Anyone with the intention of growing cannabis at home should take cannabis seeds seriously. Whether on the market for fast-action autoflowering seeds, feminized cannabis seeds or considering experimenting with cross-breeding for the first time, quality counts.

The key to growing outstanding cannabis and getting the best possible return on your investment lies in starting out with the genetics. There may be hundreds of seed banks competing for the spotlight worldwide, but not all are performing to the same high quality standard.

But what is it that separates the best in the business from their counterparts?  Why is it that some seed banks like The Vault (currently number-one on Google) continually outperform the competition?

Personal preference plays a role when selecting seeds, but quality should always be prioritised. As should the following characteristics of a cannabis seed bank you can trust:

Strain Selection

First up, it’s a mark of a good seed bank to carry an extensive range of specimens from all over the world. Quantity shouldn’t take precedence over quality – it’s a case of striking the right balance between the two. If you plan on getting into cannabis cultivation at home, chances are you’ll want to experiment with a variety of strains as you progress. Cannabis strains should be hand selected by the seed bank and verified for quality – not simply added at random to increase the numbers.

Quality Genetics

Some seed banks prioritise quality genetics on a much higher level than others.  This basically means that across the board, each and every seed can be traced back to its origins and is of guaranteed quality. Along with increasing the likelihood of successful germination in the first place, this also has an impact on all aspects of the cultivation cycle from start to finish. Quality genetics breed quality results, just as substandard genetics guarantee disappointing results. You’ll often find the quality of the genetics reflected in the price of the seeds – cut corners to save pennies and you’ll live to regret it.

Ratings and Reviews

Customer ratings and reviews will tell you a lot about the cannabis seed bank you’re planning on doing business with. Again, you have seed banks like The Vault at one end of the spectrum, with a pretty flawless track record and a strong reputation in the eyes of its customers. Then you have the seed banks that aren’t considered quite as reliable – questionable quality, extended delivery times, poor customer service and so on. Always check what the consensus says about a seed bank, before placing your order.

Strategic Shipping

Speaking of which, shipping should also be considered prior to placing an order for cannabis seeds. Even if you live in an area where cannabis cultivation is legal, there’s still a chance you’ll want to keep your activities under wraps. This means that along with receiving your cannabis seeds in a timely manner, they should be packaged both securely and discreetly. If you don’t want to broadcast to the world that you’re planning on growing cannabis at home, stick with seed banks that guarantee discretion.

Special Offers and Promos

Of course, there’s also plenty to be said for getting maximum value for money – irrespective of the size of your order. That’s why it can be useful to see which seed banks have the best deals, discounts and promos before handing over your cash. Quality cannabis seeds are a valuable commodity, so even just a couple of extra thrown in as a gift is a welcome bonus. Special offers aren’t everything, but are still well worth keeping an eye out for.

Customer Service

With a bit of luck, everything will go just fine. You’ll receive your seeds in great condition, they’ll germinate successfully and you’ll be on your way in no time. But just in case it doesn’t, it’s good to have a quality customer support team to reach out to. One that not only cares about its customers, but actually knows a thing or two about cannabis as well. Again, this tends to be something you’ll find out about when reading customer reviews, ratings and recommendations.

Payment Types

This is more about convenience than anything else, but it still makes sense to choose a seed bank that supports your preferred payment method. For some, debit and credit cards are a no-brainer. For others, the added security and anonymity of Bitcoin payments is unbeatable. On that note, it’s also worth checking if and to what extent the seed bank has refund and/or written policies in place, just in case you’re not happy with your seeds.

Pricing

Seed banks that disproportionately prioritise pricing can be a risky business.  The heavier the focus on pricing, the more difficult it becomes to focus sufficiently on quality. As previously touched upon, there’s really nothing that matters more than quality genetics. Rather than focusing on pricing alone, try to prioritise overall value for money. Think of the long term returns on your investment, rather than the initial price of the seeds.

Additional Resources

Last but not least, the very best seed banks are those that demonstrate their interest in and commitment to the cannabis community in general. Along with an extensive range of quality products, they’ll also provide helpful resources, tutorials and guides to all-things cannabis. Anyone can set up a glorified online vending machine – it’s something else entirely to create a useful and interesting resource for the cannabis community. What’s more, the more interested the seeds bank is in cannabis as a whole, the greater the likelihood they’ll stick exclusively to quality cannabis seeds.

In summary…

As it can be difficult (or even impossible) to measure the quality of the cannabis seeds by looks alone, you need to make sure you spend your money wisely.  Rather than wasting time and effort working with low-grade seeds and poor-performing plants, it simply makes sense to things off to the best possible start in the first place.

Even if it means spending slightly more, you’ll be glad you did come harvest time.