Every cannabis breeder longs for the ultimate industry recognition prize to bolster their image and profile in the cannabis sector. The High Times Cannabis Cup (HTCC) Award is the most coveted prize every cannabis industry player dream of receiving. All winning strains receive elevated esteem among growers who want to associate with a recognized and honored brand.
Are you seeking to get your share of the honor accompanying an award-winning strain? No big deal if you do because it’s possible by buying and growing the award-winning strains in your garden. You can choose from a great seed variety based on their effects, overall uniqueness, and terpene profile.
But a few questions linger over your choice to plant these seeds. Why should you select them and leave the others? How do you select these strains? What benefits do they have for you?
The rest of this post answers all the above questions, familiarizing you with the best Cannabis Cup winners https://askgrowers.com/seeds/cannabis-cup-winners. Keep reading to learn more and make an informed choice.
Choose Cannabis Cup Winner Seeds for Health and Wealth
We start by answering the big “why” question that underscores what is in these seeds for you. First, we would like to emphasize that these seeds produce products suitable for health. Both Sativa and Indica Cup winners are known for the following health benefits:
Depression
Sativa strains are popular for their depression-relieving effects. They are powerful energizers, mood uplifters, and creativity boosters. These strains fight apathy and lethargy.
Anxiety
Users can also enjoy anxiety relief using different cannabis products from these strains. They relieve anxiety with their uplifting and soothing power.
ADHD
Sativa cup winners are famous for their cerebral and increased focus effects. Thus, you can use them to ease ADHD symptoms.
Minerals and Vitamins
Cannabis hemp strains are rich in minerals and vitamins. Users can enjoy thr following healthy nutrients:
- Vitamin E
- Magnesium
- Phosphorous
- Potassium
- Niacin
- Riboflavin
- Thiamine
- Vitamin B-6
- Folate
Brain Protection
Award-winning cannabis strains can boost brain protection. This effect is particularly true of hemp-derived products that help with different neurological conditions. No wonder a study published in the Food Chemistry journal discovered that hemp seed extract has antioxidant properties due to the seeds’ cannabidiol (CBD) content.
A 2018 review also found that CBD and other elements in hemp seeds also help regulate the immune system. The seeds also have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Therefore, the review suggests that these CBD effects may help with the following neurological conditions:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neuropathic pain
- Childhood Seizure Disorders
The Best Cannabis Cup Winners for Beginners
We’ve seen what Cannabis Cup winners can do for your health and other users. But what are the Cannabis Cup winners rookies may want to try in their garden? Below are some of our carefully selected strains you can choose for your next grow.
Runtz Muffin Feminized
Runtz Muffin is one of the THC-rich alternatives a new grower can start with. This strain has a 29% THC content level. The strain is easy to grow because it fights off many pests, making things easier for learners.
However, it’s still necessary for inexperienced growers to watch out for excess humidity that could expose their plants to mold. We recommend growing this strain indoors and regulating the humidity levels at around 50% for growers in humid regions. But it’s still worth noting that the strain produces more yields if you grow it outdoors. If your cultivation process goes smoothly, you can harvest up to 1,000g per plant.
Blueberry Autoflower
Blueberry auto is another strain a beginner can explore. It is highly resilient to pests and can tolerate most rookie blunders without dying. Your plants need average attention levels, and with proper care, they can yield up to 15 oz of cannabis per plant.
Additionally, the autoflowering nature of Blueberry seeds ensures beginners don’t need to scratch their heads figuring out light cycle mechanics. The strain has 80% Indica genetics.
Strawberry Kush CBD
This cup winner has high CBD levels with a very low THC content of about 1%. The strain is also ideal for medical use because it doesn’t give users a cerebral high. Strawberry Kush consumption is perfect for sedation and pain relief; it also helps treat inflammation, stress, anxiety, insomnia, and general depression.
Wedding Cake Autoflower
Lastly, you can try out the Wedding Cake autoflower strain. The seeds are predominantly Indica (70%) and contain 30% Sativa genetics. The cultivar has a high THC level of 25%. Though it is mostly Indica, this strain doesn’t produce sleep-inducing products. Instead, Wedding Cake keeps users awake and calm. Its genetics are a mix Girl Scout Cookies, Cherry Pie, and Durban Poison.
Tips for Choosing the Best Cannabis Cup-Winning Strains
You’ve probably chosen to try one of the cup-winning strains discussed above. But how do you go about it? What qualities do you look for when selecting a particular strain? This section guides you on what to look for when choosing these seeds.
Growing Ease
High Times-crowned strains aren’t necessarily difficult to cultivate. The fact is that these seeds don’t pose any special difficulty. However, we recommend choosing strains that fit your skill and experience levels. For instance, you can choose any of the above alternatives if you are a beginner. But experienced growers may opt for veteran-friendly strains.
Potency
You also need to consider a strain’s potency level before selecting it. Be sure to determine that the strain has proper THC and CBD levels to produce desired effects. This consideration means paying attention to a strain’s dominant cannabinoids because some are THC-dominant, while others are CBD-dominant. That means you can choose the levels of psychoactive effects you want.
Terpene Profile
High Times judges evaluate terpene profiles to award a strain a prize. Cup winners are usually rich in terpenes. Thus, choose a strain by establishing that it contains the aroma and flavor that fits your personal preferences.
Award Category
Don’t forget to check out a strain’s category before choosing it. For instance, the strain can win the cup as the best Indica, Sativa, or hybrid. Based on your preferences and the health conditions you want to address, you will decide which seeds to choose.
ROI
You must also factor in your overall ROI before investing in a strain. Consider whether the seeds will be worth your time, money, and effort. Determine if your preferred seeds are underpriced or overpriced before cultivating them. If your analysis tells you that the seeds are worth your investment, go ahead and buy them.
Flowering Time
Lastly, consider your chosen strain’s flowering time. Feminized and autoflowering strains take between 8 and 10+ weeks to flower. However, some strains take a shorter period for those who don’t want to wait that long.
Parting Shot
There you go with all the facts you need to know about choosing cannabis cup-winning seeds. The ball is in your court to use this information to select the best strain that gives you value for your investment.
The article was produced by Tia Moskalenko, a dedicated cannabis grower and researcher dealing with the intricacies of retail cannabis cultivation. Tia is a blogger at AskGrowers, dedicated to user education and sharing her hands-on experience to help everyone venture into weed growing with ease.