In this series of articles we’re going to introduce seed banks, breeders and their most popular strains. Get to know them a bit better, how, when and why they started, what they’re about and what makes them going.
Mr. Nice Seedbank
Mr. Nice Seedbank was founded in 1998 by the two most legendary cannabis breeders in history – Scott Blakey aka Shantibaba and Neville Schoenmaker and Howard Marks aka Mr. Nice – probably the world’s best known cannabis smuggler.
Both Neville and Shantibaba had been an essential part of the cannabis breeding scene and have created many strains that took the world by storm – like Neville’s Haze, White Widow, Super Silver Haze, White Rhino, White Shark and Mango Haze.
Prior to starting the Mr. Nice Seedbank, Neville co-owned the Green House Seeds coffeeshop located in the Red Lights district and Shantibaba was a co-owner of the seedbank itself. The duo was already working together on various projects but in 1998 they partnered up under the Green House Seeds name and entered the High Times Cannabis Cup, winning every prize other than the one awarded for clothing.
Neville sold its share in the coffeeshop and was looking for a new challenge while Shantibaba and Arjan (the other co-owner of GHS) started to have considerable differences in opinions, egos ran wild and Shantibaba decided to sell his share and leave the Green House Seeds. Rather than joining other seed companies and collaborate with them, they decided to dedicate their efforts and make their genetics available for growers worldwide.
At the same time Howard was released from his long prison sentence in the US and the three soon became good friends. Together they established Mr. Nice Seedbank, originally with forty parent plants and strains that even at that time had the legendary status and won numerous cups and awards.
With the ‘bad breakup’ between Shantibaba and Arjen and Green House Seeds having trademarks on the names of their strains, Mr. Nice Seedbank decided to change all the names of their strains to avoid further legal troubles. So the original White Widow became Black Widow, White Rhino became Medicine Man and so on. In 1999 there was a change in Dutch laws regarding cannabis and as a result, Mr. Nice Seedbank moved its operations in Switzerland but it always was and always will be a Dutch seedbank.
With the collection of the most pedigreed cannabis plants ever bred, Mr. Nice Seedbank continued to operate and produce new amazing strains – like Critical Mass, Afghan/Skunk, NL#5 X Haze and others. Together with Resin Seeds, Shantibaba also started CBD Crew, a cannabis seedbank that’s dedicated and oriented towards CBD rich cannabis strains.
Sadly, both Marks and Neville passed away since but their legacy will continue forever. Mr. Nice seedbank changed its name to Shantibaba seeds but all the old strains remain in their catalog. There isn’t a cannabis grower that wasn’t fully satisfied with the quality of both genetics and seeds coming from Mr. Nice and if you’re a true cannabis connoisseur, you should really give them a try.
Some of the most popular Mr. Nice Seedbank strains include:
Black Widow, available in regular seed, is a world-renowned old-school classic, an Indica-dominant cannabis hybrid that has been winning awards and cups since its introduction as White Widow in 1995. It finishes flowering in 8-10 weeks indoors or at the beginning of October outdoors with yields going up to 350-450g/m2 or 300-400g per plant. Black Widow’s aromas and flavors are strong and pungent – earthy and piney with sweet and fruity undertones and hints of spices. It’s effects are uplifting, euphoric, energetic and will leave the user feeling happy, sleepy and hungry.
Afghan Haze is one of the first successful Haze hybrids, available as regular seeds, it’s a cross between two old-school strains, Afghani and Haze. It finishes in 10 weeks indoors or by mid October outdoors and produces up to 350-450g per plant or square meter. Afghan Haze balances soothing and relaxing body buzz with energetic, happy and uplifting cerebral effects. It’s a great strain for all seeking pain relief, appetite loss or help with anxiety and depression. It’s aromas and flavors are herbal and woody with strong pine undertones and hints of spices.
Critical Mass is an upgraded version of an old strain known as Big Bud, one of the first strains that were considered to be ‘cash-crops’ or ‘commercial’ strains because of its high yields and fast turn-around time. A cross between Afghan and Skunk #1, it’s an award-winning powerful hybrid producing yields up to 650-750g/m2 or 500-600 per plant outdoors. Flowering time indoors is around 7-8 weeks while outdoor growers may expect to harvest in late September. It’s aromas and flavors are fragrant and pungent – earthy and sweet. Due to high levels of THC, usually topping 20%, effects are strong and long-lasting, uplifting at first, transitioning into a relaxing, full body-buzz.
Medicine Man is an Indica-dominant strain, a cross between Black Widow and Afghani. It was also known as White Rhino, as a tribute to Denis Peron, American cannabis activist that pioneered the legalization of cannabis. Growers can expect to harvest up to 600g/m2 or 450-600g per plant. It finishes flowering in 8-9 weeks indoors or by mid October outdoors. It provides for a strong and long-lasting, almost narcotic high – mostly body-buzz, leaving you calm and relaxed. Flavors are pungent – earthy, piney and spicy.
Resin Seeds
Resin Seeds is a Spanish cannabis seedbank founded in 2008 by Jaime, who is a head breeder, and Juanma. They were the first commercial seedbank that offered CBD rich genetics to the world and are considered among the founders of the CBD movement. They were also among the first to open up a cannabis grow shop in Barcelona and through their daily interaction and talks with medical cannabis users, they continued to develop and perfect their strains and knowledge.
The strain that put them ‘on the map’ and the strain that started the global CBD revolution was Cannatonic, a unique Sativa with a 1:1 THC:CBD ratio. Released in 2008, Cannatonic managed to do what no other strain before did – to win a High Times Cannabis Cup for the best Sativa, despite the fact of having low levels of THC and not being (that much) psychoactive. They managed to repeat this magnificent feat in 2013 with their Dieseltonic.
Winning two High Times Cannabis Cups helped to establish Resin Seeds as one of the best cannabis breeders in Europe. They continued to develop and research CBD and medicinal uses and properties of cannabis and are one of the co-founders of the CBD Crew. They take great pride in what they do and in knowing that thousands of people across the globe have benefited from their strains.
Apart from orienting on medicinal cannabis and its uses, Resin Seeds are also unique in the way they develop their strains. They don’t start from seeds and go phenotype hunting, as many others, but rather get clones with already selected and defined characteristics.
If you’re looking for CBD rich cannabis strains and are more interested in the medical aspect of cannabis, you should definitely check out their stock.
Some of Resin Seeds’ most popular strains include:
Cannatonic is an award winning cross between MK Ultra and G13 Haze. Cannatonic has several phenotypes ranging from 30:1 to 1:30 THC:CBD ratio. Most popular being ACDC which tests at ~1% of THC and around 20% CBD. It finishes flowering in 9-10 weeks indoor and around mid October outdoors, with yields going up to 500g/m2 or 250-400g per plant. Cannatonic has a pleasant citrusy flavor and aroma with subtle piney undertones. It’s effects are calming and relaxing, depending on the CBD:THC ratio, they can be more or less psychoactive.
Dieseltonic is a 50/50 Indica/Sativa cannabis hybrid, a cross between Cannatonic and NY City Diesel. Around half of the seeds will have 1:1 THC:CBD ratio while the other half will have either high levels of THC and <1% CBD or high levels of CBD and ~1% THC. Indoors it finishes flowering in 8-9 weeks while outdoor growers may expect to harvest in early to mid October with yields going up to 400-500g/m2. Flavors and aromas are a complex mixture of tropical fruit and flowers with a hint of citrus. Effects are uplifting and energizing, leaving you focused and concentrated on whatever you’re doing – a great daily strain.
Yummy is a Sativa-dominant cross between Yumoboldt and the legendary G13 Haze. It finishes flowering in 8-9 weeks indoors or by the end of September or early October outdoors. Growers can expect to harvest up to 400g/m2 indoors and up to 150-300g per plant outdoors. Usually testing at 19-23% THC, users can expect strong and long-lasting, mostly cerebral effects – uplifting, energetic and euphoric. Flavors are sweet and citrusy with hints of spices and herbs.
Bubblicious is an Indica-dominant cannabis strain, a cross between the original Bubblegum female from TH Seeds and an F1 Lavender male from Soma. It finishes flowering in 8-9 weeks indoors or by the end of September outdoors with yields going up to 500g/m2 or 250-400g per plant. Bubblicious usually tests at 16-20% THC. Its effects are relaxing and giggly, leaving you calmed and happy. Flavors and aromas are sweet and candy-like with citrusy, flowery and earthy undertones.
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