BLAZE (Botanical Latitude and Zone Evaluation) is a citizen science project designed to better understand how cannabis performs across different climates. Growers from across the country cultivate the same genetics while tracking real-world data—observing how latitude, hardiness zones, and environmental conditions impact plant growth, flowering time, and overall performance.
Every season is an opportunity to learn, but more importantly, it’s an opportunity to learn together. By sharing results, we begin to map patterns that have never been formally tracked before, like how flowering timelines shift across regions, or which genetics truly thrive in specific climates.
This isn’t just about growing better cannabis. It’s about building a smarter, more connected cultivation community.
In this article, we’ll break down what we learned from the 2025 season, covering participant data, strain performance, and regional insights, along with a look ahead at the genetics selected for the upcoming year.
Our Second Year Strong: BLAZE 2025 by the Numbers
2025 marked BLAZE’s second official year as an organized outdoor cannabis grow challenge, and the community continues to grow.
- 95 growers registered and purchased seeds to participate
- 40 growers completed the germination survey
- 16 growers followed through to submit harvest reports
All participants who completed the full cycle received free seeds for the following season, reinforcing one of BLAZE’s core values: commitment drives both personal growth and collective knowledge.
While the completion rate came in below 30%, this highlights an important truth about outdoor cultivation: it's unpredictable, challenging, and requires consistency. And that’s exactly why this data matters.
The more growers who follow through, the more accurate and actionable our insights become.
So the question is:
Are you in for 2026?
Join us as we continue mapping regional growing zones, refining strain selection, and answering the big questions, like when to start seeds, when to expect harvest, and what truly performs best in your climate.
Because from the data we collected in 2025, one thing is clear: we’re just getting started.
Outdoor Cannabis Grow Challenge Results (2025 BLAZE Report)
The 2025 BLAZE (Botanical Latitude and Zone Evaluation) grow challenge brought together a diverse community of outdoor cultivators across multiple climates, elevations, and growing conditions.
This wasn’t just a grow-along. It was a real-world experiment in sungrown cannabis—designed to collect data, build community, and accelerate learning through shared experience.
2025 Participation Snapshot
- Total registered participants: 95
- Germination surveys completed: 40
- Total seeds started: 132
- Harvest reports submitted: 16
- Participants who completed the challenge: 16
Growers spanned a wide range of climates, from humid eastern regions to dry western zones and shorter northern seasons. This geographic diversity is what makes BLAZE so powerful.
Completion Rate Insights
- 40% completion rate (based on germination survey → harvest reports)
- 16.8% completion rate (based on total registered → completed)
While completion may seem low on the surface, it reflects the reality of outdoor growing—life happens, crops fail, and climates challenge us. And that’s exactly why this data matters.
Why Completion Matters
Participants who complete the challenge receive free seeds for the following season, but more importantly:
- Completion = real data
- Real data = better decisions
- Better decisions = stronger growers
Accountability creates consistency. Consistency creates mastery.
What the 2025 Season Taught Us
Despite the lower completion rate, the insights gained from the 2025 BLAZE season were incredibly valuable. What became clear very quickly is that outdoor cannabis cultivation is not a one-size-fits-all process. Instead, it is deeply influenced by environment, grower decisions, and the biological foundation of the soil.
Across the board, three core themes emerged: climate is everything, genetics matter but so does the gardener, and soil health ultimately determines plant health. Growers working with the same genetics in completely different regions experienced dramatically different outcomes. Some battled mold and humidity, while others faced drought stress and extreme heat. These contrasts are exactly what make this project so powerful.
Climate Is Everything
Outdoor cannabis is directly shaped by its environment, and the 2025 season reinforced just how significant those regional differences can be.
Growers in more humid eastern climates consistently faced higher mold pressure, especially in dense, late-stage flowers where airflow was limited. In contrast, growers in drier western regions reported fewer mold issues but had to work harder to manage water retention and drought stress. Meanwhile, those in northern zones were racing against shorter seasons, making early-finishing genetics and timing absolutely critical.
Out of the 16 growers who completed the harvest survey, 5 reported mold issues, highlighting just how impactful humidity, plant structure, and airflow can be when combined. Beyond mold, heat stress was also a factor in certain regions, with some growers noting reduced terpene expression during peak summer temperatures.
One of the most important takeaways was the role of microclimate management. Simple adjustments, like improving airflow, spacing plants appropriately, or introducing partial shade, made a measurable difference in plant performance.
Genetics Matter — But So Does the Gardener
While genetics provide the foundation, the grower ultimately shapes the outcome. Two people can grow the same plant in similar climates and still produce very different results depending on their approach.
The growers who saw the most success tended to focus on early plant training, setting up strong structure and improving light penetration from the start. They also prioritized soil biology, understanding that a healthy root system directly translates into a more resilient plant above ground.
Timing played a critical role as well. Preventative IPM strategies consistently outperformed reactive ones, and growers who maintained consistent watering practices avoided many of the stress-related issues seen elsewhere.
Interestingly, while certain strains clearly performed better in specific zones, skilled growers were often able to push plants beyond their expected limits. This reinforces an important truth: genetics matter, but technique can elevate or limit their full potential.
Soil Health = Plant Health
If there was one theme that stood out the most from the 2025 season, it was the undeniable connection between soil health and plant performance.
Growers who utilized living soil systems consistently reported stronger, more vigorous plants with increased resistance to both pests and environmental stress. These plants not only grew better but also recovered faster when challenges arose.
Practices like microbial inoculation, compost teas, and regular top dressing with organic inputs proved to be highly effective. Rather than relying on quick fixes, these growers focused on building a balanced soil ecosystem—and their results reflected that.
At the end of the day, healthy soil creates resilient plants. And when growers share these results and observations, the entire community benefits.
2025 Strain Review
During the 2025 growing season, we selected two strains, Purple Oreoz F1 and Strawberry Banana Grape. These strains exhibited indica and sativa morphologies and displayed traits that were more or less suitable across a wide range of climates. The following reviews are based on our growers' feedback.
Purple Oreoz F1
Purple Oreoz F1 is an indica-dominant hybrid that is the result of crossing Grand Daddy Purple and Larry OG. Most of our growers cut their plants down late September to mid-October after flowering for 8-10 weeks. The flowers were dense and frosty, with light green buds and dark green and purple accents, and light orange pistils. The plant's leaves turned dark purple or maroon as it matured. The internodal spacing was tight, resulting in heavy yields on compact plants that needed to be pruned to ensure good airflow. Some growers did encounter mold in the center of the dense buds. The best-performing growing zones were low-humidity zones. This strain was suitable for intermediate growers who understand how to prune and prevent mold through integrative pest management practices.
Once dried, the buds smelled like the color purple, a combination of fruit and cheese filled danish with a hint of gas. The high is euphoric and very silly. If you’re looking for the giggles, this may be the strain for you.
Strawberry Banana Grape
Strawberry Banana Grape is a sativa-leaning hybrid made from a Banana OG cross that brought vibrant energy and standout terpene expression to the 2025 season. Most growers harvested mid-October after ~10 weeks of flowering, with plants producing light green leaves and buds and a slightly more open structure than Purple Oreoz. While still capable of dense flowers, some growers did report mold in later stages, making airflow and preventative IPM important, especially in more humid regions.
This cultivar truly shined in its terpene profile, delivering a fruit-forward aroma layered with sharp pine and creamy citrus notes, often described as a mix of lemon sorbet or Gelato with a strong pine backbone. Yields were impressive, with reports as high as 561g per plant, and the effects leaned toward a light, active, daytime high that kept growers energized and uplifted. Best suited for intermediate growers, Strawberry Banana Grape performed well across multiple zones but benefited from attentive canopy management to reach its full potential.
Introducing the 2026 BLAZE Strains
After analyzing grower feedback, climate data, and performance from the 2025 season, we’ve selected two genetics that represent both resilience and diversity in outdoor cultivation. One was chosen by the community, and one was chosen from the heart, bringing together data-driven decisions and passion for the plant.
2026 Strain #1: Guava Root GMO
Why it was selected:Guava Root GMO was selected live during a YouTube livestream, where the BLAZE community voted in real time. This made it a true community-chosen strain, reflecting what growers are excited to run in their gardens.
Climate adaptability: As an indica-dominant hybrid, it’s expected to perform well in shorter-season climates and offer better resilience in cooler fall conditions.
Expected terpene profile: Anticipate a bold mix of tropical guava sweetness layered with classic GMO funk and gas, making it both unique and loud in the garden.
Target grower profile: Ideal for intermediate growers, but approachable for beginners who want to explore heavier terpene profiles and learn canopy management.
2026 Strain #2: Sour Diesel
Why it was selected:Sour Diesel is a personal favorite and a legendary strain that has stood the test of time. It was chosen to bring a classic, proven genetic into the BLAZE lineup.
Climate adaptability: As a sativa-leaning hybrid, Sour Diesel thrives in longer-season and warmer climates, but with proper planning can still perform well in a range of zones.
Expected terpene profile: Expect the unmistakable fuel-forward, citrusy, skunky aroma that has made Sour Diesel iconic.
Target grower profile: Best suited for intermediate to experienced growers who are comfortable managing stretch and training taller plants.
Why Every Season Makes Us Better
Every season brings new variables: weather shifts, pest pressure, timing mistakes, unexpected wins, and that’s exactly the point. In BLAZE, failure isn’t failure, it’s data. A plant that molded taught us about airflow. A plant that thrived taught us about soil, timing, and genetics. When we share those outcomes, everyone levels up faster.
This is where community becomes an advantage. Instead of one grower learning one lesson per season, we learn hundreds of lessons together. Patterns emerge across climates. Solutions get refined. Confidence builds. The learning curve becomes less intimidating because you’re not navigating it alone. You’re supported by growers walking the same path.
You don’t have to be perfect to participate. You just have to be willing to observe, adapt, and share. That’s the power of BLAZE.
Every seed is a lesson. Every harvest is growth.
How to Join BLAZE 2026
BLAZE is open to anyone who wants to grow, learn, and contribute, whether it’s your first outdoor plant or your tenth season dialling in your environment.
What You Get
- Genetics: Access to the official 2026 BLAZE strains
- Education: Ongoing guidance, tips, and seasonal insights
- Community Support: Connect with growers across climates and zones on discord server.
- Data Sharing: Contribute to and learn from real grow data
- Photo Contest Access: Opportunity to be featured in the BLAZE calendar and community highlights
Timeline
- Registration: Buy your seeds and join the project TODAY!
- Seed Start: Begin indoors or direct sow based on your zone
- Transplant: Move plants outdoors at the right time for your climate
- Harvest: Document results and submit your final survey
Completion Reward
Growers who complete the season and submit their data will receive seeds for the next BLAZE season, continuing the cycle of growth and learning.
Grow with intention. Grow with community. Grow with BLAZE.
FAQ Section
What is the BLAZE cannabis grow challenge?
BLAZE is a community-driven outdoor cannabis grow project where growers across different climates cultivate the same genetics and share results.
Can beginners join BLAZE?
Yes. BLAZE is designed for all skill levels, with education and community support built in.
Are the strains good for humid climates?
Strains are selected with resilience in mind, but success in humid climates depends on airflow, pruning, and preventative IPM practices.
What do participants receive?
Participants receive seeds, access to education, community support, and the ability to contribute to shared grow data and contests.
How do I enter the BLAZE photo contest?
Participants can submit photos during the season and after harvest for a chance to be featured in the BLAZE calendar and community platforms.
