You don’t need to be Sherlock Homegrow to figure out whether you bought quality cannabis seeds before spending precious dollars and energy on cultivating them to harvest.
Way too many times I’ve seen some of my growmies get burned on cannabis seeds that either failed to germinate, became hermies, or had stunted growth—and my little extraterrestrial heart goes out to them! But if they had just done a few visual tests or stuck with reliable seed banks like Multiverse Beans, those same folks would already be puffing tough on some of their own homegrown funk. Instead, they’re in a funk because the money and energy they put into growing those seeds turned out to be a massive waste.
That’s why I created this little guide to identify quality cannabis seeds even before you rip the seed pack open. Follow along as we explore how to avoid buying bunk beans!
Believe it or not, cannabis seeds are actually tiny fruits called achenes, which contain the seed and its shell [1]. These achenes (we will still refer to them as seeds going forward!) can have different appearances for different varieties and strains.
The protective outer shell is also known as a seed coat or testa. This protects the seed from any damage inflicted upon it by the environment, pests, temperatures, and even heavy-handed postal employees!
Within the protective shell is the embryo, which is the living part of the seed that will grow a taproot once germinated and eventually mature into a cannabis plant. Within this embryo are all of the genetic markers of the particular strain or seed type you selected.
Nutrient storage surrounding the embryo sustains it until the seedling starts photosynthesis after germination. It’s also important to note that according to one important U.S. regulatory body, cannabis seeds do not contain any actual cannabinoids like THC or CBD until they’re germinated and begin to grow into a full plant [2].
There are a few telltale signs of a quality cannabis seed stock with just a quick visual check. Many different varieties of cannabis plants produce seeds that may look a little different from each other—and that’s OK! How the seed looks doesn’t matter in terms of quality; just check to see that they fall into any of the color varieties below:
Tiger-striped or tortoise-shell-looking seeds have spots and stripes all around that resemble those found on either type of wild animal. This design is usually found throughout beans with a gray or brownish overall tint. These seeds will have a glossy sheen like any other quality seed to signify health.
Sometimes, beans can be gray, too! Gray seeds can sprout boundless harvests as well—just be sure they have the same telltale glossy shine on the outer shell.
Cannabis seeds that are dark brown are in the same ballpark—as you humanoids like to say. They are capable and healthy enough to grow killer cannabis; just make sure they have that shine!
Overly pale, green, or white seeds are often a sign that the beans you have in your possession may be immature or perhaps damaged in some way. The only real way to test for viability is with the float test, which I will cover shortly.
Quality can also be assumed from their overall size and shape. Just about all of them feature the same teardrop shape with a round end that curves to a blunt tip. Any bean that doesn’t feature the same basic body shape may very well have germination or cultivation performance issues.
Some humanoid researchers have also shown that they can tell what strain a specific seed is through a chemical analysis known as chromatography. Regardless of what strain a seed will grow into, each seed should have a healthy-looking, average-sized mass compared to being overly small or misshapen.
Using your fingers to test firmness is also another easy indicator of quality. They should be smooth to the touch without any roughness or a coarse texture.
Quality beans should also be firm to the touch, without any hollowness or a lightweight feeling once gently pressed. A solid, firm outer shell demonstrates a fully mature seed compared to a more hollow-feeling seed, which indicates it’s underdeveloped [3].
Keep an eye out for cracks or damage to the seed when checking for quality during the firmness test. Often, beans may very well be high quality—they just happened to be damaged during shipping, packaging, or storage.
Older cannabis seeds are more prone to a decreased germination rate. This is often due to adverse climate conditions or bacterial or fungal diseases that have developed over time [4]. That’s not to say that seeds stored properly can’t still grow killer weed after a few months to years, as my previous guide to properly storing cannabis seeds mentioned before.
Younger seeds that were bred more recently will always give you the best chance of germination and a successful final harvest compared to rolling the dice with older seeds [4]. However, as many of my fellow seed junkies can attest, it’s often easier said than done!
As mentioned in an earlier blog, you can avoid having to deal with any bad seeds by just doing some online research about the breeder and/or seed bank to get an idea of where your seeds are originating from. Online reviews are great sources to determine whether your seeds have good genetics that will grow up big and strong—and won’t herm either!
A reputable breeder like Multiverse Genetics is going to ensure quality genetics, reliable packaging, and seeds that have been stored properly before being delivered to you.
Speaking of MVG, my fellow growmie, Uncle Paulie, likes to test potential seed viability his own way:
Set the seeds on a sturdy surface like a coffee or kitchen table
Apply pressure from your thumb and press firmly onto the seeds
If the seeds become flat or crack, they’re probably underdeveloped and won’t germinate properly
Mature seeds have more gravity and tend to survive the test before being germinated
The float test observes the buoyancy or floatability of a cannabis seed. This simple-to-do test is done by a lot of folks; however, it’s still not scientifically proven. Know that the only true test of viability for the home grower is to germinate [5]. That said, here’s how to do the float test:
Grab a drinking glass and fill it with room-temperature water. Ensure it’s room temp so that any temperature extremes don’t interfere
Now go ahead and drop your seeds into the glass of water with enough space to move around
Let the seeds remain in the glass of water for an hour or two. Notice whether the seeds sink or float
Seeds that sink to the bottom have more density and may indicate a mature cannabis seed that has the possibility to germinate successfully
Seeds that float tend to demonstrate that they’re less developed or may have other issues that will possibly prevent successful germination
If you do perform this test, do it right before you are ready to start growing, so that the water-soaked seeds don’t develop mold or start to germinate on their own. If you’re not quite ready to grow yet, be sure to dry them off thoroughly before storing them away.
While the float test is a pretty reliable barometer to judge whether you have quality cannabis seeds or not, germination is definitive proof of seed quality and viability.
Whether you like to use the paper towel method or germinate directly in soil, the only real way you’re going to know whether the beans you bought are up to snuff is to start them. If they begin to develop stunted seedlings or perhaps don’t even germinate at all, then you will ultimately know where you stand.
Any of the above visual and physical tests are great indicators of whether you bought quality beans on their own. However, in combination, they create a better overall determination that is more comprehensive—up until float testing and germination.
If you buy beans from poorly reviewed or non-reputable sources, you’re always going to be rolling the dice. Do the smart thing and rely on quality American seed banks like MVB that you can trust to grow you some funk, not put you in one!
Ready to grow with confidence? Skip the guesswork and shop cannabis seeds online from trusted breeders at Multiverse Beans. Whether you’re hunting for high-quality genetics, better germination rates, or just want to avoid bunk beans, we’ve got you covered. Explore our curated online cannabis seedbank or contact us for help finding the seeds that match your grow goals today.