Most people associate the cannabis plant with southern climes. However, the origin of the plant, which is also frequently cultivated as a useful plant, is assumed to be in Kazakhstan. So it is no wonder that Cannabis Ruderalis, a wild variety of the hemp plant found mainly in Russia, Central Europe and Central Asia, has also become established in the northern hemisphere.
Difference to conspecifics
The first thing that distinguishes it from its congeners in warmer climes is its size and robustness. Ruderalis varieties usually only vary between 30 - 80 centimetres in size and can thus hardly be distinguished from other herbs and shrubs. Due to their adaptation to the harsh climate of the northern spheres, they also have a natural resistance to pests, mould, fungi and diseases.
However, another characteristic of the ruderalis is probably most important for domestic growers. Its flowering times are essentially independent of the light and temperature cycles of the seasons, but obey only its own rhythm of life. While ordinary cannabis can usually be sown in spring and harvested in the middle of autumn at the earliest, ruderalis in most cases only needs a reasonably life-friendly environment to flower. In contrast to its photoperidic congeners, cannabis ruderalis is not affected by temperature changes or seasonal changes. Because the plant obeys its own rhythm and starts flowering at a certain age, it is also called an autoflowering variety. In some places, the term "automatic cannabis" has also become established.
Life cycle of the autoflowering variety
In addition, the life cycle of the ruderalis from germination to flowering is much shorter than that of its congeners. In most cases, it takes less than 10 weeks. For comparison, ordinary cannabis needs up to 12, with some sativa varieties even 18, weeks.
All this makes it understandable why autoflowering strains are probably the easiest cannabis varieties to grow. Beginners in particular do not have to take complicated light cycles into account and can grow the plant relatively easily due to its robustness, especially outdoors. Even indoors, there are advantages, as automatic cannabis usually does not need the support of nets, ventilators or other aids to grow into a strong plant.
Until recently, however, some sacrifices had to be made in terms of THC content and the general quality of the buds. Because autoflowering strains are not bred for high yields but are basically varieties of a wild plant, their compactness and spiciness were, until recently, much more desirable. Nevertheless, over time, many breeders have tried their hand at ruderalis hits, with significant progress being made in the wake of the partial legalisation of cannabis in the USA. A THC content of over 20% is no longer a rarity, even with autoflowering strains, so that legendary seed company Dutch Passion Seeds estimates the market potential of autoflowering seeds at over 50%.
In the following article, we will take a look at the most promising strains for this year.
1. Zkittlez from Fast Buds
Who doesn't know them, the colourful dragées in the red packaging. The candy, which is especially popular in the USA, gave its name to this Californian strain, which quickly became the most popular autoflowering strain of the original US-based breeders of Fast Buds.
Auto Zkizzlez is a variant of their popular, fruit-dominated Zkittlez, which took home a few awards in 2015 and 2016. The values are top. After only 9 weeks, you can look forward to an XXL harvest. This should be around 300g per plant in the open, whereby ideal conditions such as fresh soil and regular care promise even absolute top yields of 450 - 500g per plant.
With this, the Auto Zkittlez brings the best of automatic cannabis and the normal flowering Zkittlez in one. Beginners can look forward to an easy-to-handle top plant, while experienced growers can get the most out of the seed. In both cases you can look forward to juicy, like sugared and heavy buds that turn out surprisingly big and lush. For a truly extreme aroma with massive bud formation, Fast Buds also recommends a slightly longer flowering time with a constant supply of high quality nutrients. If you also want to get the full flavour aroma, the retailer recommends curing the finished buds for at least two weeks, i.e. letting them dry out in a glass container. In return, however, you can look forward to trichomes whose appearance really reminds you of a sugar coating.
2. Gelato Auto from Fast Buds
Also from Fast Buds is Gelato Auto, and this variety also originates from California. Crossed with the extremely popular Girl Scout Cookie, she is not only the strongest strain of the Seeds Bank with a THC content of 26%, but can also compete with all the strong THC names of the scene. 
Gelato Auto is true to its name, with an appetising ice cream flavour and sweet cookie-cutter aromas. With its balanced mix of 44% Sativa and 45% Indica elements, it promises a well-balanced high that is still energetic enough to spend a pleasant evening with people due to its sweet undertone.
Her growth profile is truly perfect. Due to the robust autoflowering properties, she grows pyramid-shaped and stable to a great 100cm in just 9 weeks. Gelato Auto produces 250g - 300g of lush green buds with orange hairs under good conditions and embodies the dream image of a cannabis plant. The extremely resinous buds are also ideal for processing into oils and extracts. Be careful: the buds develop a really intense scent, so you should definitely consider an air filtration system, especially in the home.
3. Auto Betty by Anesia Seeds
Auto Betty by Anesia Seeds is a cross between Sour Betty and a Auto variety. The former is a descendant of Black Betty with a THC content of 26% and is considered an absolute heavyweight among the strains.
Anesia Seeds has managed to save this high content in an autoflowering strain, which brings its well-known advantages. The Auto Betty grows to harvest maturity in a cycle of no more than 10 weeks and brings a robust, stable growth with a 70% Sativa share to a 30% Indica share.
The purple to deep purple buds are large and resinous, making it an ideal and surprising base for all kinds of processing. The minty, spicy taste in combination with the dense smoke with a high THC content should leave nothing to be desired even for hard-core professional smokers.
4. Crystal Candy XL Auto by Sweet Seeds
As the name suggests, Crystal Candy XL Auto is the XL version of the 2017 Spannabis Champions Cup winner in Barcelona. This 60% Indica was bred by its Spanish creators Sweet Seeds especially for its aromas, which offer a sensational range of
chewing gum and sweets and all kinds of fruits like melons and strawberries. Crystal Candy produces sensational amounts of equally sweet resin with a 14-19% THC content.
Sweet Seeds has been successfully breeding their strains in Valencia since 2005 and has specialised more and more in autoflowering strains since then. For their Crystal Candy XL Auto they were able to achieve an excellent flowering time of 8 weeks, which at a size of 90 - 140 cm under optimal conditions can produce an incredible 650g yield per m2 indoors. The Crystal Candy is an absolute showcase plant for every lover of fruity Indicas, which will produce the most exquisite flowers in the shortest time.
5. purple punch Auto Barney's Farm
Barney's Farm from Amsterdam will be familiar to every grower, as the company from Amsterdam has been on the market since 1986. We have them to thank for 
Dutch classics like the Laughing Buddha or Morning Glory, and Barney's Farm will also be able to make a name for itself in the growing autoflowering market with the Purple Punch Auto in 2020.
The popular Purple Punch comes with a fabulous 90% Indica content for an incomparable relaxing effect with an extraordinary spicy flavour of wild fruits like blueberry and cherry. Came the photoperiod
Purple Punch indoors to about 90cm, Barney's Farm has managed an average height of 80cm for the auto variety. After 50-60 days, one can expect a very decent 350g harvest indoors and 400g outdoors, with a THC content of 18%.
6. Auto CBG from Cannabiogen
As IC Breeder of the year 2011, the Spanish Noble Seeds Bank Cannabiogen is known for producing only the highest quality seed stocks from the 
and to include it in their exclusive programme. Their heavily sativa dominated house strain Destroyer should be familiar to any Spanish lover and with its 7 years of development it provides the basis for Auto CBG, Cannabiogen's first autoflowering strain.
It can be harvested 10 weeks after germination and has a pure flowering time of 8 weeks. As with the pure Destroyer, you should proceed with caution and exercise restraint, especially when fertilising with nitrogen. But with Auto CBG you get a high THC plant with an absolute top pedigree from Meao Thai and early South American strains and a yield of 300 - 400g indoors.
7. Auto Do-Si-Dos Cookies by 00Seeds
00Seeds was founded in 2012 in Spain and is one of the younger players among the breeders. However, with the introduction of the Auto Do-Si-Dos Cookies, they have shown an absolute feel for the market, as the resin-rich Do-Si-Dos became an absolute bestseller right after its market launch in California. The Auto variant could save a THC content of 22% after only 8 - 9 weeks of ripening compared to the 23% of its photoperiod sister and comes to an XL harvest of 450g - 500g indoors.
Although the Auto Do-Si-Dos Cookies has an indica content of 70%, it gives a fast-acting, rather uplifting and euphoric high with a sweet and chocolaty smoke.