How It’s Made
How It’s Grown: Outdoor Cultivation
Many Licensed Producers grow the old-fashioned way — outside, in the fresh air. This is how (and why) they do it.
Last updated March 3, 2026 | Published on May 13, 2021
Legal cannabis production doesn’t always take the form of high-tech grow rooms and LED lights. Some Licensed Producers (LPs) grow their crops the traditional way — in the ground and under the sun.
It’s an old-school, back-to-basics method, one that’s favoured for its simplicity, reliance on natural elements and typically lower costs. Having Mother Nature provide much of the light, water and nutrients that would otherwise need to be engineered indoors allows LPs to pass on that value to consumers.
However, outdoor growing isn’t effortless. Nature can be generous, but it can also be harsh and unpredictable. So how do LPs make the most of nature’s bounty while weathering its elements? Keep reading — we’re about to dig in.
Step 1: Pick the right place and space
An indoor growing environment can be built almost anywhere, but when it comes to outdoor cultivation, not every patch of soil is ideal for growing cannabis. Licensed Producers must first identify a suitable region and planting zone that can best support a healthy cannabis crop. Then Health Canada must give its approval before the LP can proceed with outdoor production on their selected site.
And it’s not just about finding a wide-open space. LPs must consider factors like climate, weather patterns and soil quality, and whether the conditions suit the strain they want to grow. As part of their research process, LPs may test soil samples or even run small outdoor trials to ensure the plant is hardy enough for the climate and its flowering cycles align with the growing season.
Step 2: Get ready to grow
Outdoor cultivation actually begins indoors. Before planting outside — typically in late May or early June in Canada — Licensed Producers spend weeks preparing their plants inside. A lot of effort goes into this prep work, as it sets the stage for a successful season.
Some LPs start from seeds, while others begin with clones, which are more predictable. Cuttings are typically taken from established mother plants in mid-April. The cuttings spend two to three weeks in cloning rooms to grow roots before being transplanted into small pots and transferred to a greenhouse. This acclimatization stage ahead of planting is crucial for clones to become strong and vigorous.
Whether they use seeds or clones, LPs can choose from multiple planting options. For example, growing in pots with a medium like peat moss allows plants to hold onto water and nutrients through the hottest summer days. Planting directly in the ground, on the other hand, lets the natural living soil work its magic.
Interested in growing cannabis at home? Ontarians age 19 and older can legally grow up to four plants — here’s how.
Step 3: Thrive and survive
While outdoor growing is largely dictated by nature, like any type of farming, it still requires plenty of oversight and human touch. Once the plants are outside, LPs continue to support their growth by protecting them from potential threats such as invasive insects, inclement weather and nutrient deficiencies.
Trellises, for example, help shield plants from strong winds. To deter unwanted pests, some LPs plant companion crops like alyssum, marigolds and golden yarrow around the perimeter of the cannabis fields. These plants attract beneficial insects, including ladybugs and lacewings, that naturally keep potentially harmful pests in check.
Rainwater alone usually isn’t enough for growing cannabis crops. As in other forms of agriculture, many Producers supplement by watering through an irrigation system, sometimes daily during particularly hot weather. Fertilization is also common: LPs may work manure into the soil, use hydroponic nutrients through irrigation or create their own custom fertilizer blend. To determine what the plants need, growers often walk the fields daily or clip leaves for analysis.
Step 4: Harvest and process
Late September through mid-October is typically harvest season for outdoor-grown cannabis, though the exact timing of “Croptober” depends on how each strain matures. The plants are ready for harvest when the buds’ trichomes turn a rich amber colour.
LPs can harvest outdoor cannabis plants by hand, before hanging them to dry indoors. The plants may be bucked (a hand or machine process that removes flowers and leaves from the stalk) before or after drying.
What happens next will depend on how the LPs plan to process and use their harvest. Some flower may be sold as is, while other batches are milled or have their cannabinoids extracted to use in products such as pre-rolls, vapes or concentrates. Analyzing the dried flower’s cannabinoid and terpene levels can help Licensed Producers make the decision.
A single cannabis plant can soak up to 23 litres of water each day. LPs can use eco-conscious growing methods to address the environmental impact.
Step 5: Test and label
No matter the format, all outdoor-grown flower undergoes the same federally mandated testing for microbial contaminants, heavy metals, mould, unapproved pesticides and more. It’s also analyzed for its tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) content.
If the bud is being sold as dried flower, it’s then packaged with labelling that includes the standardized cannabis symbol, health warning message, brand name, THC and CBD content and other required product information, plus the federal excise stamp, which shows the product is certified legal.
Outdoor cultivation may be less high-tech and more unpredictable than indoor growing, but that doesn’t mean it’s a dying practice. As long as consumers continue to seek value and express interest in more natural products and processes, growing cannabis the old-fashioned way will always be in fashion.
