How We Test Our Seeds: Lab Germination Results for Every Batch

Anyone comparing Canadian seed banks runs into the same problem: every seller promises good genetics and strong germination, and almost none of them show the numbers. We think a seed bank should be able to prove what it sells. This page is that proof, strain by strain, for our whole catalogue.

Who runs the tests

60 of our strains are produced in partnership with Alpha Type, a seed-genetics company with testing facilities in the United States and Europe. Every production batch is given a SKU and tested before release, and the results are published to us batch by batch. We have reproduced them here as they appear in our partner's data, matched to the strain names we sell them under. Where a strain is tested under a different name than the one we use, the table says so.

Alongside the partner tests, we run our own germination tests in Quebec, Canada, on every strain we sell, from the partner-produced lines to the original QCS genetics we breed ourselves. A sample from each batch is germinated in trays under the conditions we recommend to growers, and a batch goes on sale only if it performs. Our in-house results are consistently 98 to 100%.

What is tested

Germination rate. The share of seeds in a sample that sprout under controlled conditions. A batch passes at 98% or higher. Every batch listed on this page passed.

Intersex (hermie) score. A 0-to-1 measure of how often a feminized plant from the batch shows male flowers. Lower is better. Every partner-tested batch scored between 0 and 0.05, meaning stable feminized genetics with a very low risk of hermaphrodites.

Cannabinoid and terpene analysis. Certificates of analysis are in progress for the partner-tested batches and are not yet published. We will add them when they are.

Third-party lab results by strain

"Tested at" lists where the third-party tests were run (our partner's United States or Europe facility, or both) plus Canada, where every strain is also tested by us in Quebec. "Latest test" is the harvest date of the most recently tested partner batch. Strains are in alphabetical order.

In-house results: every other strain, tested in Canada

The 277 strains below are not produced through our partner, so there is no third-party report to reproduce. Each one was germination-tested by us in Quebec, Canada, in 2025, using the tray method described above, and every one scored between 98 and 100%. Strains marked "QCS original" are genetics we breed ourselves; for those, the grower reports on each strain page and our own grows are the rest of the evidence. Our guide to outdoor strains for Quebec, for example, is built entirely from reported harvests. Strains are in alphabetical order.

What this means for your grow

A germination test tells you the seeds were viable when they left production. It does not guarantee the same number in your kitchen, because germination at home depends on temperature, moisture, how the seeds were stored and the method used. Our germination guide covers the method we recommend. If you follow it and fewer than 80% of your seeds sprout, our germination guarantee applies.

Third-party results on this page come from our production partner's batch testing and are reproduced as reported; in-house results come from our own germination trays in Quebec. All are results under controlled conditions and are not a prediction of results at home. How we set our numbers →

Frequently asked questions

Does Quebec Cannabis Seeds test its seeds for germination?

Yes. Every strain we sell is germination-tested. 60 strains have third-party lab results covering 118 batches tested between 2022 and 2026, and the other 277 were tested by us in Quebec, Canada, in 2025. Every result is between 98 and 100%.

What germination rate should I expect from QCS seeds?

Test results are 98 to 100% for every strain. At home, results depend on your method and conditions, so we guarantee 80% and replace seeds if you get less while following our germination guide.

Are QCS feminized seeds stable, or do they hermie?

Every partner-tested batch scored between 0 and 0.05 on a 0-to-1 intersex scale, which is a very low rate of hermaphrodite plants. Stress such as light leaks or heat can still cause male flowers on any feminized plant, so good growing conditions matter.

Who does the testing?

Alpha Type, the seed-genetics partner that produces 60 of our strains, at its testing facilities in the United States and Europe, and Quebec Cannabis Seeds itself, in Quebec, Canada, for every strain we sell.

Are all QCS strains germination-tested?

Yes. Every one of the 337 strains we sell is tested. 60 have third-party lab results from our production partner, and the other 277, including every original QCS genetic, were tested by us in Quebec, Canada, in 2025. All of them scored 98 to 100%.

Does Quebec Cannabis Seeds test its seeds in Canada?

Yes. Every strain we sell is germination-tested in-house in Quebec, Canada, before it goes on sale, in addition to the third-party tests listed on this page. Our in-house results are consistently 98 to 100%.

Where are QCS seeds tested?

In three places: at our production partner's facilities in the United States and Europe for 60 strains, and in Quebec, Canada, where we test every strain ourselves.

Are the free seeds the same quality as paid seeds?

Yes. Free seeds are the same quality as paid seeds, and often better: QCS deliberately gives its best genetics and strains as free seeds so customers can try something amazing.