Strawberry Cough

Strawberry Cough Cannabis Seeds by Royal Queen Seeds

Strawberry Cough is a sativa-dominant feminised cannabis seed that delivers a clear-headed daytime effect powered by 20% THC and a terpene profile that genuinely smells like a punnet of fresh strawberries. Bred by Royal Queen Seeds from a cross of Strawberry Fields (indica-dominant) and a sativa-heavy Haze, this 75/25 sativa-indica hybrid traces its lineage back to Kyle Kushman, who spread clones from New York to California in 2004. If you want a strain with serious bag appeal, rewarding yields, and a flavour that lives up to its name, this is the one.

Why Strawberry Cough Seeds Deserve Space in Your Grow Room

We've carried a lot of sativa-leaning strains over the years, and the ones that stick around tend to share a few traits: they actually yield well, they don't stretch into unmanageable territory, and they taste good enough that you want to grow them again. Strawberry Cough ticks all three boxes.

The genetics here are solid. Royal Queen Seeds crossed Strawberry Fields — an indica-dominant variety responsible for the fruit-forward terpenes — with a classic Haze to add that sativa structure and cerebral quality. The result is a plant that grows like a sativa (tall, vigorous, with strong lateral branching) but finishes in a reasonable 9-10 weeks indoors. That's fast for anything with Haze in its DNA. Outdoors, expect harvest in October, which is manageable for most of southern and central Europe.

The honest limitation? Height. Strawberry Cough stretches hard during early flowering. Indoor plants can hit 150 cm, and outdoor specimens push up to 200 cm. If you're working with a short tent (120 cm or less), you'll need to top early or run a ScrOG net. This isn't a "set it and forget it" strain for tight spaces — it rewards growers who train their plants. But that stretch also means plenty of bud sites, which is where the yield numbers come from.

Strawberry Cough Yield and Growing Specs

Strawberry Cough produces up to 500 g/m indoors and up to 650 g/plant outdoors — numbers that put it in the upper range for sativa-dominant hybrids. Here's everything you need to plan your grow.

Terpene Profile: What Strawberry Cough Actually Smells and Tastes Like

The name isn't marketing fluff — Strawberry Cough genuinely smells like strawberries. Crack open a cured jar and you get a wave of sweet, ripe berry that's almost confectionery, followed by a spicy Haze undertone that adds depth. The dominant terpenes are myrcene (earthy, musky base), pinene (sharp, resinous freshness), and caryophyllene (peppery warmth). Together they create a bouquet that's intense without being one-note.

On the inhale, the strawberry sweetness comes through cleanly. The exhale is where the Haze genetics show up — slightly spicy, a bit herbal, with enough complexity to keep things interesting. If you've grown strains that smell amazing in the jar but lose their character once ground up, Strawberry Cough isn't one of them. The flavour carries all the way through.

The "cough" part of the name? It's real. This strain produces thick, expansive smoke that can catch you off guard, especially through a dry pipe. A water pipe or vaporiser smooths things out considerably.

How to Grow Strawberry Cough Seeds

1. Germination: Use the paper towel method or soak seeds directly in water for 12-24 hours, then transfer to moist paper towels in a warm, dark spot (20-25C). Taproots typically emerge within 2-5 days.
2. Seedling stage: Plant the germinated seed 1-2 cm deep in a light, airy medium. Keep humidity around 65-70% and temperatures between 20-25C. Light intensity should be gentle — a CFL or dimmed LED works well.
3. Vegetative growth: Strawberry Cough develops strong lateral branches, so this is the time to train. Top the main stem once it has 4-5 nodes to encourage bushier growth. If you're growing in a tent, set up a ScrOG net at around 40 cm height and tuck branches under it as they grow.
4. Manage the stretch: When you flip to 12/12, expect significant vertical growth during the first 2-3 weeks of flowering. Plants can double in height. If space is tight, flip earlier than you normally would — when plants are around 50-60 cm rather than waiting for 80-100 cm.
5. Flowering (weeks 1-5): Increase phosphorus and potassium in your feed. Maintain temperatures around 20-26C and humidity below 55%. The lateral branches will develop multiple bud sites — support heavy branches with stakes or trellis netting.
6. Flowering (weeks 6-10): Watch trichomes with a jeweller's loupe from week 8 onwards. For a more cerebral effect, harvest when trichomes are mostly cloudy with minimal amber. Flush for the final 1-2 weeks with plain water.
7. Outdoor timing: Start seeds indoors in early spring (March-April in the Northern Hemisphere) and transplant outdoors after the last frost. Strawberry Cough needs the full growing season to reach its potential — starting late means smaller plants and reduced yields. Harvest in October when most trichomes are cloudy.
8. Drying and curing: Hang whole branches in a dark room at 18-20C and 55-60% humidity for 10-14 days. Once stems snap rather than bend, trim and jar the buds. Burp jars daily for the first two weeks, then every few days for another 2-4 weeks. The strawberry terpenes really develop during a proper cure.

Strawberry Cough vs Other Sativa Seeds

If you're weighing up Strawberry Cough against other sativa-dominant options, here's how it stacks up against two popular alternatives we carry.

Strawberry Cough sits in a sweet spot: more flavourful than Amnesia Haze, more energising than Green Gelato, and faster to finish than most Haze crosses. We'd pick it over Amnesia Haze if flavour matters to you, and over Green Gelato if you want something you can smoke during the day without sinking into the sofa.