The Best Medical Strains to Grow in South Dakota

Growing cannabis in South Dakota certainly presents its own set of unique challenges. The continental climate, with cooler temperatures and moderate rainfall, means growers have to think outside the traditional outdoor garden plot. For those dedicated souls with a green thumb, it's about adapting to Mother Nature's playbook.

Sure, the growing season here is a tad on the short side, which isn't exactly music to any cannabis growers' ears. But that's no reason to throw in the trowel! With a bit of ingenuity and the right strategies, such as selecting hardier cannabis strains tailored to shorter growing periods, yield and quality can still hit the high notes.

Wedding Cake

Wedding Cake is a popular Indica-dominant strain that’s loved for its relaxing and euphoric effects. Growers also cherish the strain for its hardy genetics that make it easy to tend to.

Wedding Cake Feminized Seeds

Wedding Cake is known for its sweet taste and the harmony between the indica and sativa traits. If you want to chill but still remain sharp, Wedding Cake is a great choice.

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This beloved indica-hybrid was made by crossing Animal Mints with Triangle Kush, producing a strain that's as potent as it is rich in flavor. With THC levels that range from 18% to 24%, Wedding Cake is sure to deliver a powerful high that leaves you feeling relaxed and uplifted. All while the rich taste of sweet vanilla and spicy peppers lingers in their mouth.

South Dakotan growers will be happy to learn that it can flourish in their state's warm and semi-humid environment. That being said, because of South Dakota's short growing season, it's best to start a grow early and indoors (great for autoflowers as well!). Another thing to prepare for is the height of your plants; they’ll start off pretty short, but plants can reach heights of 5 to 6 feet tall when you move them outside. Expect to harvest these tall plants by late September or early October, which is cutting it really close to when the first frost hits South Dakota. But if you time it right, you can enjoy around 17 to 19 ounces of weed per plant.

Wedding Cake cultivar profile

Zkittlez

Zkittlez is an Indica-dominant strain that combines the genetics of Grapefruit, Grape Ape, and an unnamed strain. The Grape Ape genetics in Zkittlez gave this indica-hybrid its resilience and adaptability, allowing it to thrive in different growing conditions. To optimally grow Zkittlez and get a good yield, provide a good growing environment. This means learning basic cannabis cultivation techniques and pruning.

Zkittlez Feminized Seeds

One puff of this flavorful strain, and you'll understand why Zkittlez is named after the fruity rainbow candy. Those who try it, say they aren't just tasting the rainbow; they're seeing it as well.

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If investing a bit of time to learn something sounds like fun to you, here are some facts about growing Zkittlez that can help start you off.

You’ll grow relatively short plants that reach no taller than 3 to 5 feet tall, but they get very bushy, so you need to trim them to maintain good air circulation around the plants. Zkittlez typically isn’t ready to harvest until late October, but since the first frost hits South Dakota in the first week of October, you'd need a way to get your plants to flower quickly. That's where light deprivation comes in.

Trick your outdoor plants into flowering early by covering them with a tarp that will keep light out. Doing so will cause the plants to think that the days are getting shorter, which initiates flowering.

However, you’ll need to keep doing this until harvest. If you're not keen on putting that much effort, don't fret! Zkittlez has an autoflowering variant that can make the process much easier at the cost of yield. And speaking of yield, Zkittlez has an outdoor yield of 14 to 21 ounces per plant, while the autoflowering variant has a yield of 2 to 10 ounces per plant.

Zkittlez cultivar profile

Black Widow

Black Widow brings together the zest of a Brazilian sativa with the rich, earthy aftertaste of a South Indian indica, producing a Sativa-dominant strain that's loved for its flavor and effects. With high THC levels that hover around 24% to 28%, this sativa-hybrid stands out in terms of potency and delivers a deeply relaxing and uplifting high unlike any other.

Black Widow Feminized Seeds

Black widow is a very potent strain of Cannabis with between 15% to 28% THC contents. It comes with some effective medicinal properties while offering a decent level of CBD.

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When grown outdoors in South Dakota, Black Widow will feel at home with the state's warm and humid continental summers. For those daunted by large cannabis plants, worry not, as Black Widow only reaches about 3 feet in height yet still possesses a decent yield of 11 to 14 ounces per plant.

That said, you might need to consider tricking your plants into flowering early since Black Widow typically is ready for harvest by October. If you're good at reading your local weather and you think that it's about to throw a curveball at you with an early first frost, it'd be wise to get ahead of it.

Black Widow cultivar profile

Afghan

Afghan is a pure indica deeply rooted in Afghanistan's rich soils. This strain is a testament to the land's ancient cannabis traditions and is adored for its highly resinous flowers. Outside of its sticky flowers, Afghan’s hardy genetics have been perfected over the centuries, another feature that makes this indica strain so popular in the cannabis community.

Afghan Feminized Seeds

Afghan is a very popular indica heritage strain that delivers a heavy-bodied high. Afghan seeds grow large, fragrant buds known for their happy, relaxed effect.

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Afghan’s hardiness makes it a great strain for South Dakota. Thanks to its resilience, you won't have to worry about molds or diseases. Its adaptability to most climates and manageable plant height of around 3 feet also make it all the more low-maintenance.

To top it off, Afghans typically flowers around late September or early October, which is cutting it close, but it gives you the chance to harvest 15 to 22 ounces of flowers just as the first frost hits South Dakota. If you grow indoors however, Afghan autoflower might be the way to go.

Afghan cultivar profile

Moby Dick

Moby Dick is a marijuana strain made by crossing White Widow with Haze, resulting in a Sativa-dominant strain that delivers a strong euphoria-inducing head high. With THC levels that hover around 17% to 27%, it's no wonder it's a heavy-hitter.

Moby Dick Feminized Seeds

Are you ready to catch your white whale? Moby Dick is a potent sativa dominant hybrid strain offering THC levels that range from 15 to 20%, with some growers reaching as high as 21%.

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You don't get called Moby Dick for having small numbers, and this sativa-hybrid showcases that. The smallest plant you’ll grow is likely 8 feet tall, while the highest can stretch up to 11 feet. It's definitely not a strain you'd grow outdoors if you want to be inconspicuous. Yield-wise, you can expect to harvest around 52 to 53 ounces per plant. That said, this strain is typically ready for harvest by late October. With any other strain, we would recommend you cover the plants with a tarp, but good luck trying that with a 10-foot-tall marijuana plant.

One way you can grow Moby Dick outdoors in South Dakota is through Sea of Green (ScrOG). It would help reduce the height of the plants and make it much easier to cover them with a tarp to trick them into flowering faster. It requires a bit of experience, but if you want to catch this green whale, you’ll need a good-sized net. Indoors, the autoflower variant might work better.

Moby Dick cultivar profile

White Rhino

White Rhino carries the legacy of two potent parents, White Widow and North American Indica, marrying their most prized attributes into one hardy strain. Its Indica-dominance promises a relaxing body high that's backed by a THC content of up to 20%. Its long-lasting body high and therapeutic effects are only made better by the delectable flavor of its smoke. It combines woody and earthy undertones with the taste of lemon and honey. Its aroma is much of the same but topped off with a distinct skunky smell.

White Rhino Feminized Seeds

White Rhino is a well-respected strain boasting of parentage from the regions of India, Afghanistan, and Brazil. Weed grown from White Rhino seeds delivers a relaxing high, perfect for those feeling stressed out.

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South Dakotan growers will find White Rhino to be a great strain to cultivate as it finds itself at home in the warm and semi-humid summers of the state's continental climate. You won't have to worry about the typical outdoor challenges of tending to your cannabis, given that White Rhino has a high resistance to most pests and diseases. Mold isn't an issue either, but you should still trim the plants since they grow fairly bushy.

Outdoor harvest for White Rhino is ready by late September or early October, providing you with a generous yield of 35 to 42 ounces per plant. If you're looking for a high-yielding strain with quality flowers to boot, look no further than White Rhino.

White Rhino cultivar profile

GMO Cookies

GMO Cookies combines the genetics of Girl Scout Cookies with Chemdwag, producing an Indica-dominant hybrid strain that packs quite the loaded punch with its high THC levels of 22% to 28%. If you're looking for an Indica-hybrid that can ease pain and stress by leaving you feeling uplifted and euphoric, then this hard-hitter's one-two punch will surely satisfy you.

GMO Cookies Feminized Seeds

GMO Cookies, despite its unappealing name, is a potent indica-dominant hybrid with sativa-like growth but induces a strong indica couchlock. High THC levels make it suitable for experienced growers and users.

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When it comes to growing, the balmy summers of South Dakota suit GMO Cookies just fine. You would think that because it has Chemdawg genetics, GMO Cookies would have poor resistance against mold and mildew, but in reality, this strain possesses a fair bit of resilience against it as well as diseases and pests.

That's not to say that GMO Cookies (both in photoperiod and autoflower variant) is an undemanding strain; it can be, depending on one's experience. If you're new to growing, this indica-hybrid can be intimidating because of its height, which can reach up to 6 feet tall. This strain is typically ready for harvest by mid-October. South Dakotan growers should apply light deprivation to their plants or grow them in a greenhouse. Whichever solution you choose, you'll get a generous yield of 17 ounces per plant.

GMO Cookies cultivar profile

LA Kush Cake

LA Kush Cake is the offspring of Wedding Cake and Kush Mints. It's an Indica-dominant strain that delivers a strong, relaxing body high that helps many people sleep. If you're searching for the perfect end-of-day strain, look no further.

LA Kush Cake Feminized Seeds

When flavor and effects are the priority, you can't go wrong with a potent cake strain. This tasty cake combines everything you love about a West Coast Kush with an undeniable cake-like sweetness. 

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South Dakota's climate is a tad different from what LA Kush Cake typically likes, which is the warm and dry conditions of the Mediterranean. That said, this Indica-hybrid isn't that picky with its climate and would adapt well to South Dakota's hot and semi-humid continental summers. However, South Dakotan growers should apply light deprivation for a successful LA Kush Cake harvest.

This is because LA Kush Cake is typically ready for harvest by mid to late October, meaning it would get caught in the first frost. You'll have to trick your plants into flowering early via light deprivation to avoid that. You'll need a pretty big tarp to do so as well, considering LA Kush Cake plants tend to grow up to 6 feet tall (for smaller sizes, you might try the autoflower variant). But if you get through all of that, you'll be rewarded with a hefty yield of 35 to 52 ounces of smokable flowers per plant.

LA Kush Cake cultivar profile

Purple Punch

Purple Punch is a cannabis cultivar made by crossing Larry OG and Granddaddy Purple, resulting in an indica-hybrid that should be on any South Dakotan's grow list for how well it thrives in the state's continental climate.

Purple Punch Feminized Seeds

The Purple Punch weed strain hails from the tropical island of Hawai'i. This hybrid is 80/20 indica dominant and first bred by Supernova Gardens in Kauai, Hawai'i.

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The warm and somewhat humid summers of South Dakota are the best conditions for Purple Punch to flourish. And even with the state's relatively short growing season, you won't have to manipulate the plants into flowering early since Purple Punch is typically ready for harvest by late September.

You can expect an average yield of 24 to 28 ounces per plant. But, to ensure such a generous yield, you must know when to properly prune your Purple Punch cannabis. This practice helps prevent overcrowding of the buds and reduces the odds of mold growing on your plants since Purple Punch is often prone to mold and pests. Keep in mind that pruning the autoflower variant isn't recommend for inexperienced growers.

Purple Punch cultivar profile

Blue Dream

Blue Dream combines the sweet berry flavors of Blueberry with the dreamy and uplifting head-high of Haze. The created hybrid is a strain that's not only a palate pleaser but also an effective alternative against stress and anxiety. It’s also a great indica-hybrid to grow in South Dakota.

Blue Dream Feminized Seeds

Without a doubt, Blue Dream seeds are one of the most popular marijuana strains in the U.S. Blue Dream gives that 'Cool West Coast Vibe' high sativa-dominant hybrids are known for.

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Despite having a preference for Mediterranean climates, Blue Dream can flourish in the balmy summers of the Midwest and North-Central regions of the U.S. The hardy nature of Blue Dream also makes it resilient against mold and mildew, which adds to why it's such an easy strain to grow.

That said, it's important to note that Blue Dream plants can grow to around 4 to 6 feet tall. You'd also need to prune them occasionally to avoid poor air circulation around the plants, which can cause mold growth. Lastly, Blue Dream cannabis is typically ready for harvest by October, meaning you'll need to apply light deprivation to trick your plants into flowering early. While it is some work, it’s a fun challenge that raises your grower skills. If you need your plants earlier, we recommend to get the autoflower variant instead.

Blue Dream cultivar profile