Long before there were clowns, there was a Harlequin, a comic servant character from the Italian Commedia dell’Arte, which translates to ‘the comedy of artists.’ In Italian, the name Harlequin is Arlecchino, an acrobatic shapeshifter who was comically bad at hatching schemes.

Harlequin online

He is also famous for being a terrible messenger who was often distracted and forgot what he was supposed to tell someone. Indeed, one suspects the character ‘Baldrick’ in the famous Blackadder comedy series (watch British comedy sometimes, people!) is based on Arlecchino. The Harlequin is a clown and recognized by the diamond-shaped patches that were part of his attire.

It is hard to say if the Harlequin marijuana strain is named after this famous character, but it is certainly as unique and diverse! It is one of the best-known strains because it contains a high level of CBD and a reasonable level of THC, a rarity in the world of weed.

What is the Harlequin Strain?

Harlequin weed is every bit as mixed up as Arlecchino in terms of its parentage. It is a sativa-dominant hybrid (up to 75%) and is a cross of a Swiss Sativa, Nepali Indica, Thai Sativa, and Colombian Gold. As you can plainly see, it is not your ordinary, garden-variety marijuana strain.

Like the Harlequin of lore, who wore sharply contrasting colors such as orange and purple, or yellow and red, the strain is a sharp contrast of CBD and THC. It is alleged that the strain was initially bred to be a hash-producing crop, but ultimately became one of the most sought-after medicinal marijuana strains on the market. It is believed to have been created by a breeder called Mr. Green of the House of David Collective.

Harlequin Strain Grow Info

Once you get Harlequin strain seeds, your best option is to grow the strain indoors where you have better control over the climate. If you insist on growing it outside, you need a warm climate with moderate to low humidity. Residents of Colorado, for example, often complain that the region is too humid to grow this strain outside.

On the plus side, Harlequin has a high resistance to pests and mold, as long as the humidity level is kept in check. Make sure the relative humidity (RH) level is below 65% by the beginning of the vegetative stage, and lower it weekly until it is below 55% by the time your plants reach the blooming stage. The RH can be 30-40% near harvest time. When grown outdoors, Harlequin can yield up to 21 ounces per plant.

The yield is even higher indoors, up to 25 ounces per square meter planted. You can increase the overall yield by engaging in low-stress training (LST) or high-stress training (HST) techniques. When you get these methods right, the entire plant is exposed to light and has enough airflow. A failure to prune your Harlequin plants could result in bud rot

Flowering time for Harlequin is 8-9 weeks. However, if your goal is to grow plants with a high level of CBD, it is best if you harvest your crop a little earlier than normal. Remember, it is okay to harvest once more than half of the pistils have changed color. Other growers prefer the trichome method, and will only pluck the flower once the trichomes are milky white with a mushroom head..