Many people are curious about how to grow cannabis in Alabama. Though it’s always important to check with your state’s laws around cultivating marijuana before you get started, we’re happy to offer some information on what you might experience if you grow your own cannabis in the good old Cotton State.
Cannabis Cultivation in Alabama’s Climate
Balmy Alabama is home to a humid subtropical climate. This means you can expect some of the hottest summers in the country and a lot of thunderstorms—we probably don’t have to tell you! What you’re likely wondering is what this love-it-or-hate-it environment means for your precious cannabis plants.
First of all, it’s important to note that there is a lot of variation in the Alabama climate. Folks up north, by the Appalachian Mountains experience cooler temperatures, while more southern regions get a bit more toasty. North and Central Alabama are smack-dab in the middle of tornado country, and hurricanes grace the south more often than folks would probably like.
Let’s talk about growing a humid subtropical area first, to keep it simple. Though you might be thinking of how indicas grow on mountain ranges and feeling utterly dejected about your prospects, rest assured: there are strains of cannabis that can grow just about anywhere.
At Growers Choice, you can order any of the following strains and expect a sizeable harvest from your plants, as long as you take good care of them:
If you live at the higher altitudes in Alabama (Mentone is the top of the top, clocking in more than 1700 feet above sea level), there are still some cannabis strains that might work for you. Isn’t weed a wonderful plant? If it gets chilly where you’re at, check out Durban Poison Auto-flowering. Generally speaking, anywhere where the growing season is short because winter just can’t wait to come back around, you’re going to want to look for an auto-flowering strain.
Hardiness Zones and Cannabis Growing in Alabama
Have you heard of hardiness zones? They’re the fancy numbers all gardeners use to determine how and when it’s best to grow their plants. Knowing you live in a humid subtropical climate down in Alabama is only half the battle; the best way to learn how to grow cannabis in this state is to determine your hardiness zone (and read what others in your area have to say about it, of course).
Alabama covers a number of zones, between 7a and 9a (in other words, you might be in 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, or 9a). There are tons of maps online that will tell you into which zone you fall.
In zone 7 regions, you can expect a fairly lengthy growing season. The lowest temperature you’re likely to see is about 5 degrees F. Expect the last from around the middle of April, and know you’ll have a good 8 months or so of growing time before next year’s first frost rolls around.
For zone 8, your growing season starts around mid-April as well and lasts until about the end of October. You probably won’t see many days or nights below 10 degrees F, and the temperate summers with cooler nights will grant you a lovely cannabis crop.
In zone 9, the winters are pretty warm, so you’re looking at nearly year-round growing conditions, though that won’t necessarily apply to all cannabis seed species, so do your research. The good news is, you probably won’t be getting any unexpected freezes, so you can sleep easy into the fall!
Laws Around Growing your own Alabama Cannabis
People in Alabama who apply for a receive a license to grow cannabis, along with anyone else thinking about growing, selling, or buying marijuana in the state, will want to keep a close eye on the lawmakers in the coming years. In mid-2022, a few medical marijuana laws (like required video camera surveillance and distance minimums between hemp and cannabis farms) were tweaked or abandoned, and it’s likely that more will come.
Marijuana Perceptions in Alabama
Unfortunately, Alabamans remain some of the final U.S. citizens fighting for the right, not to party, but to use medical marijuana to deal with their health conditions. In 2021, the state technically adopted a medical marijuana program, but advocate estimates earmark late 2023 as the earliest any patients in need will see actual bud on offer.
Alabama’s Most Popular Cannabis Seed Strains
Vanilla Kush
Vanilla Kush is an Afghani hybrid that boasts an approachable, moderate 20% THC and an average yield from indoor and outdoor grows. If you’re looking for something that’ll leave you feeling creative and relaxed, this girl’s for you.
Why We Love It in Alabama
Kush strains grow and flower pretty quickly, so they’re suited to a wide variety of climates, especially unpredictable ones like in Alabama. This strain is good and hardy, capable of standing up to a few storms, and you won’t often find the mold and parasites that hassle other types.
Lucid Dream
Lucid Dream is a tasty combo of classic Haze and crowd-favorite Blue Dream. You’ll want to stick to daytime use with this baby unless you’re staying up all night studying, but during the waking hours, you’ll fall hard for its energetic buzz.
Why We Love It in Alabama
Lucid Dream is easy-growing and will grow on you easily! This dreamy, high-THC strain grows great outdoors and doesn’t need a lot of handholding to give you a pretty darn decent yield.
Strains with Blue Dream ancestry do require one thing from you to really flourish, though: airflow. Keep a breeze blowing around your plants or you’ll wind up with mold—yuck! This same feature will help ensure no pesky pests come to roost on your precious plants.
Northern Lights Auto
Everyone loves Northern Lights, so it’s no surprise to see this auto-flowering beauty queen on the list. With a moderate THC level and a speedy growing cycle, this strain might not give you a ton of bud, but the bud you harvest will be amazing.
Why We Love It in Alabama
Sneaky Northern Lights will fool the casual observer into believing it’s just a tree with its statuesque build, but it’s also fairly quick to flower. It’s a hardy plant, thanks to its hybrid genetics, so you shouldn’t have much issue with pests or diseases. You’ll want to protect it when the more intense weather surfaces, though.
Growing cannabis in Alabama is certainly possible and quite enjoyable, to boot! Make sure you’re always checking out the rules in your region, since we certainly don’t recommend breaking those. But when you’re ready, place your order for premium cannabis seeds from Growers Choice and experience the wonder of nurturing your own cannabis plants!
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