Huckleberry Hill's John Casali talks new Whitethorn Rose seeds release
Plus, the Xerox PARC of hydro growing; Top 50 Breeders of 2025 Poll opens
BY DAVID DOWNS | Oct. 29
Good morning, Fire Followers,
We’re off to do some bucking of our whole, dried plants in Sebastopol, CA and check out the Mercy Wellness lounge in Cotati. Our December seed show is gathering momentum, and there’s a slew of big drops to tax your bank accounts: Huckleberry Hill Farms, DNA Genetics, Karma Genetics, Dynasty, In House, Clearwater, and more. Don’t get caught lackin’. For Halloween, we’re a sensei from the Cobra Kai dojo. Strike first. Strike hard. No mercy. Happy trimming season.
In this week’s newsletter
John Casali talks the new Huckleberry Hill Whitethorn Rose releases
We visit the Xerox PARC of indoor hydro: PowrHouse, Sacramento
And we start the Top 50 Breeders of 2025 Poll
As always, the first hit is free, then I’ll see you in the Pro version. Assuming you got $5 on it.
KISS FROM A WHITETHORN ROSE: This week sees the Dia De Los Muertos, Nov. 1 drop of new and restocked Huckleberry Hill Farms genetics on Tangled Roots Store. On tap, new Whitethorn Rose (Paradise Punch x Lemon OG) and Paradise Punch (Blueberry OG X Lavender OG) crosses to work from Humboldt Seed Co, Ridgeline Farms:
Blueberry Rose (WTR x Blueberry Muffin)
Dawn Patrol (WTR x Riddlez)
Mulberry Punch (Paradise Punch x Mulberry Rose)
Paradise Coast ( Paradise Punch x Amalfi)
For restocks:
Paradise Pine (Paradise Punch x WTR)
Paradise Surprise (WTR x Paradise Punch)
Rainbow Rose (WTR x RS11)
Ripple Rose (WTR x Margie’s Gift)
Whitethorn Rose went on another tear through the contest circuit this year. The all-star cultivar is not waning after three years of acclaim. It’s burning bright as ever.
Huckleberry Hill Farm’s John Casali said in an interview with Fire Follower that:
“I’m just so grateful. [The wins] make me excited to find the next winner that will take over WTR.”
That winner might be in a pack from this drop. We have more from Casali—including Rose grow do’s and don’ts in Fire Follower PRO. Upgrade from free today.
THE XEROX PARC OF INDOOR GROWING: The Sacramento-area growers group The CoNNect Community has launched PowrHouse—the Xerox PARC of indoor growing.
Focused on synganic R&D, POWRHouse combines The CoNNect Community’s Sergio Picazo with organic-meets-hydroponic ‘synganic’ leader Kevin Crouch, and 3 more top dogs from the wholesale hydro supply and lighting world. Together they are rapidly R&Ding synganic growing tech that is feeding back up into new hardware and nutrients, as well as filtering down iton more grows. PowrHouse occupies 12,000 square-feet in the enormous, influential South Sacramento ‘Green Zone’—purportedly the largest collection of licensed indoor cultivation spaces on the planet. Why synganic R&D? So more people can grow boutique, 10-lighter herb with 300+ lights.
We’ve smoked their Bluephoria, and Herijuana 2.0 and they’re both on-point.
WHO ARE THE TOP 50 BREEDERS OF THE YEAR?: Let’s find out. Please take a sec to complete this poll as Google Form. Write-ins welcome. List is randomized to prevent ranking bias. Nominations come from me, David Downs, co-author of ‘Marijuana Harvest’ with Ed Rosenthal. 🤙
3 TOP SEED DROPS
This week, we’d recommend:
DNA Genetics adds a new one to their lineup: RP 43 aka Richard Petty. 10 fems for $95. Don tells Fire Follower “kush, kush, and more kush” went into it. “Make green weed great again,” Don said.
Karma Genetics’ latest—Zyclone and Zizzle—have already sold out. There’s still Headlock (Chem D x Headbanger) at 80 euros for 6 fems. Plus, BAM BAM (Zowahh Papayaz x Fresca Melon) is 75£ for 6 fems. So is Peach Shake (Zkittlez x Moroccan Peaches) x Fresca Melon.
Also a limited new washer from Karma—Blue Juice (Blue Belts x Fresca Melon) is 75£ for 6 fems.
Archive Seeds-adjacent brand Common Wealth Seeds Co’s new line of Grape Sunshine hashers is making the rounds. Check Lime Light X Grape Sunshine—3 fems for 40£. Limelight is likely the Gelonade x Zangria cross. Grape Sunshine is Secret Lemon (Lemon Peel x Moonbow) x Tallymon. Also, Tahiti Lime x Grape Sunshine. Tahiti Lime itself is a cross of Dosidos x Zkittlez #25 x Lemon N Lime.
Reminders:
Tickets are $5 for our Terpnami seed show Dec. 6-7 in SF.
Just added: Josh D and Arcana. In the mix: Bloom Seed Co, Bosky, Casa Flor, CALegacy, CHA Genetics, Community Select Seeds, Compound Genetics, Cora Genetics, DNA Genetics with Errl Hill, Dr. Dabber, First Cut Farms, Freeborn Selections, Greenshock Farms, Grove bags with James Loud, Happy Dreams, Heartrock Mountain Farm, Higher Heights, Huckleberry Hill Farms, Humboldt CCTV, Humboldt Seed Co., Kenjana Organics, Lempire Farmaseed, Luci / Norcal Genetics, Luscious Genetics, Purple Caper Seeds, Purple City Genetics, Rebel Grown Seeds, Ridgeline Farms, SoHum Seeds, Sticky Fields, Subcool’s the Dank, Tangled Roots Seedbank, The Gardens, Xeno Grows, Zeed Vault, Ziplock x Sense, and more.
Compound is bringing new Facade crosses that are all candy. Purple City Genetics is bringing an exclusive mix of flower strains and hashers. Watch out for the Daryl Strawberry. And for homegrowers—the Bubble Tea. CHA Genetics is bringing the Papaya Smoothie line (Papaya x Honey Banana). “I’m super pumped on them,” Russel said.
The Terpnami beanie is $30 on pre-order; limit 30. We’re also making a Terpnami magazine. They will be $15 on pre-order. And we’re going to have a Moon Valley 6-star full-melt hash drop party Friday, Dec. 5 at Moe Greens as the pre-party for Terpnami.
I have a piece coming out soon from High Times on using static electricity to purify kief at scale that’s going to blow your mind.
My Leaf Magazine article pulling together the reporting threads on automatic seeds comes out Nov. 1.
My Humboldt Seed Co Pheno Hunt for Hashers 2025 feature drops in Hiii Magazine in LA Nov. 15.
It’s harvest season, grab my book “Marijuana Harvest – Maximizing Quality & Yield in your Cannabis Garden” and finish like a pro.
TOP BUD SHOT OF THE WEEK
In this week’s Fire Follower Pro for $5
15 top seed drops including Dynasty, Inhouse, Clearwater, and Masonic
12 essential buys from Archive, Rebel Grown, Ridgeline, and more
5 hot clone buys
Access to back-issues of Fire Follower Pro, featuring dozens more stellar additions for your grow.
Genetics and awards Event Calendar
Juicy tidbits from my Reporter’s Notebook
Fire Follower saves you over 100 hours per year keeping up with genetics news, and you never miss a big drop. It’s for commercial breeders, seed bank operators, growers, store buyers, PR people, executives, and pro-am aficionados. Buy this week’s issue for $5. Subscribe to 52 issues and save 30%. (I email you the full genetics intelligence report when you pay.)
I’ll see you in the Pro edition.
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