Finding the right cannabis strain is tough. Luckily, we’re on hand to help you make this decision, and our team can give you the advice you need. That’s why, today, we’ll be looking at the Harlequin Seeds cannabis strain to help you decide whether this could be a good option for your needs.

Basic Characteristics

The Harlequin cannabis seed strain is a Sativa dominant hybrid strain that is uncharacteristically low in THC, making its psychedelic effects relatively minimal. However, the strain is high in CBD with a CBD content of approximately 10%, making this strain an excellent choice for medicinal cannabis. It contains a mix of myrcene, pinene, and caryophyllene terpenes and promotes peace and relaxation in users.

A notable benefit of the Harlequin cannabis seed strain is that it is surprisingly easy to grow, compared to some. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly popular among medicinal cannabis growers looking for a strain with minimal psychedelic effects but strong medicinal properties.

History of Harlequin Seeds

So, how did the Harlequin cannabis seed strain originate? The first idea behind the strain’s creation was for a low-THC, high-CBD strain to meet the demand for this from the medicinal cannabis community. Indeed, at the time when Harlequin was being developed, the cannabis community was only just starting to recognize the different cannabidiol compounds found within weed. As such, there was a massive amount of potential for a strain that didn’t result in significant psychedelic effects, but still provided the medicinal benefits of general cannabis strains.

Mr. Green was the breeder to take on this challenge. At the time, he was working with the House of David Collective and recognized the need for a strain that could provide excellent medical properties. His early attempts were primarily focused on easing the side effects of chemotherapy for cancer patients, and so the strain was designed for anti-inflammatory properties and a sense of calm. And so, as one of (if not the) first breeders to focus on such, he began a long and drawn-out process to create a high-CBD strain of cannabis.

Eventually, the Harlequin cannabis seed strain was created by crossing predominantly Sativa strains; Columbian gold, an heirloom strain, with three other landrace strains derived from Switzerland, Thailand, and Nepal. Hence, the Harlequin cannabis seed strain is notable for being derived from nearly 100% landrace genetics!

Ironically, despite being low in THC, the Harlequin cannabis seed strain is still popular among recreational users nowadays as well as medicinal users. Indeed ,the inner-calm that the strain provides can actually make it a suitable recreational strain, even though its primary application is as a medicinal strain.

Effects of Harlequin Seeds

When it comes to cannabis, most strains are bred with recreational use in mind – and of course, getting absolutely stoned is part of this. However, the Harlequin cannabis seed strain is suitable both as a medicinal and recreational strain; despite not providing the stoned effects of other strains, its incredible relaxation effects can be good for both recreational and medicinal users.

Primary effects of the Harlequin cannabis seed strain include peaceful feelings and a strong sense of inner-calm. Many people also report feeling impressively clear-headed with the strain and experiencing intense joy. As such, it can be effective for helping with many different conditions, including the intended control of chemotherapy side effects as well as for pain, inflammation, nausea, anxiety and depression, and stress.

Side effects are very few and rare with the Harlequin cannabis seed strain, although a few users report feeling slightly dizzy with a dry mouth and dry eyes. However, because of the low THC content in the strain, most people will not experience any side effects at all. It is likely only those sensitive to THC who will suffer slight side effects.

 

How to Grow Harlequin Cannabis Seeds

So, how does the Harlequin cannabis seed strain stack up in terms of growing difficulty? Fortunately, another benefit of the strain is that it is surprisingly easy to grow – as such, most growers will be able to have success with the strain, regardless of whether they have grown cannabis before.

Harlequin seeds come in a choice of regular or feminized strains, which is something that many people can benefit from. Indeed, feminized cannabis seeds cost a little more, however, they’re pre-selected to only be female – taking another job out of growing cannabis seeds. However, if it’s the heirloom characteristics and a wider range of traits that you want to see between your plants, then the standard type of seed may be a better choice. The option is down to you, so you can choose a cannabis strain that will meet your growing system and demands.

Growing Harlequin Seeds Indoors

The Harlequin cannabis seed strain is ideally suited to indoor growing, owing to its heritage as a landrace strain. This heritage generally means that plants will need specific warm, arid, and dry climates in order to thrive and grow well, which many outdoor growing systems may not be able to provide.

When grown indoors, you can control all of the environmental conditions to keep the plants happy and growing at their best. This can result in impressively high yields and easy harvests, which makes indoor growing a popular option for this strain. However, it is of course notable that indoor growing takes slightly more TLC than outdoor growing simply to ensure that the environmental conditions are appropriate.

Growing Harlequin Seeds Outdoors

Because of the Harlequin’s nature as a landrace strain, it needs highly specific environmental conditions in order to grow well and thrive. This is not always easy to replicate in an outdoor growing environment, which can somewhat limit the yields achieved. However, the Harlequin cannabis seed strain can still thrive in an outdoor-based cannabis system when given the right conditions and care.

Temperatures need to remain between 70 and 83 degrees Fahrenheit for good results. Furthermore, to achieve the best potential from the strain, the relative humidity should never be higher than (at maximum) 65%. Furthermore, to have the best results, most outdoor growers will cultivate the strain in a region with good airflow, as opposed to a shaded and obscured area that doesn’t have plenty of airflow.

Because the strain only grows to about 5 feet in height, it is effective for discrete outdoor growing.

Ideal Growing Conditions

In order to grow effectively, the Harlequin cannabis seed strain should be grown in arid, dry conditions. Relative humidity should never exceed 65% but ideally should be kept lower than this. Moreover, temperature should be carefully controlled to fall between 70 and 83 degrees Fahrenheit for the best results.

As an easy-to-grow cannabis strain, it is notable that the Harlequin cannabis seed strain is highly resistant to most pests and mold, making it easy to grow in this regard. However, as a landrace strain that prefers dry climates, it is prone to bud rot. So, growers should ensure the plant is grown in ideal dry conditions or in an area with good airflow to protect against this.

Flowering Time

The Harlequin cannabis seed strain takes between 8 and 9 weeks from planting to reach harvest, and the best CBD levels will be attained if you harvest your buds just when the trichomes turn glossy white. Early harvest is important for getting the highest CBD content and the best effects from your Harlequin plants.

Yields

Harlequin cannabis plants can provide impressively high yields when harvested at the right time and grown following best practice guidelines. 25 ounces of yield is expected per square meter for indoor growing, and the same yields are possible with good growing conditions per plant in ideal outdoor systems. The best harvest time for high-CBD yields is when the bud’s trichomes just turn a glossy white; early harvest is crucial, and leaving the seeds too long can reduce the CBD content.

Pros and Cons

Pros

•       Easy to grow strain that is ideal for beginner and experienced growers alike
•       High CBD strain with low THC content – one of the first strains to do so
•       Designed for easing side effects of chemotherapy, but effective for multiple medicinal uses
•       Short plant, making it suitable for discrete growing
•       Widely available from online cannabis seed banks
•       Large yields of up to 25 ounces per plant / m2

Cons

•       Not every phenotype is consistent in height
•       Not THC free, which some people may not appreciate

Final Thoughts

When it comes to top-quality cannabis seeds, it’s imperative that you invest in the right strains for your needs. However, with so many different strains to choose between for your next cannabis seed strain, it’s easy to find it a bit mind-boggling to pick the right one. Fortunately, the Harlequin cannabis seed strain is a highly popular medicinal strain that is also suitable for recreational use thanks to its relaxing nature.