High-Yield vs. Fast-Finishing Strains: Which Should You Prioritise?

The choice between high-yield and fast-finishing strains is entirely dependent on your specific growing goals, resources, and environment. Generally, you have to prioritise one over the other due to an inverse relationship between the speed of maturation and yield potential. This blog will explore which one you should prioritise based on the differences between the two strains.

What Are High-Yield Strains?

High-yield strains are a type of plant, which are typically cannabis plants generally bred to produce a significantly larger amount of harvest compared to average strains. These strains are popular with commercial and home growers who seek to maximise efficiency and return on effort.

The key characteristics of high-yield cannabis strains include:

• Genetics: High-yielding strains often possess genetics focused on flower size, density, and overall production. They are often hybrid strains that are the result of crossing known high-production parent strains.
• Physical Traits: These plants often display a high calyx-to-leaf ratio and short internodal spacing, which leads to bigger, denser, and a larger number of buds.
• Growing Conditions: Genetics often provide the potential for a large harvest, while the final yield will be dependent on consistently maintaining the optimal growing conditions, as well as cultivation techniques such as “Screen of Green” (ScrOG) or “Low-Stress Training” (LST).
• Measurement: Indoor yields are typically measured in grams per square meter (g/m2), while outdoor yields are measured per plant.

Now, let’s look into some popular examples of high-yield weed strains:

Table 1: Examples of Popular High-Yield Strains

Ultimately, selecting a high-yield strain is the first step; successful cultivation will require a mix of smart planning and consistent care that reaches a plant’s full potential.

What Are Fast-Finishing Strains?

Fast-finishing strains, also referred to as fast versions or fast-flowering strains, are a type of photoperiod cannabis, having a significantly shortened flowering time compared to most traditional strains.

Some of the characteristics of the fast-finishing strains are:

• Light-Dependent: Unlike strains that are autoflowering, fast-finishing strains often still rely on a change in the light cycle to trigger flowering. This also allows the grower to control the plant’s vegetative stage and the final size.
• Faster Harvest: They can also finish flowering in at least 6 to 7 weeks, with many strains that are ready in 45 to 55 days. This is valuable for indoor growers who seek turnarounds and for outdoor growers in regions with shorter or unpredictable outdoor growing seasons, as it allows them to harvest before the bad weather season starts.
• High Quality and Yield: By allowing for a longer vegetative period compared to most autoflowering strains, they can produce larger, hardier plants with yields and potency (THC levels) comparable to traditional photoperiod strains.
• Cloning Capability: A key advantage that it has over autoflowering strains is that fast-finishing strains can be cloned, allowing growers to create mother plants and new clones from their favourite genetics.

Here is a chart that looks into popular examples of fast-flowering strains:

Table 2: Examples of Popular Fast-Finishing Strains

So, growers are looking for quick results without compromising on quality, often turning to these strains, leading to the formation of an effective middle-ground between traditional photoperiods and autoflowers.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Strain

If you are looking to choose between a high-yield and a fast-finishing cannabis strain, the choice generally involves balancing your cultivation goals, environmental factors, and available resources. In this context, the primary factors that you need to consider are:

Grower Objectives

The first aspect that you would absolutely need to focus on will be your production goals. Are you prioritising a faster turnover, or are you looking for faster harvests per year? Alternatively, patience is also critical, with high-yielding strains often requiring longer vegetative and flowering periods to reach their full potential. Alternatively, fast-finishing strains can be ready in a little over 6 to 8 weeks of flowering.

Alternatively, fast-flowering strains can be more resilient when compared to the high-yield ones, which can be more susceptible to mould or pests. That is why fast-finishing strains are better for beginners than the high-yield strains.

Environmental & Resource Constraints

For outdoor growers in a region with a short growing season, or early autumn frosts necessitate a fast-finishing strain to harvest before bad weather sets in. Alternatively, a long and warm climate can allow longer-flowering, high-yielding strains that can thrive.

Alternatively, indoor growers with a lesser vertical space may prefer more compact, fast-flowering indica-dominant strains, while those with more room can accommodate the taller, stretching potential of high-yielding sativas.

Thus, more harvests per year with fast-finishers might mean more frequent cycles of planting, harvesting, and processing, while high-yield strains can require a longer continuous management period each cycle.

Plant Characteristics

The genetics of a strain determine its potential limits in both yield and growth speed. And reputable breeders can often offer strains that balance these aspects effectively, such as “fast version” photoperiods offering quicker flowering times than traditional photoperiods.

Also, due to a quicker lifecycle, fast-finishing strains are exposed to potential pests, reducing the need for costly interventions. Alternatively, the high-yielding strains are more care-intensive. In fact, in some cases, the fast-finishing strains can be more potent and flavourful than high-yielding strains.

Furthermore, to settle this decision, here is a strain selection decision matrix chart:

Table 3: Strain Selection Decision Matrix

Summing Up

Whether to choose a high-yield variety or a fast-growing option depends on your skill as a grower and your objective. As a beginner, a fast-flowering cannabis strain can be a simpler option. There are fewer challenges in the growth techniques, and they are also less susceptible to environmental hazards. Techniques such as lighting schedules, strain-specific nutrients, temperature, and humidity are all key aspects that are relevant in the growing period.

Planning to be a Grower? Here’s What to Keep Track Of!

Considering a small recommendation for a potential grower, you must be aware of the Dos and Don’ts that you would need to know if you want your harvest to be right. Volume vs. speed, indoor vs. outdoor, and experience level are key aspects that you need to keep track of as a grower. So, based on these aspects, make your decisions, and taking your time is the right call here!