AK 47

How far AK-47 stretches after the onset of flowering varies widely in documented indoor grows: in 7 reports the plants grew in height by 167 to 533 %. The sativa-leaning hybrid was crossed in 1992 by Simon, owner and breeder of the Amsterdam seed company Serious Seeds, from Colombian, Mexican, Thai and Afghan lines. It became known among other things through Cup placings in the Sativa, Indica and Hybrid categories.

Cultivation:

The peak values of 400 and 533 % were seen in plants that went into flowering at 10 and 15 cm respectively. From a starting height of 20 to 40 cm they gained 167 to 200 %. Two phenotypes are described, a stretched, slower-flowering one with a sativa influence and a squat, faster-flowering one with an indica influence; several growers assigned their plants to the indica-like type.

Serious Seeds gives 53 to 63 days of flowering for the original version and an outdoor harvest from mid to late October. In 7 of 9 evaluated indoor reports flowering lasted 60 to 63 days; one run ended after 55 days and another after 70. The breeder puts the yield at 350 to 600 g/m², an older strain description based on breeder information at 350 to 500 g/m². One grower harvested 40 g per plant from 6-litre pots under 400 W, another 110 to 120 g per plant with 5 plants in 20-litre pots under 600 W. In a grow described on the breeder's site, regular plants reached 85 to 102 cm and feminized ones 65 to 85 cm.

According to Serious Seeds the flowers are compact, sparsely leafed and densely coated in resin. Grow reports describe the dried buds as hard and compact and rate the flower-to-leaf ratio as good to very good. The breeder warns of an exceptionally strong smell during flowering; Growers Choice also names the odor intensity of its AK47 as a characteristic of the plant.

Serious Seeds rates the strain as easy to grow, another strain description as moderately difficult. Several growers found the plants undemanding in terms of fertilizer and resistant to mold; powdery mildew resistance and good tolerance of early topping are also mentioned elsewhere. One grower supported the heavy side branches during flowering, another observed a tendency toward early flower formation. One report records disappointing harvests.

Genetics and Origin:

According to Serious Seeds, Simon tested thousands of plants from different lines before the F1 hybrid emerged; the breeder gives the ratio as 65 % sativa to 35 % indica. AK-47 was presented publicly in 1994, and in 1999 Simon stabilized the line further to improve uniformity and potency. One strain description differs and places the origins as early as the 1970s.

At the High Times Cannabis Cup, AK-47 took 2nd place among the sativas in 1999, 2nd place among the indicas in 2003 and 3rd place among the hybrids in 2011; a 3rd place in the Hydro category in 1996 and a 2nd place in the Bio category at the Highlife Cup in 2016 came in addition. Readers of High Times voted the strain Plant of the Year in 2003. Older accounts count 16 awards, while Serious Seeds itself now lists 27.

The breeder used AK-47 for its own crosses: White Russian came from AK-47 and a White Widow clone, Strawberry AK from an AK-47 mother and Bubble Gum, Serious Happiness from an AK-47 mother and a Warlock father. In Chronic, Simon crossed in AK-47 genetics in the late 1990s.

Versions from Different Breeders:

Serious Seeds offers the original version in regular and feminized form, plus the feminized Auto AK-47. For this autoflowering variant the breeder gives 70 to 80 days from germination to harvest, 40 to 75 g per plant indoors and a final height of 75 to 100 cm. Growers Choice and Bulk Seeds list AK47 with the same four-part origin statement; for the feminized Bulk Seeds version about 60 days of flowering are given.

Aroma and Flavor:

Serious Seeds describes a spicy scent with a sweet citrus note, plus hints of lemon, butter and skunk. In flavor the strain is mild and slightly sweet with an undertone of sandalwood. Other strain descriptions add earthy, sour, floral and herbal notes as well as tobacco; grow reports mention earth, cookie dough and lime, and in flavor lemon and wood. Two strain descriptions list myrcene as the dominant terpene, followed by caryophyllene and pinene, one of them additionally limonene.

Effects:

The breeder promotes the strain under the nickname “One Hit Wonder” and describes the effect as mentally and physically soothing. User reports are divided: some describe a creative, euphoric head effect that makes people talkative, others quiet relaxation up to couch lock. Growers call the effect strong and long-lasting, and one found it too intense. Reported side effects are dry mouth, dry eyes, dizziness, lethargy and restlessness or nervousness as the effect sets in.

THC and CBD Content:

Serious Seeds states 20 % THC and 1 % CBD. According to the breeder, an independent lab test at the 1999 Cannabis Cup produced a single value of 21.5 % THC, the highest of all entries that year; a High Times article from 2013 gives the same value. Other strain descriptions put the THC content lower, at 13 to 20 %.