2025 Grow Diaries outdoor contest winners

Dutch Passion’s outdoor contest highlights

• Proven outdoor performance in cool, wet Northern European climates
• Strong resistance to rain, wind and high humidity
• Successful harvests from both photoperiod and autoflower genetics
• Yields ranging from 250 g to 1.5 kg wet weight, depending on setup
• Multiple grows completed with minimal intervention and low inputs
• Clear evidence of consistent results across different grow styles

First Place: Shaman by Comfrey

Comfrey’s Shaman grow secured first place thanks to its exceptional vigour, resilience and final quality. Grown organically outdoors during a challenging season, this diary clearly shows why Shaman remains one of the most trusted outdoor feminised strains at Dutch and similar latitudes.

Typically ready for harvest around early October, Shaman is well suited to cooler, wetter climates and is capable of delivering impressive yields with minimal intervention.

The cultivation was a lot of fun and easier than I initially expected. Shaman proved to be a very robust outdoor variety with a captivating scent of wildflower meadows, light fruity-sour notes and a warm, woody background. Both plants were extremely resilient, especially considering how damp this summer and autumn were, and I was genuinely impressed by their size, vigour and overall performance. I’ll definitely grow her again.

Grow setup & key details:

• System: Outdoor garden grow
• Medium: Living soil with Terra Preta and ‘Schwarzkohlekompost’ compost
• Container size: 30-litre (6 gal) pots
• Training: LST, HST, Defoliation
• Veg time: 14 weeks
• Flowering time: 8 weeks
• Final height: Around 1.5m (5ft)
• Dry yield: 117,5 grams
• Temperatures: Temperate climate with extreme weather (hot days up to 37°C/99F, cold nights to 4°C /39F) and frequent rain/storms (100% humidity)

This grow clearly demonstrates how well Shaman performs in challenging outdoor conditions when grown organically in living soil. Despite prolonged periods of heavy rainfall, high humidity and fluctuating temperatures, both plants remained healthy and structurally strong under their dense canopy. Notably, they coped well even during stretches without additional watering.

The combination of vigorous growth, solid yields and uplifting, creative effects underlines why Shaman remains a go-to outdoor strain for Northern European growers looking for reliability with minimal intervention.

Comfrey wins a €500 seed voucher from Dutch Passion!

Grow Diaries journal:
Full Shaman grow diary by Comfrey

Second Place: Shaman by Mrs_Larimar

Mrs_Larimar claimed second place with her third successful outdoor grow of Shaman, once again highlighting the strain’s reliability and consistency. Grown outdoors under a canopy with SCROG support, the plant delivered heavy, healthy flowers despite a cold and wet season, reinforcing Shaman’s reputation as a dependable outdoor feminised strain.

I’m very pleased with the outdoor season overall, despite a very cold and wet spring and summer with only short periods of warm, sunny weather. Shaman is a keeper in my outdoor genetics — easy to grow from start to harvest and always a pleasure. This was my third time growing her outdoors, and she’ll definitely be back again next year.

Grow setup & key details:

• System: Outdoor photoperiod grow under canopy
• Medium: Enriched deep soil bed with active microorganisms
• Nutrients: BioTabs slow-release nutrients
• Training: Topped twice in veg, SCROG support during flowering
• Flowering time: Outdoor flowering season (late summer to autumn)
• Veg time: Full outdoor vegetative phase
• Final height: Large, fully supported outdoor plant
• Yield: Approx. 1500 g (3.3 lb) wet (est. 250 g / 8.8 oz dry)
• Temperatures: Up to 36°C (97°F) during warm spells
• RH: Variable outdoor levels with frequent rain

This grow underlines Shaman’s ability to deliver predictable, repeatable results outdoors, even in a season marked by cold temperatures, frequent rain and limited sunshine. Strong structural development, combined with timely topping and SCROG support, allowed the plant to remain stable and productive despite challenging weather.

The diary also highlights how well Shaman responds to low-intervention cultivation in enriched soil, making it a reliable choice for outdoor growers seeking consistency across multiple seasons.

Mrs_Larimar wins a €300 seed voucher from Dutch Passion!

Grow Diaries journal:
Full Shaman grow diary by Mrs_Larimar

Third Place: Auto Candy Bubatz XL by SkunkyDog420

SkunkyDog420’s Auto Candy Bubatz XL took third place, underlining why autoflower seeds are such a popular choice for outdoor growers in unpredictable climates. With a fast 3–4 month life cycle, this autoflower successfully avoided the worst of the season’s poor weather and delivered strong results with minimal effort.

Very nice outdoor strain for Germany. No problems at all, even with little sunshine — no mould, dense buds and a good high. The plant grew beautifully from start to finish and caused no issues, which makes it an ideal choice for anyone looking for an easy and reliable outdoor autoflower.

Related:
Autoflower vs Feminised outdoor cannabis growing

Grow setup & key details:

• System: Outdoor autoflower grow in Germany
• Medium: Coco coir in 11-litre (2.4-gal) pots
• Nutrients: Xpert & Advanced nutrients
• Training: Minimal training
• Seed to harvest: 14 weeks
• Final height: Medium-sized autoflower
• Yield: Not specified (dense, healthy buds)
• Temperatures: 20–26°C (68–79°F) day; ~18°C (64°F) night

This grow clearly shows the practical advantages of autoflower genetics in cooler, less predictable outdoor seasons. Despite limited sunshine and modest temperatures, the plant produced dense, well-formed buds with no mould issues throughout the cycle.

The diary reinforces Auto Candy Bubatz as a low-risk, low-maintenance option for outdoor growers who want reliable results without the need for complex training or intensive environmental control.

SkunkyDog420 wins a €200 seed voucher from Dutch Passion!

Grow Diaries journal:
Full Auto Candy Bubatz XL grow diary by SkunkyDog420