What’s the Difference Between Feminized and Traditional CBD Seed?

A seed is a seed is a seed–right?

Actually no–there is a lot more to it than that.  Every seed in the world, like every human in the world, is different. And, much like humans, seeds come in male and female.  The difference between a feminized seed and a regular one is simple gender–or the guarantee of which gender plant the seed will grow up to become.   A regular CBD seed that is pollinated naturally or bred by humans, will have the potential to grow into either gender. A feminized seed, on the other hand, is one that has been selectively bred to become a female plant.  Why would new and old hemp farmers alike want to make sure their CBD plants all grow up to be only lovely ladies? Read on and find out!

The Benefits of Growing All Female CBD Plants

As you may or may not know right now, female CBD plants are the most desirable for farmers.  These plants, grown from feminized CBD seeds yield flowers and buds rich with Cannabidiol (CBD). This the primary active compounds harvested from hemp plants. It is used in a ton of products from health and beauty products to pet treats.  The efficacy of CBD is being studied right now and soon we should know more about the impact this “wonder drug” is having on human health.  However, anecdotally there is evidence that may suggest medicinal uses in treating seizures and cancers. At this time nobody can say for sure.  But, with so much on the line, it is no wonder why farmers are responding to such high demand for CBD.  

Why Are Male Plants Bad For Growing CBD?

Male CBD hemp plants are a bane for farmers looking to get the very best CBD quantity and quality.  Up until recently, CBD hemp farming was a rather shotgun approach–plant a bunch of CBD seeds (male and female) and get what you get–about 50/50 male to female.  But this approach proved problematic for a number of reasons. First off, it is inefficient. Planting both male and female hemp seeds meant farmers need to plant twice as many seeds than they needed–using twice as much land and water for what ultimately ended up being half of a harvest.   Second of all, the amount of extractable CBD and the quality of the CBD is lower when/if female hemp plants are pollinated. In fact, a study in 1998 by the Meier and Mediavilla found a reduction of 56%. Meaning,  male plants need to be identified and removed before they can ruin the crop.  This process is inexact at best and a total waste of time and resources at the worst.  Furthermore, there are almost always male plants that make it through the culling process resulting in at least some female plants being pollinated.   Therefore, even though feminized CBD seeds cost more than traditional hemp seeds–the increased CBD yield is well worth the cost.

To find out more about feminized CBD seeds and to learn about our extensive selection of some of the world’s finest CBD seeds–contact us at CBD Seed Co today!