Northern Lights Seeds

How Long Does Northern Lights Take from Seed to Harvest?

So you're thinking about growing Northern Lights, huh? Good choice. Classic strain. Old-school. Smells like pine and dreams. But let’s get to it—how long from seed to harvest?

Short answer? Around 8 to 10 weeks of flowering. But that’s just the flowering stage. Whole story’s longer. Seed to harvest? Think 12 to 16 weeks total, give or take. Sometimes more. Depends on how you grow, what you feed it, how much you baby it—or don’t.

Let’s break it down. Or not. Let’s just talk.

First, germination. That’s like, what, 2 to 7 days? Some pop in 24 hours. Others sit there like stubborn little bastards. You wait. You hope. Eventually, they crack open. Tiny tails. Life begins.

Then seedling stage. Two weeks-ish. Maybe three if it’s dragging its feet. Little leaves, not much action. Just vibes. Keep the light close, but not too close. Don’t fry the poor thing.

Veg stage? That’s where it gets interesting. Northern Lights is an indica-dominant strain, so it stays squat. Bushy. Thick. Doesn’t stretch like a sativa. You can veg it for 3 weeks if you’re impatient. Or 6 weeks if you want a bigger yield. Up to you. You’re the boss. Sort of.

Then—boom—flowering. Flip the lights to 12/12. She starts showing pistils. White hairs. Smells start creeping in. That sticky, earthy, spicy funk. Northern Lights doesn’t mess around. She finishes fast. 8 weeks is common. Sometimes 9. Rarely 10. Unless you’re lazy with your trichome checks.

Speaking of trichomes—don’t harvest too early. Don’t be that guy. Wait for the cloudy ones. Maybe a few amber. Depends if you want more head or more couch. You’ll know. Or you won’t. You’ll learn.

So yeah—12 to 16 weeks from seed to harvest. Could be faster if you’re running autos. Northern Lights auto? That’s a whole different beast. 10 weeks total, sometimes less. But let’s not go there right now.

Point is—this strain’s forgiving. Fast. Chill. Doesn’t throw tantrums. Good for beginners. Good for lazy growers. Good for people who just want something that works without a ton of drama.

And when you finally chop her down? Dry her slow. Cure her right. Don’t rush it. That’s where the magic happens. That’s when the real Northern Lights show up—sweet, piney, smooth as hell. Like smoking a forest at midnight.

Anyway. That’s the timeline. More or less. Don’t overthink it. Just grow the damn thing.