Growing for Seeds. Do you guys think there is a market for selling just non-femenized autoflower seeds?

[StellaGrow]

I had a really hard time finding non-femenized autoflower seeds when I was first starting and a few people told me the same. I was thinking of trying to start a dead simple site selling just a sativa strain and indica strain of autoflowers. I have a markup of what im thinking below.

https://indigo-giraffe-196420.hostingersite.com/

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1. Are there already plenty of sites selling regular autoflowers? Maybe its already a lot of competition?
2. Is two strains a bad idea? Im finding most people dont much differentiate between liking indica or sativa so I feel more varities doesnt help.
3. Any sellers know how to accept credit carrds? I've not been able to find anyone who will touch cannabis seed sales when I ask.

thank so much!

 

[StellaGrow]

I had a really hard time finding non-femenized autoflower seeds when I was first starting and a few people told me the same. I was thinking of trying to start a dead simple site selling just a sativa strain and indica strain of autoflowers. I have a markup of what im thinking below.

https://indigo-giraffe-196420.hostingersite.com/
View attachment 1734465
​

1. Are there already plenty of sites selling regular autoflowers? Maybe its already a lot of competition?
2. Is two strains a bad idea? Im finding most people dont much differentiate between liking indica or sativa so I feel more varities doesnt help.
3. Any sellers know how to accept credit carrds? I've not been able to find anyone who will touch cannabis seed sales when I ask.

thank so much!

 

[Purple2thepeople]

It's a more limited market for a couple reasons. One is market demand, since most people growing in general, but autos especially tend to want feminized plants they mostly offer them, the prospect of not weeding out males is attractive to a lot of buyers who are told they don't want makes constantly. Even in the photoperiod market feminized beans have become the dominant force that sell the most.

Reason two is that it's harder to recreate the beans with feminized seeds. With regular beans you can plant and find a great specimen male and pollinate either a great female or a number of good female siblings, and continue the filial generation of these beans quite easily. When reversing females you don't always get viable pollen, it's not as automatic as just spray the plants and you will always get viable pollen.

Different strains react differently to sts, and even individuals from the same strain can react differently, so it's definitely more difficult to recreate the seeds, which is attractive to a lot of breeders. It's not been uncommon for unscrupulous individuals to buy seeds from good breeders, and chuck them to make more and sell them under the same name that was made big by someone else.

I think those are the main reasons for the lack of regular beans available for purchase, lots of breeders even use regulars in their breeding process and then reverse before the generation they intend to sell, to me that indicates they want to sell fems specifically for whatever reason.

It's not that hard to make auto regs, but it takes time, and work and some trial and error to learn what traits to look for

 

[BII]

As a fairly normal grower, with just a small tent, I have no interest in buying or growing regular vs. feminized seeds. I presume breeders (a small niche and hard to reach) are the main market for regular seeds. But it seems that breeders tend to already have their own favored sources for regular seeds.

Most seed purchasers also presumably value and desire that their seed sources have a sufficient critical mass of resources (test fields, QC lab., more than just a 1 person operation, etc.) along with a number and variety of seeds (2 strains will likely just be ignored), established reputation including being known/recognized for one or more successful strains, etc.

One person selling just a few strains of specialty/niche seeds does not seem likely to be successful as a profit-making business, maybe as a subsidized hobby.

 

[AnemicFox]

Ohhh a lot of good info here and replies. I have also wondered this too what OP posted, for the most part, good on you!
Amazing question, especially since I've been wanting and needing pollen a bit.

I remember back in like '08 having a plant that was said to be 1/2 AF genetics (Lowryder) and 1/2 phototropic (white widow)
It was a tallish plant but did grow faster than normal it seemed for being from seed.
So you could cross the two I think? I'm not sure I was pretty new back then.

 

[Jpkindbud]

Yes, there is a market, small as it may be… most are usually looking to form their own strain/cultivar by using non-fem to breed with a well known or favorite strain/cultivar that is feminized to create their own. Gnome automatics sells non fem autos from time to time (anvil) and another on this site has non fem autos from seeds to specifically “make your own” Doctors Choice, the original breeder of lowryder auto line. So there is a market… but small and you would be releasing your genetics to the public to “copy” or “cross” how they see fit. So… I guess it’s your call.

 

[Cannaficionado]

Theres a market for it but its gonna be small, niche breeders looking for certain traits to bring into their breeding projects. Most people are looking for traits they don't see or traits specifically controlled by males when it comes to regular seeds to begin with.