9 Top Tips on Growing Autos Outdoors in Europe

Top Tip #1 - Fast flowering Genetics
If you experience challenging weather and short seasons, like in the UK or Holland, then your best bet is to work with fast flowering autos. There is such a wide range of autos on the market now, each expressing different traits, so our top tip here is to find an auto which will be ready from seed to harvest within 75-90 days maximum.

This will allow you to produce the best plants without falling short of sunshine. Long flowering autos that exceed the 90-day mark will not get a chance to mature, causing fluffy and airy buds. 

Top Tip #2 - Use large pots
The bigger the pot then the bigger the autos will become, so buying a 25-50 liter pot, for example, will have many benefits. It is a good idea to not transplant autos once they are growing, especially once they have started flowering.

Our top tip here is to plant your seedlings directly into the large sized plastic or felt pot, and allow the roots to grow as much as possible for the first 4–5 weeks before flowering commences. Small sized pots such as 7.5 liter or below will result in plants that are around 30 cm tall.

Top Tip #3 - Nutrients to feed
Autoflowering Cannabis plants will stay in a vegetative state for the first 4 weeks, then begin to produce flowers and stop stretching. During this time, it is important to get the balance of nutrients right, so our top tip here is to feed a nutrient designed for an indoor vegetative period, and then at the start of week 5, use a nutrient that would have been used for the indoor flowering stage.

Follow the feeding chart and make sure that you also flush your autos correctly, ensuring they receive only plain water for the final 14 days prior to harvest.

Top Tip #4 - Do not transplant
Unlike photoperiod plants that can be transplanted multiple times during the growth period, autos do not like to be moved around once their roots have settled. Transplanting autos can have a negative effect on the plants, resulting in stunted growth, tiny plants or very low yielding autos.

Our top tip is to plant your seeds and then leave for the entire duration of the plant’s life cycle. Many growers have success with planting 4-6 small sized autos into a large pot, simulating a small Sea of Green set up.

Top Tip #5 - Avoid high stress training
Training Cannabis plants can be very beneficial when it comes to controlling height, shape, size and yield potential. When it comes to autos, however, high stress training such as topping can cause plants to stay very short and, in some cases, stunt the flowering process.

Our top tip here is to only apply low stress training to autos, which need tying down to allow more direct light into the inner parts of the canopy. Some taller autos may need to be tied down, yet any type of training that requires a recovery period may do more harm than good.

Top Tip #6 - Camouflage 
Keeping a discreet and secret outdoor garden is very important, especially when living in a country that may not allow Cannabis cultivation. Thankfully, autoflowering Cannabis plants have a tendency to stay low, with most growing as tall as 60-90 cm.

Our top tip here is to use other plants to camouflage your autos such as sunflowers, mint, garlic or chili plants. Using green shading net can also work well in a small back garden, terrace or balcony in the event you need to keep your autoflowering crop out of sight.

Top Tip #7 - Keep pots off the ground
It is important to keep your plant pots off the floor to avoid the roots becoming either too hot during Summer, or too cold the closer you are to winter. Plant pots which sit on very hot tiles will be at risk of heat stress and may lead to root rot or other unwanted pathogens forming.

Cold floors 15 degrees Celsius or colder can also have serious implications resulting in nutrient uptake, flower production and overall plant health. The easiest way to raise pots off the floor is to use wooden planks, tiles, bricks or saucers turned upside down.  

Top Tip #8 - Protect against rain
The easiest way to keep your autoflowering Cannabis plants well protected from the harsh wind and rain that covers Northern Europe is to use a poly tunnel or simply build your own poly tunnel. Botrytis is a pathogen that causes mature Cannabis buds to begin to mold, and in some cases can occur from the inside outwards.

Our top tip here is to invest in some type of protection, or build a place the plants can sit during heavy rainfall. Wind can also be a major problem, which is another good reason to have a poly tunnel or greenhouse close by, especially when adding a heater at nighttime is a priority. 

Top Tip #9 - Sea of Green
If you have the space and are able to plant a high volume of seeds, then growing in a Sea of Green formation can often help a grower maximize their space and yield. Our top tip here is to plant in rows of 4x4, 5x5 or 6x6 and ensure there is enough space between each plant to prevent overcrowding.

In most cases, autos will grow as tall as 50-75 cm tall and may produce 10–20 grams dry per plant. You can still achieve the SOG setup with 9 seeds using a 3x3 formation, which still allows a grower to maximize their growing area space. 

Conclusion
There is nothing more disheartening than spending months growing autos to end up with dwarf sized plants with 5–10 grams at most. On the basis that you follow the top tips provided in this article, you should be well on your way to becoming a master of autos and dialing in your grow game every harvest.

Sometimes less is more when growing autos, and finding a large pot, quality growing medium, liquid nutrients, and a South facing location is basically all you need. Good luck planting for the rest of 2023 and finding out what works best for your climate.