Farming Guides
Automatic vs Feminised vs Fast Seeds: Which one to choose in 2026?
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You’ve been looking through the catalogue for weeks. You’re sure you want to grow your own, but one question has been holding you back from the start: automatic, feminised or Fast Version?
It’s not a trivial decision. Choosing the wrong format could cost you an entire harvest, weeks of work or a row with your neighbour, who’s giving you strange looks. In 00 Seeds We’ve been helping growers avoid that mistake for over a decade. This is the guide you’ll wish you’d had from the start.
What really sets these three types of seeds apart?
Before we get into comparisons, it’s important to understand the logic behind each format. They aren’t «good, average and bad» versions of the same thing — they are Different tools for different situations.
Feminised Seeds (Photoperiod)
These are the classic seeds. They produce exclusively female plants (those that produce buds) and their cycle is governed by light: they need 12 hours of continuous darkness to start flowering. This makes them perfect for those who want to total control on each stage of cultivation.
- Vegetative phase: As long as you like (provided there are 18 hours of daylight)
- Flowering: It is activated by changing the cycle to 12/12
- Size: They can grow as much as you let them
- Resin and THC: Maximum genetic potential without compromise
Automatic (Autoflowering) Seeds
They contain genetic material Cannabis ruderalis, a subspecies native to Siberia that has learnt to flower according to the time of year, rather than the amount of light. The result: they flower on their own, without you having to do a thing. They are the type easier and quicker that it exists.
- Full cycle: 70–80 days from germination to the first pair of true leaves
- Light: They can survive on 18–20 hours of light throughout the entire cycle
- Size: Compact (60–100 cm), ideal for small spaces
- Multiple harvests: Outdoors, you can grow 3–4 crops per season
Fast Version Seeds
The most innovative and, probably, the least well-known variety. They are F1 hybrids between a high-quality photoperiod strain and an autoflowering strain, but without losing its dependence on the photoperiod. The result is a plant that retains 100% of the feminised strain’s potential, but matures between 1 and 2 weeks earlier.
- Flowering: Same as the feminised strain (requires a 12/12 cycle), but faster
- Quality: Maintains resin production and maximum output
- Ideal for: Outdoors in cold climates, impatient growers
Comprehensive comparison: The table that decides it all
| Feature | 🌱 Automatic | 🌿 Feminised | ⚡ Fast Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Low (ideal for beginners) | Medium-High | Media |
| Total cycle | 70–80 days | 90–120 days | 75–100 days |
| Light dependency | No | Yes (12/12) | Yes (12/12) |
| Plant size | Small (60–100 cm) | Large (100–200+ cm) | Large |
| Performance | Medium (50–150 g per plant) | High (150–500+ g per plant) | High |
| THC / Potency | Medium-High | Very High | Very High |
| Resin production | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Outdoor harvests per year | 3–4 | 1 | 1 |
| Stress resistance | Very high | Media | Media |
| Possibility of taking cuttings | Not recommended | Yes | Yes |
| Seed price | Medium | Medium-High | High |
What’s yours? The 5 most common scenarios
🏠 Scenario 1: Growing in a small grow tent, first time
Your seed: Autoflowering
You don’t have to manage light cycles; the plant is compact and you’ll see results in under 80 days. It’s incredibly forgiving — it copes better with inconsistent watering, temperature fluctuations and beginner’s mistakes.
👉 Our recommendation: Auto Gorilla o Auto OG Kush
🌳 Scenario 2: Outdoors in Spain, peak production
Your seed: Feminised
The Mediterranean sun is incredibly powerful. A feminised plant, properly planted in May, can reach 2 metres in height and yield 400–600 g in October. No grow tent can match that.
👉 Our recommendation: Gorilla Feminised o Gelato Mint
🌧 Scenario 3: Outdoors in northern Spain, France or Germany
Your Seed: Fast Version
The problem in northern Europe and along the Cantabrian coast is always the same: in September the rains arrive, and with them comes mould (Botrytis). The Fast Version flowers and matures 10–14 days earlier, allowing you to harvest in late August before autumn ruins your crop.
👉 Our recommendation: Gorilla Fast
🏙 Scenario 4: City balcony, complete privacy
Your seed: Autoflowering
An 80 cm auto plant doesn’t attract attention. You can grow several in pots, using natural light without worrying about growth cycles, and harvest several times in the same season. Maximum discretion.
🧪 Scenario 5: I want to make extracts (rosin, BHO, hash)
Your seed: Feminised or Fast Version
For extractions, you need as many trichomes as possible and the highest resin yield per gram of flower. Autoflowers are no match here — feminised strains produce between 20 and 40% more resin.
👉 Our recommendation: Gorilla Feminised (>25% THC, extreme resin production)
The most common mistake: confusing «feminised» with «non-autoflowering»
There’s a lot of confusion on forums and in shops. Let’s clear this up once and for all:
- «Feminised» It means that the seed produces only female plants. It doesn’t say anything about whether it’s automatic or not.
- «Automatic» or «autoflowering» describes the flowering cycle. It may be feminised (it almost always is) or regular.
- When we at 00 Seeds say «feminised», we mean a feminised photoperiod (the classic one).
- When we say «Car», we mean a autoflowering feminised.
To put it another way: all our seeds are feminised. The difference lies in whether they are photoperiod (traditional), autoflowering or Fast.
Why does 00 Seeds offer all three formats?
Because we know that there is no such thing as «the perfect universal seed». There is the perfect seed for your situation.
Our philosophy is precisely this: to take the world’s most potent and sought-after strains — Gorilla Glue, Gelato, OG Kush — and make them available in the format that each grower needs. Small grow tent, balcony, northern outdoor growing, extraction-based cultivation… there’s a 00 Seeds variety for every situation.
Frequently asked questions about types of cannabis seeds
Generally speaking, yes, although the gap has narrowed considerably. Modern autoflowers from 00 Seeds contain between 18 and 22% of THC, whilst feminised strains easily exceed 25%. For recreational use, you won’t notice much difference; for extractions, the feminised strains still come out on top.
It is not advisable. Autoflowers perform best with 18–20 hours of light throughout the entire cycle, whilst feminised plants need you to switch to a 12/12 light cycle to flower. Incompatible cycles will cause one of the two to suffer.
In Spain (Mediterranean climate), there are between 3 and 4 harvests per season. The 70–80-day growing cycle means you can plant them in May, July and late August without any problems.
Pretty much, yes. The only difference is that they flower earlier, so you need to keep an eye on their maturity a couple of weeks earlier than you would expect with a standard feminised strain.
Definitely an autoflowering strain. They’re resistant to light stress, have short growth cycles and don’t require any changes to the photoperiod. Any autoflowering strain from our catalogue is perfect for getting started.
Not significantly. As they are photoperiodic, they develop their structure and buds with the same potential as a standard feminised strain. The only difference is that they mature earlier.
Conclusion: Choose according to your circumstances, not according to trends
| If you are… | Choose… |
|---|---|
| Beginner or balcony | Automatic |
| Experienced grower, warm-hearted | Feminised |
| Outdoors in cold or rainy weather | Fast Version |
| High-power search engine | Feminised |
| Do you want several harvests a year? | Automatic |
Whatever you choose, at 00 Seeds The three formats are available for the most popular strains. Browse the full catalogue →
Legal Notice: Cannabis seeds are sold exclusively as collector’s items and for genetic preservation. Germinating them may be illegal in your country. Please check local legislation before making any purchase.
