There’s a lot to wrap your head around when growing cannabis for the first time. From finding a grow tent and lights to keeping the soil PH just right, growing your own weed plants isn’t as simple as growing herbs. But perhaps the most important factor in a successful grow is getting the right seeds to begin with.
Finding the best seed banks
There’s a lot that goes into growing cannabis. What kind of strain are you going to grow? Will you use a feminized auto-flower, or take your chances with a photoperiod seed? Where are your seeds coming from? Many of these questions can be alleviated by finding a reputable seed bank to work with.
Seed banks are companies that breed, store, and sell cannabis seeds. These companies can aggregate seeds from other growers, or cultivate their own. Finding a reputable seed bank (and one based in the US, at that) can be tricky
In the age of the internet, having the number one Google ranking doesn’t always correlate with product quality. So how do you know that you’re working with the best seed bank that wants to see your plants succeed?
There are a few signs of a reputable seed bank, including:
- how long they’ve been selling seeds
- seed variety
- customer service
- how much growing education they provide
Best reputable seed banks that ship in the USA
- Based in USA
- Massive library of educational resources
- Germination guarantee
- New seeds cultivated in-house
- Catalog of US-grown seeds
- Based in the USA
- Free shipping within US
- Large library of educational resources
- Germination guarantee
- Established in 2002
- Germination promise
- Based in the United Kingdom
- Free seed options
- Germination guarantee
- Stealth shipping worldwide
- Free shipping on orders over $100
- Germination guarantee
- Based in the Netherlands
- Over 250 cultivars to choose from
- Founded in 1999
- Based in the Netherlands
- Based in the Netherlands
- All strains bred and developed in house
- Stealth worldwide shipping
Best online seed banks in the USA
Homegrown Cannabis Co.
- Based in the US
- Over 400 cultivars to choose from
- Massive library of educational resources
- Germination guarantee
Homegrown Cannabis Co. takes the number one spot for reputable seed banks in the US for several reasons: a wide variety of strain options, stellar customer services, and a wealth of educational resources written by some of the biggest names in the cannabis game.
Let’s start with the seeds. Homegrown has over 400 kinds to choose from, ranging from typical photoperiod to feminized and auto-flowering. There are outdoor, indoor, and greenhouse-specific seeds, and even a selection of seeds handpicked by industry experts, including Kyle Kushman and Steve DeAngelo (look for the “cultivars with character” option) Best of all, the seeds come with a germination guarantee. Growing cannabis can be challenging, but if you follow Homegrown’s tips and tricks and it still doesn’t work, this seed bank will give you your money back or new seeds. If you have questions or problems at any time, you can expect to hear back from the Homegrown team quickly (one-hour response on business days, one business day response on weekends)
And that doesn’t even touch on the library of educational resources. Browse tutorials, blogs, videos, and grow diaries written by some of the best in the business, including Kyle Kushman, Nikki and Swami, Ricky Williams, and industry legend Steve DeAngelo.
Shop Homegrown’s monthly promotions to score the best deal possible, including BOGO seeds and seed 12-packs for just $99. Since the company is based in San Diego, it can ship quickly to any location in the US. From seed to harvest, Homegrown is there to support you every step of the way – what more could you ask from a seed bank?
Seed Supreme
- New seeds cultivated in-house
- Catalog of US-grown seeds
- Based in the US
Whether you’re looking for a classic cultivar like OG Kush or something unusual like CBD dominant Cheese auto flower, Seed Supreme has what you’re looking for. There’s also a line of in-house genetics that let you play with some of the newest and most exciting strains on the market (like Alien Gorilla Glue.) From strains with mind-melting THC content to those led by CBD, Seed Supreme has a wide variety.
The seed bank is based in California and offers a catalog of seeds from expert breeders across the US. If you need help along the way, Seed Supreme has a library of growing advice and tips from expert growers around the world. You can also shop rotating deals and promotions to save while you stock up for your garden.
ILGM
- Free shipping within US
- Large library of educational resources
- Germination guarantee
It’s all in the name at I Love Growing Marijuana (ILGM for short). You can shop for feminized, auto flowers, photoperiod, CBD-heavy, THC-dominant, and even the most beginner-friendly seeds. ILGM offers free shipping within the US and a germination guarantee, so you always have support during your grow.
Don’t know where to start? Grab ILGM’s grow kit and grow bible for everything you need wrapped into one. ILGM also has grow guides for all types of growing conditions and expertise, as well as a grow journal so you can track your plants and what you learn along the way. If you want to brave outdoor growing, there’s a grow calendar to find the best time to plant and harvest by your region.
Seedsman
- Established in 2002
- Germination promise
- Based in the United Kingdom
Since 2002, Seedsman has been providing growers worldwide with high-quality cannabis seeds. Based in the UK, Seedsman is one of the foremost seed banks in Europe, offering a wide selection of all of your favorite seeds and some you may have never heard of before, including cultivars heavy in minor cannabinoids like THCV and CBG.
Seedsman breeds its own cultivars and collects seeds from some of the best breeders in the world, including 710 Genetics, Amsterdam Genetics, and more. Best of all, Seedsman offers a germination promise so you can grow with confidence. All questions or inquiries to the company are answered within 48 hours so you’re never left waiting.
I49 Seed Bank
- Based in the US
- Monthly deals on seeds
- Free seed options
Based in Los Angeles, I49 Seedbank offers a wide variety of cannabis strains, whether you’re looking for one that will treat pain, help you sleep, or “get higher than a hippie at Woodstock.” Shop seeds by flowering type, dominant cannabinoid, grow location, or indica and sativa. If you don’t know what you want, you can try one of their seed packs for beginners to find the easiest strains to grow.
I49 has monthly deals including seed bundles, markdowns, and BOGO strains. It also offers a free strain for aspiring growers who take their strain quiz – a nice bonus if you’re already buying seeds from I49.
Herbies Seeds
- Free seed options
- Germination guarantee
- Stealth shipping worldwide
At Herbies, cannabis is the key to a sustainable future. The company has been developing and curating a wide selection of cannabis seeds from growers across the world for over 10 years. You can shop every kind of seed imaginable, from high CBD strains to auto flowers, and feminized seeds.
Shop Herbies’ seed collections, including high-yield, cheap seeds, old-school strains, and hot new arrivals – to name a few. If you don’t want to pay conventionally, Herbies accepts Bitcoin and other alternative payment methods. The company also offers a variety of ways to get free seeds, including free seeds in every order and free seeds when you sign up for their email address. Best of all, the seeds come with a germination guarantee so you don’t get skunked on your grow.
WeedSeed Express
- Free shipping on orders over $100
- Germination guarantee
- Based in the Netherlands
Founded by a group of weed-loving friends, WeedSeeds express has been supplying high-quality cannabis seeds to passionate growers in the US since 2005. Guaranteed delivery and a germination promise have made WeedSeeds popular with growers of all ability levels. (And, they throw in a few extra seeds in every order – what’s not to love?)
Shop the selection of over 140 seeds for your favorite strains, or find something new and unusual. If you don’t know where to start, try the beginner-friendly or best-selling seeds. WeedSeeds Express offers free shipping on all orders over $100 and accepts alternative payment methods like Bitcoin.
MSNL
- Over 250 cultivars to choose from
- Founded in 1999
- Based in the Netherlands
MSNL has been selling cannabis seeds since before the new millennium, so you know these guys know what they’re doing. Founded by two friends who shared a love of good weed, the MSNL catalog has grown to include over 250 cultivars from around the world. Here, not only can you select seeds by strain name or grow time, but you can also categorize by scent (or lack of scent) intended effects, and cultivation environments.
MSNL is based in the Netherlands and offers discreet worldwide shipping. You can save on orders using alternative payment methods like bank transfers, and as a bonus, they throw in a few free seeds with every order.
Growers Choice
- Based in the Netherlands
- All strains bred and developed in-house
- Stealth worldwide shipping
The founder of Netherlands-based Growers Choice started growing cannabis back in 1996. The company cultivated strains for a lot of brands over the years, but since 2011 it has sold its own strains exclusively. Since all of the seeds are developed and bred in-house, Growers Choice is able to offer a wide selection of strains that include new American varieties and old-school Dutch strains that you may not have heard of before. There are also unusual cultivars with high levels of minor cannabinoids like CBG and CBN.
Buy individual seeds, bulk packs, plant food, and germination kits all in the same place. Sign up for the newsletter to get exclusive discounts and promotions.
Seed Bank
- Based in California
- Founded in 2014
- Free shipping on orders over $75
Founded in 2014 as Seed King, the newly renamed Seed Bank has everything you need to get your cannabis garden started. Shop dozens of cultivars sorted by THC and CBD percentages, auto flower or photoperiod, and even strains bred in the US. Seed Bank is based in California, offers free shipping on orders over $75, and accepts alternative payment methods.
What to look for when choosing a marijuana seed bank
- Customer reviews. How many are there? What is the percentage of positive reviews to negative reviews? And most importantly – has the company responded to the negative reviews?
- Customer service. If there’s only an email submission form, they won’t get back to you as quickly as a live chat. Multiple outlets, like a live chat, phone number, and email option, are often indicative that the seed bank wants to help customers as quickly as possible.
- Educational resources. A reputable seed bank wants to help you succeed and makes it easy to find information to do so. If there are no growing resources on the site, skip it.
- Where is the company based? A good seed bank can be anywhere in the world, but countries across the world from you may take longer to get seeds to your doorstep. The longer a seed is in transit, the more risk factor in things going wrong during the grow period.
Tips to choose and buy the best cannabis seeds
Cannabis can be a tricky plant to cultivate well, so start with your experience level and set yourself up for success. Many seed banks have a category of seeds hand selected for beginners. These seeds may be fast-growing, high-yield, feminized, or even auto-flowers to increase your chances of success. Start small with easy seeds and work your way up.
When your seeds arrive, the shells should be hard and not cracked. Seeds are round or teardrop shaped and usually symmetrical. Cannabis seeds can range in color, but normal colors are darker and include green, brown, black, or gray. Your seeds shouldn’t be white or yellow.
If you’re not sure whether your seed is viable or not, use the float test. Place your seeds in a glass of distilled water and wait an hour. After that time, check on them. The seeds that sink to the bottom are viable, while any floaters should be discarded.
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