Sour Diesel - The Strain That Turned Sour

How It Started

This is one of those stories that has quite a few twists and turns, however there is some truth to the version I am about to cover. In the early 1990’s, there was the Chemdawg 91 genetics being grown that was in circulation amongst a close knit group of growers. In an attempt to possess this strain that had an unbelievable street hype and bag appeal, a breeder named A.J acquired some of the flowers from the chemdawg 91 genetics.

Fortunate enough to find bag seeds, these seeds were sprouted and what came from these is formally known today as Sour Diesel. Considering the bag seed were not a pure version of the original Chemdawg 91 genetic, there is a collective understanding that a Super Skunk was used for pollination. This may well have been Chemdawg’s intention after it is documented he discarded the male plants he had, so using a Super Skunk to branch out the sacred line well have been a realistic target. Otherwise the story that has surfaced also is that the plant turned hermaphrodite and this is the reason for the bag seeds.

N.Y.C.D And The Sour Part

This is also a world famous strain with many cups to showcase the level of popularity and worldwide status. Named as Diesel due to its petroleum pungent scent and musky aroma, growers from New York City and California were both growing their version of the Diesel. How the different names came about and caused confusion amongst modern day growers is the Californian version was named East Coast Diesel and the other was New York City Diesel.

Simple enough to understand until the notoriety of the dry flowers and clone because so moorish, friendships began to suffer and what was once the best thing to come into a close group of cannabis enthusiasts, was quickly dubbed as ‘ Sour ‘ and the named Sour Diesel stuck. Anyone lucky enough to smoke a well grown version can account that a pungent jet fuel taste can linger on the lips once smoked, yet there is no sour aspect to the actual flavour when smoked or smelt. A strain that has the appearance of a sativa dominant hybrid with the aroma of a Kush.

Different Phenotypes

There are different phenotypes that can be found in seed form or by clone and these phenos are quite different in terms of expression. The Sour Diesel which is from California, has a powerful skunky gassy jet fuel taste and aroma and when smoked the mouth is filled with a creamy dank petroleum like after taste. When growing this phenotype, it will grow a darker green than most and yield heavy like a sativa, yet when smoked the effects can be overwhelming and similar to a narcotic indica. The New York City Diesel which has been made commercially famous by Soma, has a different flavour and effect altogether to her sister phenotype.

Anyone who has grown or smoked this plant will testify how it tastes of a grape and mandarin taste.When this strain grows it will express a multitude of seasonal colours ranging from red, purple, orange, yellow and pink. A very expressive plant that needs 10 weeks to fully ripen. The terpene is totally different with the N.Y.C.D and the effects when smoked are more focused and creative, showcasing the sativa aspect to this phenotype more. Some growers complain that the real N.Y.C.D is not strong enough to keep you in a sedentary mindset, whilst other growers can use this flower throughout the day with no down sides to production and motivation.

Hybrids With Sour Diesel

Over the last 20 years the level of breeding has really been taken to new heights, so with many hybrids originating from the Sour Diesel lineage it is difficult to name them all. To name a few of the more famous Sour Diesel hybrids that are worthy of their recognition are Headband, Casey Jones, Super Silver Sour Diesel Haze, G13 Diesel, O.G lemon Larry, Alien Dog, Notorious O.G and Underdog O.G. Many of the strongest strains on Earth ranging from 20% - 30% THC have been crossed with Sour Diesel. 

Growing Sour Diesel

From experience growing Sour Diesel can be a real turning point in one’s grow game, as you watch a true pedigree grow vigorously and yield what may even be your biggest harvest yet. You will find these buds stink and do not stop, so it is well advised to ensure your carbon filters and drying rooms are well ventilated and clean of that unmistakable jet fuel dank.

Plant height will grow quite tall and when flowered Sour Diesel kicks out a flurry of bright white pistils, which mature into stacked calyx similar to that of any commercial haze variety. Growers can expect sativa sized harvests over the space of 10 weeks. Despite Sour Diesel possessing that classic O.G Kush lemon fuel, waiting up to 70 days or more in some cases is well worth it. Sour Diesel can handle a big feed and is not so sensitive to heavy feeding schedules as other hazes and sativas. This strain can handle cold weather and thrives off hot weather outdoors just as well.

Growers in California who grow the original Sour Diesel lines, can grow enormous plants outdoors that require some serious trellising and harvest up to 5 kilo per plant dry. Training Sour Diesel from a clone or seedling will allow for huge yields as this plant enjoys to be super cropped, tied down, scrogged and any type of pruning When making extracts with Sour Diesel, cup winning terpenes and sky high levels of THC have made this strain a classic amongst extractors who want high grade resin to work with.

Lab Tested Sour Diesel Flower

Total THC: 20.71% THC: 0.3% THCa: 20.36% THCV: 0.04% Total CBD: 0.28% CBD: 0.01% CBDa: 0.27% CBN: 0.03% CBG: 0.05% CBGa: 0.72% CBC: 0.01% Total Cannabinoids: 21.8% By Stoney Tark