How to Grow Banana Kush
Banana Kush is a flavourful, mostly indica feminized strain that crosses Ghost OG with Skunk Haze. The result is a 60% indica plant with a medium 17-21% THC, a sweet banana, earthy and tropical flavor, and a happy, relaxed effect. It is productive, resinous and beginner-friendly, and its distinctive ripe-banana aroma is what makes it a long-standing favourite. If you like step-by-step strain grows, our guides on growing White Widow x AK47 Fast Version, as well as growing White AK 47.
This is a feminized, 60% indica photoperiod strain of moderate height, around 1.5 m, that flowers in 8 to 9 weeks once you switch it to bloom. Every seed grows into a flowering female, so there is no need to identify the sex or remove males, which keeps the grow simple and the whole crop productive. Its Ghost OG and Skunk Haze roots give it vigour, a bushy structure and a reliable, resinous harvest.
Recommended Strains
Banana Kush
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THC | 17% - 21% (Medium) |
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Type | Feminized |
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Yield | High |
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Phenotype | 60% Indica / 40% Sativa |
Banana Kush Auto
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THC | 17% - 20% (Medium) |
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Type | Autoflowering |
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Yield | High |
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Phenotype | 60% Indica / 40% Sativa |
Sweet, productive and dependable, Banana Kush is a rewarding way to grow a flavour-led indica with real character. You can see the full genetics and buy Banana Kush seeds on the strain page, and browse the rest of our feminized seeds alongside it.
Strain Profile at a Glance
| THC | Medium (17-21%) |
|---|---|
| Lineage | Ghost OG x Skunk Haze |
| Type | Feminized (photoperiod) |
| Genetics | 60% Indica / 40% Sativa |
| Climate | Tropical, warm |
| Flowering time | 8-9 weeks |
| Harvest (outdoor) | October |
| Height | 4.92 ft / 1.5 m |
| Yield indoor | 1.67 oz/ft² (510 g/m²) |
| Yield outdoor | up to 35.27 oz/plant (1000 g/plant) |
| Grow difficulty | Beginner-friendly |
| Flavors | Banana, Earthy, Sweet, Tropical |
| Effects | Happy, Relaxed |
Promos & Deals
Growing a Feminized Photoperiod Strain
Banana Kush is a photoperiod strain, so it flowers in response to the light cycle rather than on age. You grow it under a long day of around 18 hours of light while it builds size and structure, then switch to a 12/12 light schedule to trigger flowering, which runs 8 to 9 weeks from the flip to harvest. Because the seeds are feminized, every plant comes up female and goes on to flower, so you never have to check the sex or cull males.
That control over the light cycle is an advantage. You decide how long to veg the plant and therefore how big it gets before you flip it, which lets you match it to your space. As a 60% indica it tends to grow bushy and full rather than tall, so give it an open canopy and a little low-stress training early on to spread the light evenly and get the most from its productive, resinous structure. If you prefer an automatic version, the Banana Kush Auto offers the same flavor on a quicker autoflower cycle.
Climate and Where to Grow It
Banana Kush does best in a warm, tropical or Mediterranean-style climate with plenty of sun, steady warmth and good airflow. Its Ghost OG and Skunk Haze heritage makes it a vigorous, adaptable plant, and outdoors it suits a long, warm season that lets its resinous buds ripen fully and finish comfortably by around October.
It performs well indoors and out, but the outdoor potential is the headline. Indoors it returns a strong 510 g/m² in a well-managed tent, while outdoors a healthy plant with room for the roots and a full season of sun can reach a huge 1000 g. As a bushy indica of about 1.5 m it stays manageable in height, so the main job is keeping the canopy open so light and air reach the lower buds.
Keep humidity under control through flowering to protect the dense, resinous colas: around 55-60% in early bloom, nearer 40-45% as the buds fill out, and lower toward harvest. A chunky indica can hold moisture inside the flowers, so steady airflow and sensible humidity are what keep the finish clean. Aim for daytime temperatures around 70-82°F (21-28°C).
Feeding Schedule (EC Guide)
Banana Kush is a hungry, productive plant, but it still pays to build nutrients up gradually and let the plant set the pace. Feed to its appetite through veg and bloom, then taper off for the final flush so the sweet banana and tropical flavor comes through clean and the smoke finishes smooth. The ranges below are a starting guide; adjust to your water and medium.
| Stage | EC (mS/cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seedling | 0.4-0.6 | Very light feed while roots establish |
| Vegetative growth | 0.8-1.2 | Raise nitrogen as the plant builds size |
| Early flower | 1.2-1.4 | Shift toward bloom nutrients (P and K) |
| Full flower | 1.4-1.6 | Peak bloom feed while the buds swell |
| Flush | 0.0-0.4 | Plain water for the final 1-2 weeks |
Flowering and Harvest
Once you switch Banana Kush to a 12/12 light schedule it flowers in 8 to 9 weeks, which is quick for such a resinous indica. As a mostly indica plant it stacks dense, chunky buds on a bushy, full frame rather than stretching tall, so you get a lot of flower in a modest footprint. Grown outdoors in a warm climate it is typically ready to harvest around October.
Yields are strong, and outdoors they can be exceptional: around 510 g/m² indoors and up to 1000 g per plant outdoors with a big pot, open ground and a full season of sun. Give it a little training so the lower buds get light, feed it well through bloom, and harvest when most of the trichomes have turned cloudy for the fullest banana flavor and a well-rounded, relaxing effect.
Drying and Curing
Dry whole plants or branches in a dark room at around 60°F (15-18°C) and 55-60% humidity for 7-14 days, until the thin stems snap rather than bend. A slow, even dry is especially important with a dense indica like Banana Kush, because its chunky buds can stay damp in the middle while the outside dries, and a gentle dry protects both the aroma and the trichomes.
Then cure the trimmed buds in sealed jars, burping them daily for the first week and letting them settle for three to four weeks. A proper cure is what brings out the ripe banana, sweet and tropical notes and smooths the smoke, which really matters on a flavour-led strain where that distinctive banana character is the main attraction.
What to Do With Your Trim
Don’t bin the sugar leaves you remove while manicuring. Banana Kush is a resinous, trichome-heavy plant, so its trim works well for dry sift, bubble hash or rosin. That trim makes for a flavourful, sweet-and-tropical concentrate run from material most growers would otherwise throw away, and it is a good way to use the plant fully.
Flavor and Terpenes
Banana Kush is named for its flavor, and that is its calling card: a sweet, ripe banana note over an earthy base, with a soft tropical-fruit sweetness rounding it out. It is a smooth, fruity flavor rather than a sharp or gassy one, and a good cure really brings that banana-and-tropical character forward in the jar and on the inhale.
Its broad terpene profile shapes that character. Terpineol and linalool lead with a soft, sweet floral note that carries the fruity side, while borneol, camphene and fenchol lay down the earthy, herbal-woody base. Nerolidol adds a woody, faintly tropical depth, with a touch of eugenol for warmth and terpinolene for freshness on top. Together they frame the sweet banana, earthy and tropical character Banana Kush is known for.
Effects and Best Use
With its medium 17-21% THC and mostly 60% indica make-up, Banana Kush delivers a smooth, body-forward experience. It is reported as happy and relaxed: an easygoing, uplifting lift that eases into a comfortable physical relaxation, in keeping with its indica side. The medium THC makes it approachable, so it is a comfortable choice if you prefer a gentler, more manageable potency.
That relaxed, happy profile makes it an evening and night-time strain, well suited to winding down after a long day. The combination of a productive, beginner-friendly grow, a strong yield and a distinctive sweet-banana flavor, with a comfortable medium-THC level, is exactly why it has stayed popular for so long.
Common Problems and Pro Tips
The most common issue with a dense indica like Banana Kush is moisture getting trapped in the chunky buds late in flower. Keep the air moving around and through the canopy, hold humidity down as the flowers fill out, and don’t let the plant sit in still, damp air. Defoliating a few of the largest fan leaves in mid-bloom helps light and air reach the lower buds.
Because it grows bushy and full rather than tall, train it early. A little low-stress training or a light topping in veg opens the canopy and turns one dominant cola into several even ones, which suits its productive structure and lifts the yield. Outdoors, give it a large pot or open ground and a full season of sun, which is how it reaches that headline yield of up to 1000 g per plant.
As a pro tip, protect the banana flavor, since it is the whole point of this strain: run a clean plain-water flush at the end and cure for three to four weeks, which brings that sweet, ripe-banana character to its brightest. Lean on its beginner-friendly nature by keeping the feed steady and the canopy open, and watch humidity around the dense buds.
FAQ
Is Banana Kush a feminized strain?
Yes. Banana Kush is a feminized photoperiod strain, so every seed grows into a flowering female and you never have to identify the sex or remove males. You grow it under long days, then switch to a 12/12 light schedule to start flowering. That makes the whole crop productive and keeps the grow simple, which helps make it beginner-friendly.
How much THC does Banana Kush have?
Banana Kush is a medium-THC strain, testing at around 17-21%. That approachable level, combined with its mostly 60% indica genetics, gives a happy, relaxed experience that leans body-forward. It is a comfortable choice if you prefer a gentler potency, and it suits relaxed evening and night-time use rather than a heavy, racy high.
How long does Banana Kush take to flower?
Banana Kush flowers in about 8 to 9 weeks once you switch it to a 12/12 light schedule, which is quick for a resinous indica. As a photoperiod strain you also control how long it vegetates beforehand, which sets its final size. Grown outdoors in a warm climate it is usually ready to harvest around October.
What does Banana Kush taste like?
As the name suggests, it leads with a sweet, ripe banana note over an earthy base, with a soft tropical-fruit sweetness. Terpineol and linalool give the floral sweetness, borneol and camphene the earthy backbone, and nerolidol a woody, tropical depth. A proper cure brings the distinctive banana-and-tropical character forward.
How much does Banana Kush yield?
Banana Kush is a strong producer, giving around 510 g/m² indoors and, outdoors, up to a huge 1000 g per plant with a big pot and a full season of sun. Results depend on light, pot size and canopy health, so keep the plant well fed through bloom, train it lightly for an even canopy, and give it space outdoors to reach that potential.
Is Banana Kush good for beginners?
Yes. It is a feminized, vigorous and forgiving plant, so the cultivation is beginner-friendly: every seed is female and its bushy, sturdy structure handles mistakes well. The main things to watch are humidity around the dense, resinous buds, which steady airflow keeps in check, and keeping the canopy open so the lower buds get light.
