Sour Diesel is a famous strain with an enigmatic history. The tale of her origins takes us across the United States, through the grow rooms of many small time breeders and to both Phish and Grateful Dead concerts. And at the end of the day we can’t promise that there are any true remnants of the original Sour Diesel to be found! But there are many variations available, all of which provide the biting, funky flavor, harsh smoke and wild euphoric high that made Sour Diesel a sensation in the 90’s.

Best Sour Diesel Seeds

Best Auto-flowering Sour Diesel Seeds

Best Sour Diesel Crosses

Best Sour Diesel Close Relatives

About Sour Diesel Cannabis Strain

Sour Diesel is cannabis for the experienced. The taste is a heavily acrid kerosene funk, and the powerfully euphoric high creeps up on you over 10-15 minutes. Novice smokers may be overwhelmed by the combination of cough-inducing gas scented smoke and the soaring cerebral high, though experienced tokers will be delighted by both the clear-headed energy and the medicinal uses of Sour Diesel. This strain does wonders for relieving nausea, migraines, depression and anxiety.

In the grow room Sour Diesel is likewise challenging for the novice. She is a difficult, unruly and somewhat unpredictable strain to grow. Most growers will need to engage in three or even four heavy pruning and training sessions to control her vigorous growth and keep the 200-300% stretch she exhibits during the early days of flowering to keep the plants from taking over the grow room.

It is important to give Sour Diesel lots of light, heat (85°F is ideal) and nitrogen, while keeping humidity levels low to prevent molding. If stealth is important you should be prepared to change your carbon filters frequently when growing the powerfully odiferous Sour Diesel.

The difficulties in the grow room, coupled with a lengthy flowering period make cultivating Sour Diesel a challenge. Not surprisingly, buds from this strain are notoriously difficult to find and can be quite expensive. If you are an experienced grower who enjoys strong tasting diesel weed and brilliant creative highs, growing your own Sour Diesel could be a very rewarding experiment. Many Sour Diesel fans claim that having access to your own supply equates to a life altering experience.

History of Sour Diesel Seeds

Sour Diesel has a looping, twisting history full of cloning and crossing. After the initial parent strains were bred, many clones were given away or sold, and the lineage becomes confusing. Here is our best attempt to sort it all out:

In Crested Butte, Colorado from ’87-’90, a group of cannabis lovers, including a pair of guys referred to as “Pbud” and “Wankanobe”, stumbled onto a strain they called Dog Bud. It was coming to them from the California-Oregon border, and was potent stuff. It was so skunky and so powerful that they joked it must have had a lot of chemicals added to it to create such strong effects, and they nicknamed it “Chem Weed”.

The two from Colorado were big Deadheads, and brought along a pound of Dog Bud when they went on tour in the summer of ’91. They ended up selling most of it, and several bags went to the man who eventually took the moniker “Chem Dog”. He loved the Dog Bud so much he exchanged numbers with Pbud and Wankanobe, who sent two ounces to his home in Massachusetts when they returned to Colorado in the fall.

In all this time, for a whole year while the Dog Bud was flowing into Colorado from California, everyone smoking it was looking for seeds that never materialized. By some random stroke of luck, one of the bags sent to Chem Dog had 13 seeds in it. He planted four, one of which was male. Being young and not knowing the value of that male plant, he threw it away. The three he kept were called Chem ’91, Chem Sister and Chem C. Of that batch, Chem ’91 was the favorite. That strain made its way around the world, ending up in several Holland Seedbanks and in the hands of many amateur growers.

In 2001 Chemdog germinated three more seeds, calling them C, D, and E. The favorite from that batch was ChemD, a strain that has been used in many crosses since.

Some of the final Dog Bud seeds made their way back to Wonkanobe, in 2006, when he ran into Chem Dog at a Phish show. Of the four seeds he germinated, he chose #4 as the favorite, and Chem4 became known as the “reunion phenotype”.

So where does Sour Diesel come in

Many clones of Chem 91 and ChemD spread throughout the East coast, and even to Europe. A lot of people were using these plants to breed further crosses. In the early 2000’s, NYC Diesel came on the scene. While it is not absolutely certain, the most popular theory is that NYC Diesel is actually the same as Chem 91. People were getting clones in Massachusetts and changing the name to Diesel, and later to NYC Diesel. Sour Diesel came on the scene around the same time.

One story of the origins of Sour Diesel goes like this: an Amherst student was growing Diesel (AKA NYC Diesel, which may have been Chem 91 x Mass Super Skunk/NL or pure Chem 91, depending on who you ask). There was a strain called DNL (NL/Shiva x Hawaiian) also in the room. The DNL plant turned hermaphrodite and pollinated the Diesel, with the result being the original Sour Diesel seeds.

Others say that Sour Diesel was simply a Sativa-heavy phenotype of either Chem 91 or Diesel which was then cloned.

Sour Diesel has a complex history. It is available today in many slightly different forms from different seedbanks.

Can the REAL Sour Diesel please stand up

You almost certainly don’t have the “real” Sour Diesel. Wherever Sour Diesel really originated, it started as single female plant. There are many who say the real Sour Diesel is a clone-only strain, meaning that the seeds of the original mother plant do not exist. It is impossible to say for certain who has the “true” or “original” mother plant and clones. Others say that Sour Diesel is an unstabilized and finicky strain which tends to hermaphrodism. Still others claim that Sour Diesel is simply a NYC Diesel x Sage, a cross that many seedbanks have replicated and sold under the Sour Diesel name.

All the Sour Diesel strains available have some similarities, especially in smell and effect. But is best to think of them as a family of strains, rather than as a single one. Each Sour Diesel sister has unique qualities, and may vary in flowering time, ease of growing and even in the type of high she produces.

Growing Sour Diesel

To make a strain with a complicated history even more mysterious, Sour Diesel is notoriously finicky and produces different results based on grow conditions. Again, these tendencies are even more variable from seed to seed.

Feeding Sour Diesel

In general, Sour Diesel requires a lot of nutrients. She needs ample nitrogen through the 6^th week of flowering. Like all cannabis plants the nutrient requirements of Sour Diesel vary depending on her stage of growth. During vegging you will want to supply half the amount of phosphorus and potassium as nitrogen. Once flowering begins the plants will need more phosphorus to grow large, THC rich buds. Keep the nitrogen levels higher than normal for the first 6 weeks of flowering, and adjust phosphorus to stay in balance. Never increase your potassium levels to more than 2/3 that of nitrogen or you can cause nutrient lockout or other problems for your Diesel plants.

Don’t forget to flush your plants before harvest. Any excess nutrients that remain in your buds will create a chemical flavor that will make the already harsh fuel smoke of Sour Diesel very unpleasant. For more information check out our Using the Right Nutrients page here.

Keep it Hot!

Sour Diesel is also sensitive to temperature. While the plants will grow in a wide range of conditions, the quality of the bud decreases when flowering happens at temperatures below 85° F, a trait passed on from the original Dog Bud. Plants flowered at or above this temperature are the most potent, with THC levels said to hit 24% in some samples.

If you have a warm, dry climate Sour Diesel can be grown outdoors with stunning results of well over a pound per plant (some growers claim to have gotten 5 pounds per plant!). Like her Chem 91 parent, Sour Diesel tends to give the most potent buds from springtime grows in climates where the temperatures rise quickly enough to allow early outdoor planting.

Lights for Sour Diesel

If you don’t have the long, hot summers necessary to grow Sour Diesel outdoors, you will need to choose the proper lights for your indoor grow. The two best options for Sour Diesel are full spectrum LEDs or HID lights. There are pros and cons to both choices:

#1Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights

#2HID Lights

Many growers choose HID lights, usually using a combination of Metal Halide lights for the vegetative stage and High Pressure Sodium lights for flowering. They are less expensive at the start than full spectrum LEDs, and have been used successfully for indoor grows for many years. In the case of Sour Diesel, the excess heat produced by these lights can actually be a good thing, helping to keep your grow room temperatures above 85°F. However, the Diesel strains grow to massive heights, so you will need to adjust your lights as they grow to avoid burning your plants. To learn more about HID lighting, check out our guide here.

Full spectrum LEDs are newer in the cannabis world, but they are rapidly gaining popularity. Despite the initial investment, they save money over time because they use so much less electricity than their counterparts. They are also a simpler set-up, as you do not have to switch the type of lights when you begin flowering, and no reflectors or extra ventilation is needed. To learn more about LEDs check out our guide here.

Training Sour Diesel

In addition to feeding and managing grow conditions, Sour Diesel will require serious training and pruning if grown indoors. Her Sativa roots are apparent in her vigorous growth. She can stretch as much as 300% in the first several weeks of flowering.

Sour Diesel responds well to a variety of techniques, including:

• Topping– Lightly clipping the tops of your plants can make single kola into 2 or even 4.
• Fimming– By taking Topping a step further, Fimming quickly multiplies your flowering heads from 1 to 4 at each site.
• Low Stress Training (LST)– If you add a little stress training in addition to topping you can maximize the light reaching your plant for even higher yields.
• Lollipopping– Trimming the base of your plants helps to focus their energy into the upper branches and future flower sites.
• Super Cropping– Without doing any actual trimming you can still stress your plants to increase their strength, growth and yields.
• Monster Cropping– A newer concept which works best with Sea of Green and Screen of Green set-ups, Monster Cropping can create multiple heads on each plant.

Many growers find they get the highest yields from Sour Diesel if they do 2-3 heavy pruning and training sessions.

Sour Diesel Cannabis Awards

Compared to other famous strains such as White Widow, Northern Lights and Super Silver Haze, Sour Diesel has not won many awards. This is probably because it has always been a rare strain. While many seedbanks offer a version they call “Sour Diesel” the real thing has stayed largely in the hands of smaller growers.

In 2005 East Coast Sour Diesel, released by Reservoir Seeds, was named in the High Times Magazine’s Top Strains of the Year list. The seeds released by Reservoir were produced by back-crossing the “original” Sour Diesel several times. At the time they were calling their strain “nearly established as a stabilized Inbred Line”.

Sour Diesel genetics have appeared on the winners table for several awards through its offspring:

Sour Diesel Shatter from The Green Solution

• 2015: 1^st People’s Choice Concentrates, High Times Cannabis Cup Denver

Sour Diesel Wax from The Green Door

• 2013: 2^nd Best Medical Cannabis Hashish/Concentrate, San Francisco Medical Cannabis Cup

Sour Amnesia from Horticulture

• 2012: 2^nd Sativa Cup, High Times Cannabis Cup

Sage ‘n Sour from THSeeds

• 2004: 3^rd Sativa Cup, High Times Cannabis Cup

To check out more award-winning strains look at our Best Cup Winners page.

Sour Diesel from Various Breeders

Many seedbanks have tried to produce seeds of this mysterious strain that produce plants true to the Sour Diesel image. Of the many variations available, here are a few of our favorites.

#1 Royal Queen – Sour Diesel Feminized Seeds

Best For: High Yield, Clear Cerebral High

Royal Queen’s Feminized Sour Diesel has many of the classic Sour Diesel characteristics. This strain likes warm weather, like that found in Southern California or the South of Spain, so most growers will have to take it indoors.

Flowering takes 10 weeks or a little more, and the plant is very much a Sativa in its growth patterns. Royal Queen recommends 3-4 weeks of vegging before switching your lights to the flowering cycle.

For the best results plan on training and pruning these plants, and on keeping them well fed with lots of nitrogen. For a Sativa dominant strain the yields are high, reaching up to 600 g/m² indoors and even more outdoors.

The smoke is acrid and sour with a powerful odor. The high is clear and cerebral, with lots of creative energy and a permeating sense of peace and well-being. Royal Queen tells us this strain has Diesel genetics, but the exact origins are not disclosed. What is certain is that this strain has the characteristic flavor and effects that made Sour Diesel famous, and the high yields make it a desirable seed to try.

• Type Sativa 70%, Indica 30%
• Height 100-160 cm
• Flowering time 10-11 weeks
• Awards won None
• Yield 450-600 g/m²
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Moderate
• THC level 19%

For Similar Strains check out:

• Devil’s Harvest Strawberry Sour Diesel Seeds

• Reservoir Super Silver Sour Diesel Haze Seeds

• CBA Diesel Truth Band Seeds

#2 Dinafem – Sour Diesel Feminized Seeds

Best For: Easier to Grow, Classic Flavor

Dinafem’s version of Sour Diesel is a little more beginner friendly than some of the other seeds available, perhaps due to the heavier Indica influence in her genes. They claim that there strain is not too particular about her nutrients, and will grow well despite variations or errors in feeding.

This strain does like to stretch during flowering, and Dinafem recommends topping and other training techniques to control her growth and improve yields. It is important to be patient and let the plants flower for a full 10 weeks before harvest to get the most potent, flavorful buds.

Many growers find they can manage the height of Sour Diesel by putting clones directly into flower. This tends to limit the height of the plants to 3-4 feet. The flavor is all Sour Diesel, with a tangy, biting smoke that lingers in your mouth.

• Type Sativa 40%, Indica 60%
• Height Tall
• Flowering time 10-11 weeks
• Awards won None
• Yield 450-550g/m²
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Moderate
• THC level High

For Similar Strains check out:

• Reservoir Super Silver Sour Diesel Haze Seeds

• Hortilabs Sour Power Seeds

• Blimburn BC Diesel Seeds

• Dinafem Sour Diesel Autoflowering Feminized Seeds

#3 Reservoir – Sour Diesel IBL Seeds

Best For: Soaring High, Vigorous Growth

Reservoir Seeds spent three years carefully developing their version of Sour Diesel. They claim to have produced a seed that has all the great qualities of the clone-only original Sour Diesel, but with higher yields and more vigorous growth.

Flowering takes 10-11 weeks and can be variable. The plants finish faster in warmer climates, and produce a stronger bud. Do not grow this strain if stealth is important- the plants have a permeating odor that spreads well beyond the grow room.

The high is a flying, bright and often psychedelic experience. Do not expect to get anything done after smoking Reservoir’s Sour Diesel, as you may find yourself soaring on a wild, creative high that won’t let you come down.

• Type Sativa 90%, Indica 10%
• Height 2 meters +
• Flowering time 10-11 weeks
• Awards won None
• Yield 400-550 g/m²
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Moderate
• THC level High

For Similar Strains check out:

• Devil’s Harvest Strawberry Sour Diesel Seeds

• Hortilabs Sour Power Seeds

• CBA Diesel Truth Band Seeds

#4 Cali Connection – Original Sour Diesel Seeds

Best For: Stable Phenotype, Classic Sour Diesel

Cali Connection offers both a feminized and an original version of Sour Diesel seeds. They have an original East Coast Sour Diesel clone, which they crossed with a Sour OG male to produce their own Original Sour Diesel line.

The result is a very stable plant with uniform structure. The plants are large with lots of side branches and heavy yields. Expect not only to use pruning and training techniques but also to offer support late in flowering so the weight of the giant, sticky buds don’t break the branches.

From early in flowering the buds are resinous and stinky, so odor control is essential if you are a stealth grower. When smoked Original Sour Diesel has the expected funky fuel flavor that sticks to your lips. It hits your head hard and fast with a soaring mental high and peaceful physical calm. This is one of the highest quality, closest to really original Sour Diesel strains available.

• Type Sativa 60% Indica 40%
• Height Tall
• Flowering time 9-10 Weeks
• Awards won none
• Yield 600g/m²
• Feminized Available
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Moderate
• THC level High

For Similar Strains check out:

• Devil’s Harvest Strawberry Sour Diesel Seeds

• Reservoir Super Silver Sour Diesel Haze Seeds

• Hortilabs Sour Power Seeds

• CBA Diesel Truth Band Seeds

• Blimburn BC Diesel Seeds

#5 Humboldt Seed Organization – Sour Diesel #2 Feminized Seeds

Best For: Easy to Grow with Sour Diesel High

Sour Diesel #2 by Humboldt Seeds is a more user friendly version than many Sour Diesel lines available. While they don’t disclose the genetics that created it, Humboldt has managed to keep the tangy kerosene flavor and the euphoric, joyful high that comes with the Sour Diesel name, yet their strain is surprisingly easy to grow.

For a Sativa and a Diesel it flowers quickly, finishing right around 9 weeks into flowering. Unlike many of her cousins Sour Diesel #2 stays a controllable size indoors, rarely topping 1 meter, and is thus suitable for smaller grow spaces. She is more forgiving of errors than other Diesels, so the inexperienced grower should give her a try. Experienced cultivators will be rewarded with higher yields and amazingly sticky buds, as this strain does perform best with careful care and proper feeding, lighting and temperatures.

The high is a powerful, creative and joyful state of near ecstasy. This is a strong strain that should be approached with caution by novice smokers. Medicinally it is valuable for relieving pain, depression and anxiety. A great choice for social occasions or any time you want to spend the day laughing.

• Type Sativa Dominant
• Height Medium
• Flowering time 9 Weeks
• Awards won none
• Yield High
• Feminized Available
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Pretty Easy
• THC level 16%

For Similar Strains check out:

• Devil’s Harvest Strawberry Sour Diesel Seeds

• Strainwise Bruce Banner #3 Seeds

• Dutch Passion Jorge’s Diamonds #1 Seeds

#6 Humboldt Seed Organization – Amherst Sour Diesel Feminized Seeds

Best For: Easy Grow, Euphoric Cerebral High

Once again Humboldt Seeds declines to reveal the genetic origins of a strain… but we know that Amherst Sour Diesel is a Sativa dominant hybrid which originated from a clone gifted to Humboldt by friends in Mendocino, CA. They claim the clone came from that Amherst dorm room where Sour Diesel was accidently discovered.

As we expect from a Sour Diesel cross, this strain produces large plants with an open Sativa structure. The leaves are long and thin, and it shows good mold resistance. Through their mysterious breeding, Humboldt has managed to create Sour Diesel strains that are friendly in the grow room. These are vigorous plants that grow quickly and easily, producing lots of heavy buds on their long branches. If you have the warm climate necessary to grow her outdoors you can see yields of up to 1000g/plant. Beware; outdoors she can reach over 3 meters in height, becoming a real cannabis tree. This is not a plant you can hide amongst the rose bushes.

Amherst Sour Diesel has a fuel flavor, tinged with a fruitiness that mellows it a bit. The high is a classic Diesel experience: strong, fast and energetic. It is full of cerebral stimulation and energy, a great option for a night out on the town with friends. The THC content is high, and some sources list them as reaching nearly 27%. We’re not sure if this is true or an exaggeration, but we do know this is some potent bud that should be smoked with care.

• Type Sativa 70% Indica 30%
• Height Tall
• Flowering time 9-10 Weeks
• Awards won none
• Yield 500g/m²
• Feminized Available
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Easy
• THC level High

For Similar Strains check out:

• Devil’s Harvest Strawberry Sour Diesel Seeds

• Strainwise Bruce Banner #3 Seeds

• Dutch Passion Jorge’s Diamonds #1 Seeds

#7 Medical Sour Diesel Seeds

Best For: Mellow Euphoric High, Tropical Flavor

The Sour Diesel strain from Medical Seeds offers a mellower high for those who want to enjoy Sour Diesel all day long and still be functional. The effects are euphoric and peaceful but without the powerful cerebral energy that many other Sour Diesel varieties induce.

Indoors she stays a reasonable height, though she may require some topping or LST to boost yields and keep her under control. You need a warm climate with a long, hot growing season to grow her outdoors. If you can you expect higher yields and plants topping 2 meters in height.

Many growers find they can harvest after only 7-8 weeks of flowering, but Medical suggests letting the flowering continue for a full 10 weeks to maximize THC production.

This strain has less of the Diesel fuel taste. It has a tropical, fruity flavor instead that some find more palatable than the harsh kerosene of most Sour Diesel varieties.

• Type Sativa 70% Indica 30%
• Height Medium indoors
• Flowering time 10-11 Weeks
• Awards won None
• Yield 500 g/m²
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Moderate
• THC level 12-15%

For Similar Strains check out:

• Green Spirit Marijuana Seeds

• Female X Line Big Grapefruit Feminized Seeds

• CBA Diesel Maui Dawg Seeds

#8 Reserva Privada – Sour Diesel Feminized Seeds

Best For: Easily Trained, Heady High

Reserva Privada’s Sour Diesel is a cross between Chemdog 91 and Mass Super Skunk/Northern Lights, making it heavier on the Indica genetics than the other Sour Diesels strains available.

While this strain likes to stretch and takes a full 10 weeks to flower, the Indica influence does make her more manageable in the grow room. She is not too nutrient sensitive, and can take errors or inconsistencies in feeding. Her height is easily controlled by several methods. LST works wonderfully on these plants. You can also take rooted clones of Sour Diesel and put them directly into flower, a technique which will result in plants that rarely top 3-4 feet. SCOG growing will also boost yields.

When smoked this strain has the combination of citrus, funk and fuel that Sour Diesel lovers seek. The high is heady and comes on strong, lasting about 90 minutes. It is important to let this strain completely finish flowering or the potency will suffer.

• Type Sativa 40%, Indica 60%
• Height Tall
• Flowering time 10 weeks
• Awards won None
• Yield 450-550g/m²
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Easy
• THC level Moderate

For Similar Strains check out:

• Hortilabs Sour Power Seeds

• Blimburn BC Diesel Seeds

• Dinafem Sour Diesel Autoflowering Feminized Seeds

Best Auto-Flowering Sour Diesel Seeds

While many famous strains have a variety of auto-flowering variations, there is only one Auto Sour Diesel that has claimed the attention of growers and smokers alike.

For more great auto-flowering strains, check out our Best Auto’s page here.

#1 Dinafem – Sour Diesel Auto-flowering Feminized Seeds

Best For: Easy to Grow, Diesel Flavor and High

Dinafem, a Spanish seedbank, has crossed a version of Sour Diesel with Haze 2.0 Automatic to create a diesel stinking, cerebral high inducing and vigorous growing plant in an auto-flowering package.

Sour Diesel Auto takes only 12 weeks from germination to harvest, with yields of up to 450 g/m². Unlike her light dependent counterparts, she does not require training or pruning, preferring to be left alone. Make sure you have enough space for her; even this fast finishing version can reach over 5 feet in height.

The smoke has the funky kerosene flavor of Sour Diesel, with a pleasant combination of clear head high and relaxing body stone that melts pain away. This strain is a great choice for novice growers wanting a taste of Sour Diesel, or for any smoker who wants to enjoy a creative, social high without the hassle of growing full blown Diesel or Haze varieties.

• Type Sativa, Indica, Ruderalis
• Height 75-160 cm
• Flowering time Finishes 10 weeks from seedling
• Awards won None
• Yield 400-450 g/m²
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering Yes
• Growth difficulty Easy
• THC level 16+%

For Similar Strains check out:

• Kannabia BCN Diesel Automatic Seeds

• Royal Queen Diesel Automatic Seeds

• Advanced Biodiesel Mass Autoflowering Seeds

• Lowryder Diesel Ryder Autoflowering Feminized Seeds

#2 Humboldt Seed Organization – Sour Diesel Auto-flowering Feminized Seeds

Best For: Easy Grow, Diesel Flavor, Euphoric High

Humboldt crossed their already manageable Sour Diesel #2 with Ruderalis genetics to create this auto-flowering variety. This strain is exceptionally easy to grow, and is ready to harvest after only 75 days.

The Sativa genes are obvious in this strain, as it does stretch quite a bit. If you are doing a stealth grow choose a tall grow box like the SuperLocker 3.0 Grow Box to give the plants room. Don’t worry about training or pruning these girls; just give them good lights and enough nutrients and you will be rewarded with a fast harvest of quality buds.

Yields are decent for an auto strain, and the buds are heavy and resinous. They have the classic Diesel smell, and the euphoric high will keep you giggling for hours.

• Type Sativa, Indica, Ruderalis
• Height Medium
• Flowering time Finishes 11 weeks from Seedling
• Awards won None
• Yield 350-400 g/m²
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering Yes
• Growth difficulty Easy
• THC level High

For Similar Strains check out:

• Kannabia BCN Diesel Automatic Seeds

• Royal Queen Diesel Automatic Seeds

• Mephisto Genetics – S.O.D.K. Auto-flowering Feminized Seeds

• Lowryder Diesel Ryder Autoflowering Feminized Seeds

#3 Mephisto Genetics – S.O.D.K. Auto-flowering Feminized Seeds

Best For: Easy Grow, Sweet Flavor

The acronym stands for Sour Orange Diesel Kush. This strain has Sour Diesel on both sides of its parentage, and the influence is apparent.

Like most auto-flowering varieties S.O.D.K. is easy to grow. The plants show their Sour Diesel heritage in a Sativa dominant phenotype, though occasionally Indica-esque leaves do appear. She likes to stretch a bit during flowering, but rarely tops 3 ½ feet indoors. The colas are large, compact and sparkle with THC. You can increase yields with LST, but use this training technique gently.

The flavor is sweet and fruity with the funky fuel of Sour Diesel in the background. The high is energetic and euphoric. It is mostly a mental experience though there is a bit of mellow body stone to keep you relaxed and ease mild pain.

• Type Sativa dominant
• Height Medium
• Flowering time Finishes 11 weeks from Seedling
• Awards won None
• Yield 90 g/plant
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering Yes
• Growth difficulty Easy
• THC level Moderate

For Similar Strains check out:

• Kannabia BCN Diesel Automatic Seeds

• Royal Queen Diesel Automatic Seeds

• Advanced Biodiesel Mass Autoflowering Seeds

• Lowryder Diesel Ryder Autoflowering Feminized Seeds

Best Sour Diesel Crosses

Because there are strains with varying genetic backgrounds all sold under the label Sour Diesel, it can be hard to know exactly which genes are present in a given Sour Diesel plant. These various and distinct strains have been crossed to produce yet more variations with even greater diversity of characteristics and effects.

#1 Devil’s Harvest – Strawberry Sour Diesel Seeds

Best For: Strawberry Flavor, Beginner Grow

This cross from Devil’s Harvest is easy to grow. If you are looking for some of the weightless high effects of Sour Diesel without the pungent flavor or the grow room difficulties, give this Strawberry version a try.

In the grow room Strawberry Sour Diesel is incredibly forgiving. She does get quite tall, and will require training or pruning if you are short on space. Yet she is very adaptable and grows right on through errors with feeding, lighting and watering, making this a beginner-friendly strain.

As the name implies, this strain has a delightful fruity smell and flavor. As an added bonus, it is high in CBD, and is receiving attention from the medical community. You can expect high yields and resinous buds from Strawberry Sour Diesel. The high is best described as light, joyous and peaceful.

• Type Indica 25% Sativa 75%
• Height Tall
• Flowering time 8-9 Weeks
• Awards won 2014 High Life Cup (2^nd)
• Yield 350-375 g/m²
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Easy
• THC level 19-22%

For Similar Strains check out:

• Dutch Passion Strawberry Cough Seeds

• Hortilabs – Sour Power Seeds

#2 Hortilabs – Sour Power Seeds

Best For: High Yields, Powerful Giggly High

Hortilabs claims to have spent over a year carefully selecting their very best Star Bud female before crossing her with East Coast Sour Diesel. The source of this Sour Diesel male is uncertain, but it cannot be denied that the result is a high yielding Sativa with soaring THC levels that is a joy to smoke.

Sour Power reflects her Sour Diesel heritage by being difficult in the grow room, requiring a lot of space and ample time to flower. The rewards are high yields and a potent, giggly sativa high.

The smoke is harsh and expansive, and the effects are immediate and racy. With half a dozen awards to her name already, expect to see Sour Power continue to be recognized as a top Sativa strain.

• Type Sativa dominant
• Height Tall
• Flowering time 10 Weeks
• Awards won 2013 IC420 Sativa 1^st 2012 IC420 Sativa 1^st 2010 High Times Cannabis Cup 3^rd, and more
• Yield 600-650g/m²
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Moderate
• THC level 19%

For Similar Strains check out:

• Green House Chemdog Seeds

• Green House Damn Sour Seeds

• TH Sage N Sour Seeds

#3 Seedism – Diesel Feminized Seeds

Best For: Compact, Dense Buds, Uplifting High

This strain is a cross of Sour Diesel with NYC Diesel, and the result are plants with a rich, citrus smell that will brighten your grow room with their crisp lemony odor. When smoked the buds are fresh and fruity with just a hint of hashish.

This strain is vigorous. You can switch your lights to flower after only a couple weeks of vegging. With the right care this strain can produce high yields. The kolas start out large and loose like a Sativa, but over the last few weeks of flowering they firm up into heavy, compact and resinous buds.

The high is uplifting, energetic and euphoric, with just a hint of relaxed body stone to keep things mellow. This is a great choice for social occasions or a night on the town.

• Type Sativa 70% Indica 30%
• Height Tall
• Flowering time 9-10 Weeks
• Awards won none
• Yield 300-600g/m²
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Moderate
• THC level High

For Similar Strains check out:

• Hortilabs – Sour Power Seeds

• Blimburn BC Diesel Seeds

• CBA Diesel Truth Band Seeds

#4 Bulldog – Sour Diesel Feminized Seeds

Best For: Lemon Odor, Social High

Bulldog crossed NYC Diesel with S.A.G.E. to produce this powerfully medicinal strain. Information is sparse on Bulldog’s Sour Diesel. Interestingly enough they claim it is an Indica dominant strain, though it is bred from two Sativa dominant strains.

If you have experience growing this strain please let us know in the comments below. [Devendra please link to the comments section] From the little Bulldog says about this strain, it is fast finishing for a Sour Diesel, with a high yield and a ton of THC. Let us know what your experience has been!

• Type Indica 70% Sativa 30%
• Height Medium
• Flowering time 8-9 Weeks
• Awards won none
• Yield 700g/m²
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Moderate
• THC level 5%

For Similar Strains check out:

• TH Sage N Sour Seeds

• Green House Damn Sour Seeds

• Hortilabs – Sour Power Seeds

#5 Connoisseur Genetics – Super Silver Sour Diesel Haze Seeds

Best For: Psychedelic High

Reservoir Seeds briefly offered Super Silver Sour Diesel Haze seeds. Their efforts won them 1^st place in the IC420 cup in 2009, but they discontinued the strain shortly after. With their consent and encouragement, Connoisseur Genetics took it upon themselves to refine the strain and make seeds available.

The result is Super Silver Sour Diesel Feminized seeds. The plants show their Sativa heritage, growing to heights that may overwhelm the confines of your grow room. Like both her parents this is a smelly strain, so be thorough with your odor control if stealth is important. Flowering is slow but if you give them enough time these plants will impress you with their high yields.

The high is a soaring mental experience that borders on hallucinogenic. It is upbeat and energetic but not even a little bit functional. The hash from this strain is exceptional.

• Type Sativa dominant
• Height Tall
• Flowering time 10-12 Weeks
• Awards won 2009 IC420 1^st
• Yield High
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Moderate
• THC level High

For Similar Strains check out:

• Green House Chemdog Seeds

• Hortilabs – Sour Power Seeds

• Reservoir Super Silver Sour Diesel Haze Seeds

#6 Connoisseur Genetics – East Coast Sour Diesel Haze Feminized Seeds

Best For: Heavy Body Stone, Crisp Flavors

A cross between ECSD and Connoisseur Genetic’s Super Silver Sour Diesel Haze, this strain is a hybrid powerhouse. Smoke with caution: this bud will leave you completely toasted for hours at a time.

This strain is slow to flower and needs some care in the grow room. She responds well to a variety of training techniques such as LST or topping to control growth and increase yields. If you have warm, long summers try growing her outdoors.

The smoke is pure pleasure. There are all the delicious, lemon and pine flavors of Super Silver Sour Diesel Haze followed by a knockout Indica stone. It will saturate your whole body with waves or pure relaxation, so smoke it when you have nothing to do but give in to the peaceful joy of East Coast Sour Diesel Haze.

• Type Sativa dominant
• Height Tall
• Flowering time 10-12 weeks
• Awards won 2005 IC420 Cup Best Sativa 1^st
• Yield High
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Moderate
• THC level High

For Similar Strains check out:

• Hortilabs – Sour Power Seeds

• Reservoir Super Silver Sour Diesel Haze Seeds

• Green House Chemdog Seeds

#7 California Breeders Association – Diesel Truth Band Seeds

Best For: Cheerful High, Manageable Grow

A Sour Diesel X 707 Truth Brand, Diesel Truth Band is all about flavor and quality high.

The plants are of medium size with an open structure allowing for air circulation and making it resistant to mold and bud rot. The buds are dense and form on multiple side branches. You can boost yields by using LST or a SCOG set-up. Unlike many Sour Diesel offspring, this strain performs well outdoors in most climates.

The smoke is tangy and strong, with the distinct taste of fuel that Diesel smokers love. The hit comes on fast with an upbeat, joyful and very energetic buzz. This is great social weed for hanging with friends or a night on the town. After the initial giggly rush the high mellows into a more peaceful effect, leaving you relaxed and cheerful.

• Type Sativa dominant
• Height Medium
• Flowering time 9-10 weeks
• Awards won none
• Yield 350-500 g/m²
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Easy
• THC level Moderate

For Similar Strains check out:

• Hortilabs – Sour Power Seeds

• CBA 707 Truth Band Seeds

• Green House Chemdog Seeds

Best Sour Diesel Close Relatives

While the exact parentage of Sour Diesel is debatable, it is certain that it derives many of its sought after qualities from the original Chemdog genetics. Here are a few other strains derived from the original Chemdog plants which are close relatives to Sour Diesel.

#1 Green House – Chemdog Seeds

Best For: Massive Yields, Potent High

Green House Seeds sells a strain under the name Chemdog. They describe it as a cross of Sour Diesel and OG Kush, which are both supposedly offspring of the original Chemdog 91 plant from Massachusetts. It is rumored that a Chemdog 91 clone was given to Arjan of Green House Seeds, so it is likely that this strain shares some genes with the original, though the exact genetic history is uncertain.

Whatever the most recent parents of Chemdog actually are, it cannot be denied that this is one pungent, high yielding strain that has produced great results for many growers.

The kolas are large and dense, reaching up to 6 inches in diameter. Topping, SCOG and LST all work well with this strain, helping to increase already impressive yields. The downside is that the dense, heavy buds are prone to mold, so humidity levels should be kept low throughout flowering.

When smoked Chemdog is sweet, lemony and skunky. The hit is a powerful combination of trippy high and heavy body stone that relaxes your muscles and will leave you snuggled deep into the couch for many hours.

• Type Hybrid
• Height Medium
• Flowering time 9 Weeks
• Awards won 2010 IC420 Growers Cup (1^st), 2008 IC420 Growers Cup (2^nd)
• Yield 800 g/m²
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Moderate
• THC level 5%

For Similar Strains check out:

• Soma NYC Diesel Feminized Seeds

• Blimburn BC Diesel Seeds

• Kannabia BCN Diesel Seeds

#2 Soma – NYC Diesel Feminized Seeds

Best For: Powerful, Uplifting Balanced High

Interestingly, Soma Seeds currently offers a variety of NYC Diesel that lists Sour Diesel as one of its parents. A funny twist in the genetic tangle of Chemdog offspring, as many people will tell you that NYC Diesel is a parent of Sour Diesel.

This Diesel strain has some heavy Indica influence. The plant has very productive lateral branches and, like Sour Diesel, responds well to heavy pruning and training. She is well suited to SCOG or SOG growing.

Unlike the potent acrid scent of Sour Diesel, NYC Diesel has a pleasant odor with a hint of sour citrus. Like Sour Diesel, the smell is pervasive and seems to ooze right out through brick walls to tell your neighbors about your grow.

The smoke has the same pleasant grapefruit flavor and the high is a bright experience. This is uplifting and creative weed, great for easing depression and anxiety. The Indica influence adds a weighty physical stone that relaxes your muscles but may leave you unable to engage in much activity.

• Type Sativa 60%, Indica 40%
• Height Medium
• Flowering time 10 Weeks
• Awards won 2008 IC420 Growers Cup (1^st), 2001 High Times Cup(3^rd), 2002 High Times Cup (2^nd)
• Yield 450 g/m²
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Moderate
• THC level 20%

For Similar Strains check out:

• Advanced Auto NYC Diesel Seeds

• Blimburn BC Diesel Seeds

• Kannabia BCN Diesel Seeds

#3 OG Kush Seeds

Best For: Massive Yields, Potent High

It may surprise you to learn that OG Kush is quite likely a descendant of the same Chemdog that spawned Sour Diesel. This Hindu Kush cross has a distinct Sativa edge to the powerful Kush effects, and there are even some apparent similarities to Sour Diesel.

While OG Kush forms a nicely bushy, dense plant, it does show a tendency to stretch during flowering that can be managed by topping or super cropping, both of which will also increase yields. Like Sour Diesel, it can be tricky in the grow room, requiring precise feeding and temperature control. She requires a near tropical climate to perform well outdoors.

Yields can be quite low, especially for less experienced growers, but the smoke more than makes up for it in sheer quality. The flavor is a deep, earthy sweetness that lingers on your tongue. The high comes on in powerful physical waves with a bit of bright cerebral energy. The overall experience is one of blissful lethargy that will leave you melting into your couch.

• Type Indica dominant
• Height Medium
• Flowering time 8 Weeks
• Awards won 2010 Spannabis Cup (2^nd)
• Yield 200-400 g/m²
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Moderate
• THC level 18%

For Similar Strains check out:

• Reservada Privada OG Kush Feminized Seeds

• Barney’s Farm Cookies Kush Seeds

• Kush Auto Kush Feminized Seeds

• Bomb Kush Bomb Seeds

What’s Next for Sour Diesel

The Sour Diesel family is a group of assorted strains, whose genetics vary widely from nearly pure Sativa to strongly hybridized strains. Because smokers demand it, breeders will continue their attempts to create the acrid smoke and clear, powerful high that made Sour Diesel a household name over 20 years ago. As seedbanks become more and more adept at selectively breeding desired traits, I imagine we will start to see strains that boast the taste and effects of Sour Diesel and her NYC Diesel sister but in a package that is easier and more reliable to grow.

Why we love Sour Diesel

Sour Diesel is on the list with Haze as one of those strains that is simply so good it doesn’t matter how fickle it is to grow. There is something immensely satisfying about the sharp, diesel taste and the irresistible need to cough that comes from smoking Sour Diesel. The delightful Sativa effects are powerful and sometimes overwhelming. Amateurs be wary! Sour Diesel requires an experienced touch in the grow room and begs a veteran smoker as well. This is classic weed, and though the original is likely long gone, replicas and variations will continue to be bred, grown and joyfully smoked for many years to come.