Choosing the right strain of cannabis seed can be difficult, and with so many different options available for you to consider, the choice is further compounded. Indeed, it’s no surprise that people can feel a little overwhelmed when presented with seemingly endless lists of different strains.

There are many different factors that you should also think about when buying cannabis seeds, including the effects of the harvested cannabis; the difficulty (or ease) of growing; the time taken for harvest to be achieved; the likely yield that you can expect from the plant; whether the strain is suitable for indoor or outdoor growing; and more.

Today, we’ll be looking at one choice of cannabis seed strain: Golden Goat. Golden Goat seeds are widely renowned as being a popular choice of cannabis seed strain; however, is it the right choice for you?

History of the Golden Goat Seeds

The Golden Goat strain of cannabis seeds was originally developed in Kansas but was not actually an intended result; in fact, it was a purely accidental strain creation, but one which would go on to be purposefully bred. The breeder of the strain, upon discovering the seeds, decided to attempt to germinate them anyway; being an experienced cannabis seed breeder, he quickly noted that the accidental cross had phenomenal hybrid vigor and so grew incredibly quickly.

The name for the seeds was determined based on the aroma of the plant – one which reminded the grower of the local aluminum can recycling bins, oddly enough. These bins were provided by a company known as Golden Goat – and so the new strain of cannabis seeds was named.

The Golden Goat strain was originally bred as the accidental cross between a Hawaiian x Romulan male and an Island Sweet Skunk female. However, instead of going on to create F2 progeny of the original Golden Goat seeds, the grower of the seeds decided instead that they would be available only as clones.

Early Reception for the new Seeds

Introducing a new strain of cannabis seeds can always be incredibly stressful, but the Golden Goat strain had no such troubles; indeed, the cannabis was likened to a “holy grail” level by the cannabis enthusiasts who tried it. However, it should be noted that there is some confusion between the Golden Goat Strain and the Golden Goat Kush strain, which are distinct from one another.

Growing Golden Goat Cannabis

If you think that Golden Goat cannabis could be a good strain for you to consider then you need to make sure that you will be able to grow it effectively. After all, not every strain is right for every grower! We have made a short summary of some things to consider when growing this strain so that you can work out if it’s the right type of strain for your needs.

Is Golden Goat Difficult to Grow?

Golden Goat seeds are generally considered a medium rating seed strain to grow – however, if you want to get the most from them, we would highly recommend that you give them a little extra TLC and care. If you can do this, they will be able to reach their full potential!

Indoor vs Outdoor Growing

Golden Goat can be grown both indoors and outdoors with great success if given the right conditions. If growing them indoors with a hydroponics system, they need a medium level of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in order to thrive; however, once the plant has begun to flower, giving it more nutrients will allow it to mature quickly with each bud becoming plump and vibrant.

Ideally, the plant should be given a big enough container for it to spread its roots. We would recommend that a 25-gallon tub would be appropriate for each individual plant in order to give it the best start; however, for indoor growing a smaller 1-5-gallon tub or container could be more appropriate.

Environmental Conditions

Whether you are growing your cannabis indoors or outdoors, you should always pick a strain that meets the environmental conditions which you can expect (or otherwise be willing to adjust your indoor growing system to suit the strain’s needs).

For the Golden Goat strain of cannabis seeds, a high temperature of 70-80 degrees is ideal; however, anything above 90 degrees or below 55 degrees will be too extreme, and the plant will fail to thrive. As a result of this, most outdoor growers recommend that May is about the right time to begin germinating the seeds for outdoor growing.

In addition to this, you should consider the humidity. The strain can cope with some degree of humidity however high humidity environments are not suitable for growing it.

Flowering Time

The Golden Goat strain has a fair flowering time of 9 to 11 weeks, although a few lucky phenotypes can have a shorter flowering time of just 8 weeks; on the same note, some less generous phenotypes may take as long as 12 weeks to achieve flowering, so this should be factored into your planning.

Outdoor grown seeds may take even longer than this depending on the environmental conditions and suitability for the strain; as such, if your Golden Goat cannabis plants are being grown outdoors, you may need to consider investing in some sort of shelter to keep the plant and its buds protected from the elements (especially rain!)

Yield

The yield of the Golden Goat strain of cannabis seeds is largely a result of its hybrid vigor, and indeed, you can expect good things if the strain is cultivated with care and TLC. Yields of 450 grams per metre squared are easily achievable for indoor growing operations, and this can be greatly increased if you have carefully monitored the plants’ needs and provided them with the perfect growing conditions.

For outdoor grown Golden Goat cannabis plants, a yield of 14 ounces per plant can be achievable – in short, this strain is the ideal plant for many outdoor cannabis growers!

Height

The Golden Goat seeds, despite being a Sativa dominant hybrid, could easily fool many growers for being a pure Sativa strain as a result of their immense size. Indeed, a 10-foot high plant is easily the norm, and while this can increase the yield, it should be noted that it may not be practical for all scenarios.

As such, you may want to consider ways in which you can manage this massive garden that will soon be towering above you. Alternatively, if you’re planning on growing Golden Goat seeds indoors, you may want to use short vegetative times, LST, FIM and topping to keep check on the height of the plants and ensure they don’t outgrow your growing room!

Disease and Pest Resistance

Though this is particularly of concern for outdoor growers, both indoor and outdoor cannabis cultivators should consider the disease and pest resistance of each strain before buying. Luckily though, the Golden Goat strain – as a hybrid strain – is highly resistant to diseases and pests. This robustness arguably makes it an incredibly popular strain for people looking for a plant that isn’t going to keel over and die at the first little disease or pest challenge.

Effects of Golden Goat Cannabis

If you think that you have the right setup and conditions to be able to grow Golden Goat cannabis, you’re probably now wondering about the effects that you’ll experience when you do finally get a harvest. In short, as a hybrid strain, the Golden Goat cannabis can provide you with the best of both worlds: the excitement of a Sativa dominant strain combined with the relaxation and calmness provided by Indica strains.

Golden Goat is a Sativa dominant hybrid strain which has a THC content of around 18-22% and a CBD content of under 0.1%, making it a recreational strain that is quite potent and powerful; new users of cannabis should be cautious when using this strain, but more experienced cannabis users should be able to cope with its effects more easily.

It provides a sense of relaxation and stimulation and it is particularly good for boosting creativity. It has a metallic aroma, which is where the name originated from.

Because of the Indica genetics within this strain, you’ll get to experience both the excitement of sativa cannabis strains as well as the relaxation of Indica strains. It can also be useful as a medicinal cannabis strain, although the high THC and low CBD content may mean that people who want freedom from their symptoms without getting high may wish to consider a different strain of high-CBD cannabis.

Negative side effects associated with the strain are few but worth noting. The Sativa dominant nature of the strain means that paranoia can be associated with overindulgence of the cannabis; moreover, blood shot eyes and a dry mouth are common among users.

Aesthetics of the Plant

Let’s face it – when we choose a cannabis strain, having one with an appealing bud is absolutely a selling point. And the Golden Goat strain is one which has a very pretty bud indeed; you could even liken the appearance of this strain to being dipped in pure 24-carat gold, thanks to the pistils coating the flowers that give it a truly breathtaking appearance.

The buds themselves, beneath the “gold”, are medium in size and have a light green hue. They are quite tight and compact, making it easier to store them after harvest too.

Pros and Cons

Every cannabis strain has pros and cons, and there is sadly no one strain which is right for everybody. Below are some of the pros and cons associated with this strain so you can decide if it’s the right one for you or not:

Pros

• Gorgeous, high-quality flowers
• High THC content giving powerful effects
• Can provide both medical and recreational benefits thanks to its hybrid nature
• Strong disease and pest resistance, making it hard to grow
• Relatively wide temperature range of 55-90 degrees Fahrenheit (but 70-80 is preferable)

Cons

• Plants are hardly discrete – can grow remarkably high and have an overpowering aroma which might make them noticeable for stealth growers
• The strength of the strain may make it too strong for beginner cannabis users
• Other strains might be slightly easier to grow for new growers

You can buy this at Pacific Seed Bank.

Final Thoughts

Going to show that not all accidents have to be bad, the Golden Goat cannabis strain is one which is highly popular for its powerful effects, potent nature, and relative ease of growing. However, it may not be suitable for new growers and cannabis users, so think carefully before deciding to try it.