{"id":3778,"date":"2021-04-06T19:33:50","date_gmt":"2021-04-06T19:33:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weedmaps.com\/learn\/?p=3778"},"modified":"2026-02-22T13:44:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T13:44:55","slug":"weed-seasons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/weedmaps.com\/learn\/the-plant\/weed-seasons","title":{"rendered":"Weed seasons: understanding the best time to grow cannabis in America"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Are you thinking about growing your own cannabis? New to being a plant parent? Wondering when you should plant your cannabis seedlings outdoors? Let's talk about what \u201cweed season\u201d means in the US and how you can time your outdoor grow to get the best results from your cannabis plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Find cannabis on Weedmaps<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\tWhat is weed season?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Weed season is an affectionate term for the eagerly awaited outdoor cannabis growing season<\/a>, a period that touches our spring, summer, and fall seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Northern Hemisphere, weed growing season can kick off as early as April, when gardeners and farmers might start seedlings indoors. Cannabis plants typically flower in late summer through fall, and the season can run as late as mid-November in warmer climates, where some cultivars take a long and luxurious time maturing their buds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tWhy do growers plant and harvest cannabis at specific times of the year?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like any farmer or gardener, cannabis farmers and gardeners typically get their plants in the ground as soon as the weather is warm and the days are long enough. This, of course, varies by region. Outdoor farmers in California generally enjoy warmer growing seasons and can plant earlier while also harvesting later than, say, New York, where the growing season is shorter on both ends. Regardless of where you're growing, the main goal is to time planting for maximum light during the summer and maximum growth before fall sets in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For photoperiod plants, timing is everything. Photoperiod cannabis plants take their cue from Mother Nature \u2014 or, more specifically, the number of uninterrupted hours of darkness \u2014 to start flowering. As fall sets in and hours of darkness hit twelve per night, the plant will be triggered into its flowering stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t

\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Huckleberry\n\t\t\t<\/a>Photo by: Gina Coleman\/Weedmaps<\/cite>
Huckleberry Hill Farm's outdoor grow in Humboldt County<\/figcaption><\/figure>\t\t\t