since it is prone to powdery mildew, experienced growers recommend being cautious and keeping conditions sterile until harvest time.
When Should You Harvest Sour Diesel?
Sour Diesel should be harvested in late October or early November after the plant has fully grown and spent 9-10 weeks in flowering time.
To make sure the plants are harvest-ready, you can examine the buds under a magnifying glass.
If most trichomes are milky white and some are amber, you should go for it.
Does Sour Diesel Turn Purple?
Sour Diesel is not a strain that turns purple because it does not contain anthocyanins.
Low temperatures or the absence of sunlight can cause strains with similar traits to turn purple.
However, with ideal growing conditions and feeding, your Sour Diesel will not turn purple.
How Does Sour Diesel Compare To Other Strains?
Sour Diesel vs. Blue Dream
Both Sour Diesel and Blue Dream are Sativa-dominant hybrids known for their cerebral effects that make you feel more energetic throughout the day.
Both strains are high in THC content, ranging from 17-25% in most strains.
In terms of taste and aroma, Sour Diesel is known for its pungent fuel smell and earthy taste with hints of lemon.
Blue Dream, in comparison, has a sweeter, fruity taste and smells like blueberries.
Sour Diesel is more challenging to get right when it comes to growing, but both strains produce decent yields of up to 25 ounces per plant when grown outdoors.
Check out my Full Blue Dream Strain Review (& Grow Guide)
Sour Diesel vs. Pineapple Express
Both Sour Diesel and Pineapple Express are strains that share similar characteristics and effects.
Both strains are sativa-dominant hybrids with a THC content ranging from 17.25% in most plants.
This makes them perfect for daytime smoking as they provide you with a cerebral buzz and uplifting effects.
The real difference in taste and aroma, with Sour Diesel having a pungent earthy aroma and a piney, citrus flavor on the exhale.
At the same time, Pineapple Express packs a powerful citrusy punch with undertones of pineapple and earth.
Both strains are not recommended for beginner growers since they stretch during the initial stages of flowering.
In addition, Both Pineapple Express and Sour Diesel produce decent yields of up to 25 ounces per plant when grown outdoors.
Check out my Full Pineapple Express Strain Review (& Grow Guide)
Sour Diesel vs. Super Sour Diesel
As the name suggests, both Sour Diesel and Super Sour Diesel are similar strains, and the latter is a cross of Sour Diesel with Super Silver Haze.
Both strains are Sativa-dominant hybrids that provide a more energetic buzz minus the couch-lock, making them suitable for a wake and bake session.
Also, since both are diesel strains, they are pretty similar in taste and aroma,
giving off hints of fuel and a citrusy aftertaste on the exhale.
Both strains are difficult to grow for the novice but produce decent yields of up to 25 ounces per plant.
Sour Diesel vs. Strawberry Cough
Sour Diesel and Strawberry Cough are Sativa-dominant hybrid strains with a high THC content ranging from 17-25%.
Both strains are known for their highly cerebral Sativa effects that make you feel more energized and elevate your mood, in addition.
Sour Diesel has a pungent fuel aroma with a citrusy taste that people enjoy. However, Strawberry Cough has a sweeter berry flavor and fruity smoke.
When it comes to growing, Sour Diesel is more difficult to grow but produces slightly higher yields than Strawberry cough ( 25 ounces compared to 14 ounces per plant).
Sour Diesel vs. Maui Wowie
Both Maui Wowie and Sour Diesel are similar in characteristics and taste due to their Sativa dominant nature. Moreover, they both contain high levels of THC, but Maui Wowie is more potent (up to 28% THC in some plants).
The strains are known for their cerebral, high-energy buzz and make them suitable for relieving anxiety, pain, or chronic fatigue.
Sour Diesel has a classic marijuana taste, with its smell hints of fuel and citrus, while Maui Wowie has a superior flavor with a hashy, lavender aroma.
When growing these strains, Sour Diesel is slightly difficult to grow as it tends to stretch during the first weeks of flowering but produces higher yields (25 ounces per plant) than Maui Wowie (16 ounces per plant).
Sour Diesel vs. Girl Scout Cookies
While Sour Diesel is a Sativa-dominant strain, Girl Scout Cookies is a near-perfect hybrid that gives you the best of both worlds.
Both strains boast high THC levels, ranging from 17-25% in most plants; hence they pack a powerful cerebral punch, making you feel more energized.
However, GSC has a slight sedation effect on the afterburn, making it suitable for nighttime smoking even.
In terms of taste and aroma, Sour Diesel has a pungent fuel smell and a citrusy, earthy taste, while GSC has a sweeter scent and a creamy flavor that reminds you of having dessert.
When it comes to growing, Sour Diesel is not a hardy strain, but it is forgiving and produces decent yields, while GSC produces low yields of up to 10 ounces per plant.
Sour Diesel vs. Mimosa
Both Sour Diesel and Mimosa are similar strains with Sativa-dominant characteristics, known for providing a cerebral, euphoric buzz that lasts longer if you smoke more.
Both strains contain high levels of THC, ranging from 17-20% in most plants.
In terms of taste and aroma, Mimosa has a sweet, citrus, berry-like flavor similar to a mimosa drink, hence the name.
On the other hand, Sour Diesel has a fuel smell and a spicy, earthy flavor with hints of citrus.
Both strains are not that easy to grow but produce decent yields due to their sativa properties.
In addition, Mimosa plants can thrive outdoors and yield up to 30 ounces per plant.
Sour Diesel vs. Lemon Haze
Both Sour Diesel and Lemon Haze are Sativa-dominant strains that contain high levels of THC, ranging from 17-25% in most plants.
These strains are known for providing a cerebral buzz, making you feel more happy and energetic throughout the day. In terms of taste and aroma, both strains have a similar profile.
However, Sour Diesel has a more pungent fuel smell than Lemon Haze’s citrus taste and aroma, almost like freshly peeled lemon slices.
Growing both these strains is not recommended for the novice since they require much cutting during the flowering stage.
Both strains can yield up to 25-30 ounces per plant, which is high compared to other strains.
Sour Diesel vs. Bruce Banner
Although Bruce Banner is a hybrid strain, it has Sativa-dominant properties that are similar to Sour Diesel.
Both strains contain high levels of THC, ranging from 17-25% in most plants.
The effects range from a cerebral buzz that is hard to miss, accompanied by euphoria and mood elevation.
While Sour Diesel has a strong fuel smell and a pungent earthy taste with hints of citrus, Bruce Banner is known for its superior, sweeter flavor that has a more fruity tinge to it.
Growing these strains can be challenging for beginners, and they usually flower within 9-10 weeks.
Moreover, both strains produce similar yields of 21-25 ounces per plant.
Check out my Full Bruce Banner Strain Review (& Grow Guide)
Sour Diesel vs. Chocolate Diesel
Chocolate Diesel has similar characteristics to Sour Diesel since they have a similar lineage, and the latter is a parent strain.
Both strains are Sativa-dominant types with high THC content (17-25%), making them potent for beginners.
The strains provide a cerebral buzz, which makes you feel happier and energized. In terms of taste and smell, Sour Diesel is known for its spicy diesel aroma and an earthy taste with hints of lemon or citrus.
In contrast, Chocolate Diesel tastes like earthy chocolate, similar to a cup of strong coffee.
When it comes to growing, both strains are relatively difficult to grow, but Chocolate Diesel produces slightly lower yields (up to 16 ounces per plant) as compared to Sour Diesel’s (up to 20 ounces).