A Natural Born Champion from Sweet Seeds®
Words: Tommy L. Gomez
Photos: Tommy L. Gomez and GreenForce
The journey to glory is often paved with dedication and hard work, and in that sense, our hobby is no exception. With the determination and perseverance of both a great cannabis grower and the R&D Department of Sweet Seeds®, one of the seedbank’s new releases, Diablo Rojo XL Auto® (SWS110), achieved the 1st Place as Best New Autoflower Strain 2024 at the Autoflower World Cup, recently celebrated in Barcelona. In this article, you can read the full story about this strain, the award, and the grow operation that led to victory.
In November 2023, a highly respected cannabis grower from Portugal, GreenForce, obtained exclusive access to a few seeds from several strains that Sweet Seeds® would later release in early 2024. He successfully harvested these seeds by early February, ensuring that the buds were dried and cured in time for the competition. The event occurred on Saturday, March 16th, at the OG Club in Barcelona, coinciding with Spannabis.
Training for the World Cup
For this occasion, only one seed of Diablo Rojo XL Auto® was used, so it was a one-shot wonder that sprouted a mere 36 hours after being placed between two wet paper towels. The grower reported that the plant was grown hydroponically alongside three other autoflowering plants within a confined space measuring 120×120 cm. A Zeus 465w Pro 2.9 µmol/J LED system from Lumatek provided illumination during both the vegetative and flowering stages. The growing medium consisted of a 70% coco coir blend and 30% perlite.
Throughout most of the plant’s life cycle, the lamp-to-plant distance was maintained at approximately 60 cm, and the hydroponic system used was sourced from The Bucket Company, featuring four 11-litre containers. Diablo Rojo XL Auto® displayed remarkable vigor and excellent health from its early stages. Approximately 30 days after the appearance of the cotyledons, the plant started to produce pistils that densely clustered together with the calyxes to form the first flowers a week later.
Diablo Rojo XL Auto® began revealing its beauty at this juncture, showcasing magnificent purple hues in the first calyxes, resulting from a high concentration of anthocyanins. Notably, these colorful characteristics are intrinsic to the genetic makeup of this autoflowering strain, solely attributed to anthocyanins. Hence, the vibrant purple buds develop naturally without exposure to low temperatures or nutrient deficiencies.
The Strength and Stamina of an Extra-Large Competitor
By mid-flowering, what truly astounded us was the remarkable size the plant attained. The plant developed an outstanding number of sturdy and thick side branches, reaching an overall height of approximately 110 cm. Each side branch resembled an individual plant, as the main cola of each branch looked like most main colas of single autoflowering plants that we typically encounter. At this point, the aromas were genuinely fantastic. Sweet and fruity aromas with hints of cola filled the room.
By the end of flowering, even the side branches yielded high-caliber flowers, while the central bud was composed of more than 30 cm of several flowers, all crowded together at the plant’s apex. Besides that, Diablo Rojo XL Auto® is a top choice for resin extractions, allowing for the most beautiful and purple dry sift hash with high-quality aromas. Along with the sweet and fruity fragrances present at mid-flowering, when the flowers were ready to harvest, some subtle hints of citruses and incense joined the party for a legendary organoleptic experience.
The effects of this strain are a bit on the Indica side and usually include a good amount of happiness and relaxation, stimulating creativity simultaneously. For further insights, we invite you to visit our website at www.sweetseeds.com, where you can find all the relevant information about this strain and all the other strains from the Sweet Seeds® genetic collection, including an official video showcasing Diablo Rojo XL Auto®.
Diablo Rojo XL Auto®, the 2024 World Champion
As we arrived at the cup, we were greeted by an incredible atmosphere, with the delightful aromas of our beloved plant as background fragrance. The participating samples were elegantly displayed in a glass cabinet, each appearing lusher than the last. We were there with the grower, so there was a lot of expectation. Sweet Seeds® had clinched 1st Place in the Sativa Dominant Autoflower category at the same event in the previous year of 2023 with Sweet Gelato Auto® (SWS76).
When the event organizers announced Diablo Rojo XL Auto® as the great Winner of 1st Place for Best New Autoflower Strain 2024, a wave of pure joy swept over us, reminiscent of the effects induced by this new champion, joints were lit in celebration, while the winner received heartfelt congratulations from all around. We also had the opportunity to converse with members of the organization, fellow cup winners, and jury members, who unanimously shared some very positive feedback. Here’s one example:
“The colors and appearance of the resinous buds were incredibly appealing, but what truly stood out, however, was the flower’s robust aroma, which lingered even after being removed from the jar, retaining all the richness of its premium terpene profile.”
Moreover, they all agreed that the effect is pleasant and noticeable, even after sampling numerous other strains throughout the day. We also received commendations on the exceptional quality and potency of Diablo Rojo XL Auto®’s effects, as well as an appreciation for how the vibrant fluorescent orange pistils beautifully contrasted with the dark purple and reddish hues of the calyxes of this distinguished champion. A strain that every autoflowering grower should try at least once.
If you’re intrigued about the plant that won the 1st Place award for Best New Autoflower Strain 2024 at the Autoflower World Cup, you can explore it on GrowDiaries via the Sweet Seeds® channel. There, you’ll find this grow diary by our friend GreenForce and an array of other remarkable diaries featuring genetics from our seed bank.
Sweet Seeds® extends our heartfelt gratitude to all the cannabis growers who grow our strains and contribute their sweet harvests to cannabis cups. Thank you very much, and may your smokes always be Sweet!
