The AskGrowers team has a chat with Luc Krol from Amsterdam Seed Center about how the company started and asks about the best-selling seeds on offer. Luc also talks about the differences in cannabis strains, the most difficult types of strains to grow, and their favorite strains to grow. He also advises up-and-coming seed banks about how to kick off their business the right way, while talking about his favorite strains to smoke and naming the celebrity he’d like to smoke with once. #growerstories
Tia (AskGrowers) : Tell us how you started your brand?
Luc Krol : We’re actually retailers of more than 50 brands. We started back in 2011 selling only Paradise Seeds, to grow to the extensive collection we have now.
Tia : What are your best-selling seeds? Why do you think it is so?
Luc : Super Lemon Haze of Green House Seeds has always been really popular. Also, Wappa and Sensi Star of Paradise Seeds are always selling well.
Tia : What do you think are the hardest seeds to grow?
Luc : In principle, all cannabis plants are fairly easy to grow. However, ‘regular’ seeds (non-feminized) are slightly more difficult to grow because there are male and female seeds. You have to select the female plants and get rid of the male plants. Otherwise, the male plants will pollinate the female plants and you’ll end up with seeds in all your buds – a grower’s nightmare if you’re not in it for cross-breeding.
Tia : Do all the strains differ in taste and effect, when it comes to extraction oil from the flower?
Luc : Yes. There will always be slight differences when you extract from different plants.
Tia : Do you have your favorite strains that you grow personally?
Luc : Delahaze of Paradise Seeds is great to grow. It produces a massive crop, and it can take the heat as well as the cold. It’s really not sensitive to mold, and bugs don’t seem to like the plant either. Also, Northern Lights #5 x Haze of Sensi Seeds is one of my favorite strains of all time.
Tia : What is your personal cannabis consumption routine – do you consume cannabis yourself, what products, THC/ CBD? Does it affect your work/ life?
Luc : I smoke all day, every day. Yes, it affects my life and work, in a good way. Without it, I couldn’t focus for five minutes and I’d be all over the place.
Tia : Your top strains to smoke? Why?
Luc : Northern Lights #5 x Haze by Sensi Seeds. The taste, the effect – it’s unique. Also Dr. Grinspoon, for the same reasons – taste and effect.
Tia : If you could have a chance to smoke with anyone on this planet, who’d that be and why?
Luc : I’d love to smoke a joint with Jim Morrison. Unfortunately, this isn’t possible anymore. So, I guess it’d be Snoop Dogg.
Tia : Do you follow any cannabis brands in the USA or your state particularly? Can you name them?
Luc : Pot Valley Seeds and Earth Witch Seeds.
Tia : Do you have any pieces of advice for people who want to start their own seed banks? What are the risks, pros & cons?
Luc : Just like any other type of business, do your research. And when you decide to start a seed company, make sure you have a proper budget for marketing as you’re not the only one trying to get a piece of the cannabis pie. Also, don’t think it’s fast and easy money.
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Thank you so much, AskGrowers team, for taking the time to do the interview. To learn more about them, head on over to their website.