Modified on: 27/04/2022
Does legislation allow you to cultivate cannabis seeds? Here’s what you need to know!
Growing cannabis seeds is not easy, as most British and European laws lay down specific rules. Selling and buying marijuana seeds is permitted, as the seeds themselves are free of tetrahydrocannabinol, while CBD cannabis is prohibited in the UK at a rate higher than 0.2%.
The legislation to refer to regarding what concerns marijuana seeds cultivation is precise.
Let’s take a look at what happens in Italy: SensorySeeds headquarters! Law No. 242/2016. In Article 2, it is clarified that to stimulate the agro-industrial cannabis supply chain. The farmer may pursue the cultivation of the 62 varieties of cannabis Sativa L included in the Common Catalogue of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species.
This list of cannabis varieties excludes those seeds that may produce cannabis specimens with a THC content higher than that permitted.
Suppose you want to grow cannabis seeds. In that case, you should do so on an industrial level, with prior authorization and a specific purpose, well defined in the guidelines of your business.
Legal marijuana is also called ‘industrial cannabis’ and exists for purposes other than recreational. This article from the SensorySeeds blog will outline the critical steps for growing cannabis seeds purely for informational purposes.
What is needed to grow marijuana seeds?
As explained earlier, growing marijuana seeds is strongly discouraged, even for CBD cannabis. Even the cultivation of industrially permitted species from the Catalogue of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species is unsuitable for home use.
However, where it is permitted to plant them, a few things are needed to grow cannabis seeds:
- Pots and containers
- Suitable soil
- Cannabis seeds
- Water
- Light
- Lots of patience
Seed growing is divided into 5 main steps, and the steps are as follows:
- Buying cannabis seeds
- Germination
- Planting
- Vegetative stage
- Flowering
Now let’s see which seeds are most suitable for a high-level cannabis crop.
Read also: The situation about cannabis seed shops in the UK and Europe in September 2020
Which seeds to choose for cannabis cultivation?
If regular (non-feminized) seeds are used for ç cultivation, all male plants must be removed before they mature and pollinate the females. Otherwise, the flowering phase and, therefore, the final harvest will be compromised.
Furthermore, cannabis grown from regular seeds will only flower according to the hours of exposure to light, as is the case with feminized seeds. Still, feminized seeds guarantee a 99% chance of producing a female cannabis plant, eliminating the need to monitor the males.
Growing this type of seed requires a little more care and attention than auto-flowering seeds, which produce a plant that automatically flowers according to age and not photoperiod.
In addition, this category of seeds, like fast seeds, guarantees a short time between germination and flowering and gives the plant an easier and quicker path, with the advantage of avoiding bad weather, diseases and pests.
How should the seeds be planted in countries where the cultivation of cannabis seeds for personal use is permitted?
Germination’ refers to the stage before planting. The easiest way to do this is to fold the seeds inside a paper towel soaked in water and wait a few days, continuing to wet the towel to keep it damp.
During this phase, you may find that a small root emerges from your seed.
Next, whatever your choice of soil to use for planting your seeds, don’t mind on the expenses – it will pay off because the suitable soil will help you avoid problems with unbalanced pH and poor nutrient distribution.
You will probably also need some container to support the pot, from which any excess water must drain away. Once you have added the supports to your pot and have your seeds, you are ready to plant. Simply insert your finger into the soil and place your seed inside.
And here is the vegetative stage, the one in which the plants develop a frame, the structure needed to support the eventual flowers. If you choose regular seeds, the vegetative phase will show you the sex of the plant. The plant will need 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness for the best growth at this stage.
If, on the other hand, you use feminized seeds, you can be almost sure that your plants are female.
Finally, the flowering phase is when your plants will develop buds. Again, if you grow ‘normal’ seeds, you will change the cycle to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark, whereas auto-flowering varieties will not require this change as they will flower when they are mature enough.
Read also: Are you planning on sprouting cannabis seeds? It could be a bad idea.
Since you can’t grow marijuana seeds, why not collect them?
Now that you understand that growing cannabis seeds is not a viable hobby or activity, you could turn to collect them. In this case, turn to SensorySeeds.
Take a look at our online cannabis seeds catalogue, produced mainly by the world-famous BSF Seeds seed bank, and you will realize the magnificent varieties available on our e-commerce.
Buying cannabis seeds is entirely legal, as they contain no trace of THC, and it has never been easier. In just a few clicks, you can have the best cannabis seeds on the market delivered to your doorstep!
