2026 1st Grow: Mix Grape Field

This was my second time growing Planet of the Grapes, and somehow this strain still managed to surprise me. Compared with the phenotypes I encountered during my previous run, this particular plant took a slightly different direction. She didn't develop quite the same extreme layer of frost I remembered, but she made up for it by producing noticeably larger and chunkier flowers. It was an interesting reminder of just how much variation can exist within the same cultivar. The aroma, however, is unmistakably Planet of the Grapes. That familiar combination of pungent, gassy notes is there, backed by the sweet grape character that makes this strain so distinctive. Even before curing, the flowers already carry that recognizable profile I remembered from the previous grow. I'm very curious to see how those aromas develop once everything has been properly dried and cured. There was one unfortunate moment during harvest. One of the larger buds showed what appeared to be signs of bud rot, despite the flower itself still feeling surprisingly firm and dense. Rather than taking any chances, I removed the entire affected bud before hanging the plant to dry. The rest of the flowers looked healthy, and I wasn't willing to risk potentially spreading the problem throughout the drying tent. Because of that, I'm slightly hesitant to give the strain top marks for mold resistance. At the same time, I can't really put the blame on the genetics either. During the final weeks of flowering, there were several occasions when humidity climbed to around 65%, which is certainly not ideal when dealing with mature, dense flowers. Overall, Planet of the Grapes was once again an easy and enjoyable strain to grow. She remained manageable throughout the cycle, developed beautiful flowers, and delivered that characteristic aroma I was hoping to experience again. If there is one thing I would tell someone considering growing her, it would be this: Don't necessarily expect enormous yields—but expect an enjoyable growing experience and some seriously impressive-smelling flowers. For now, this is only my harvest impression. The final chapter still needs to be written. Once the flowers have dried and cured, I'll weigh the harvest and return with the numbers, followed by the most important part of the review: the smoke test.

This was my second time growing Dripz by James Loud, but in many ways, it feels like my first proper opportunity to see what this strain is actually capable of. My previous run didn't exactly go according to plan. Poor humidity management combined with an unfortunate light leak eventually turned the entire tent into a disaster. Looking back, I never really gave Dripz a fair chance to express its genetics, so I knew I wanted to come back and try this strain again under better conditions. And I'm very glad I did. This time around, Dripz has shown me that James Loud created something seriously interesting here. The aroma immediately reminds me of those distinctive earthy profiles I experienced in California—deep, rich, and unmistakably grounded. I have to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of heavily earthy terpene profiles. They simply aren't what I naturally gravitate toward. Dripz, however, has something hiding underneath that earthiness that keeps pulling me back for another smell. There is a subtle candy-like sweetness buried underneath the dominant earthy character. It's difficult to describe precisely at this stage, but that contrast is exactly what makes the aroma so intriguing. The earthiness hits first, followed by this unexpected sweet note lingering somewhere in the background. That combination has made Dripz one of the strains I'm most curious to revisit after curing. I'm especially interested to see whether that candy character becomes more pronounced as the flowers dry and the terpene profile settles. If it pushes further forward and balances out some of those earthy notes, this could develop into a very interesting final profile. Visually, the flowers finished beautifully, although the overall yield doesn't appear particularly large. That's really the only reason I'm hesitant to give Dripz a perfect 10/10 at this stage. Of course, appearances can be misleading before drying, so I'll reserve the final judgment until everything has been trimmed and weighed. For now, though, this grow has accomplished exactly what I wanted it to: Dripz finally got its second chance—and this time, it delivered. The disaster of the previous run can officially be left in the past. Now comes the part I'm most excited about: seeing how that unusual combination of earthy California character and hidden candy sweetness transforms after a proper cure. The final weight and smoke test may still have something to say about that rating.

Gelato by Zamnesia Seeds has been on my grow list for quite some time. I originally wanted to run this strain about two years ago but never had the opportunity. This year, I finally managed to make room for her—and after seeing the finished plant, I'm very happy that I did. From early vegetation all the way through flowering, Gelato was noticeably smaller than the rest of the tent. While the other plants stretched aggressively and quickly filled the canopy, she remained compact and simply continued developing at her own pace. What she lacked in size, however, she certainly tried to make up for in flower quality. By harvest, she had produced beautiful, golf-ball-sized colas with an impressive coating of trichomes. She may have been the smallest lady in the tent, but those dense, frosty flowers proved that size doesn't always tell the whole story. One of the things that impressed me most about Gelato was simply how easy she was to grow. Throughout this run, I threw quite a few challenges at the plants: training, periods of high humidity, and some seriously hot summer temperatures. Gelato seemed to take almost everything in stride. She remained healthy, manageable, and surprisingly unfazed by the less-than-perfect conditions. For that reason alone, I would happily recommend this strain to growers looking for something relatively forgiving and resilient. Based on my experience with this particular plant, she seems capable of handling environmental stress remarkably well without sacrificing flower quality. The aroma at harvest is predominantly gassy, accompanied by a subtle sweetness hiding underneath. The sweet character isn't particularly dominant at the moment, but it adds enough complexity to keep the profile interesting. I'm curious to see whether curing brings that sweetness further forward and creates a more balanced combination. So far, I'm very satisfied with the results. After waiting nearly two years to finally grow Gelato, she didn't disappoint. She may not have been the biggest plant in the garden, but she proved to be one of the toughest—and finished with some seriously attractive, trichome-covered flowers. Now she just needs some time for drying and curing in the jars. As with the other strains from this run, I'll return to this review once the flowers have been properly dried and cured. The final verdict will come when I can finally light up that first cured bud and see whether the flavor lives up to the flowers.

This was my second attempt at growing Starkiller × Grape Soda by James Loud, and just like with Dripz, the first run never really gave the genetics a fair chance to show what they could do. That grow ended in disaster largely because of mistakes on my side, so this time I wanted to come back with more experience and give this cross the opportunity it deserved. I'm very glad I did, because this run was a completely different story. Out of all four plants in the tent, Starkiller × Grape Soda was arguably the most vigorous and visually impressive of the bunch. She grew with confidence throughout the cycle, developed beautifully, and ultimately produced some seriously attractive flowers. From structure to overall appearance, she was simply a pleasure to watch mature. And fortunately, the aroma doesn't disappoint either. The dominant character is unmistakably gassy, but underneath that intensity sits a surprisingly smooth combination of creamy, almost vanilla-like notes. It's an intriguing contrast—the sharpness of the gas balanced by something much softer and sweeter in the background. Even before curing, the combination already gives the flowers plenty of personality. The resin production is another highlight for me. The buds are incredibly sticky, which is always an encouraging early sign, especially since I have always had a soft spot for highly resinous cultivars. Handling the flowers during harvest immediately leaves that unmistakable layer of resin behind, and that alone has made me even more curious about the final product. At this point, Starkiller × Grape Soda is probably one of the strains I'm most excited to taste from this entire run. Of course, there is still one very important stage between harvest and the final verdict: drying and curing. Beautiful flowers and impressive aromas can only take you so far, and I know from experience that the way the harvest is handled over the coming weeks can make or break the final result. If I manage to preserve those terpenes and cure these sticky flowers properly, I have a feeling there could be something exceptional waiting inside those jars. But with growing, you never really know until the final product is in your hands. For now, Starkiller × Grape Soda has certainly earned my attention. Vigorous growth, beautiful flowers, heavy resin production, and a gassy profile wrapped in creamy vanilla tones—there is a lot to be excited about here. The final verdict will come after the cure and, most importantly, the first proper smoke.