TGA Seeds
Subcool calls this strain Sputnik because it crosses his spacethemed Apollo 13 strain with a Russian. The original Sputnik I satellite ushered in the Space Age when the Soviet union
launched this basketball-sized satellite into a quick orbit
around the earth in 1957. The Black Russian strain used in
Sputnik is a Blackberry (Somablaze) x AK-47 (Nebu) cross that
comes from a gene pool in which every female turned solid
purple. Like a combined Russian-American space mission with
both astronauts and cosmonauts, Sputnik offers two
phenotypes, similar in growing characteristics, but very
different on the inside, in taste and stone.
Both Sputnik phenotypes perform well in indoor and outdoor
gardens, with impressive yields. Sputnik germinates very
easily. She starts slow in the vegetative phase, due to her
Blackberry influence, but grows fast once established; plants
budded at 30 inches (almost 1 meter) reach final heights just
over 4 feet (120 cm). Subcool reccomends topping these plants
in the classic candelabra shape, and binding them to expose
her lower branches to the light. “Bush” and “screen of green”
are the two best growing profiles for Sputnik. She does well in
hydro systems with plant supports. Cabinet growers will love
the way this plant maximizes yields by branching out to fill
small areas. Sputnik’s leaves are very wide, with deep
serrations; they start off dark green and tend to fade to a lime
as the plant matures.
Sputnik dislikes direct heat, and does very well in a
peripheral bud room location. Outdoors, she may not yield to
potential in cold climates. Her slow recovery from stress means
that you will need some patience to clone her. This variety
finishes in mid-September outdoors in Northern California, or
after just 8-9 weeks indoors.
The most common Sputnik phenotype favors her Black
Russian father, with red-spectrum coloration and an indica
stone. This pheno starts changing color around week five, and
shifts from light pink to vivid magenta by harvest. The purple
pheno’s buds are big, fluffy, and resinous, almost eggplantcolored, with a slightly spicy palate. Her stone is a deep, longlasting body relaxer that comes on fast.
The other phenotype leans toward the white and green
spectrum, and the blasting sativa high of Apollo 13. This pheno
is much more fragrant—a cream soda smell, with some sour
undertones as she ripens. Her buds are denser and more
nugget-like than the purple pheno’s. Her stone is a fast
involuntary smile, a euphoric flight that can leave veteran
stoners blissed out and staring at the walls. Trippy visual
effects, like seeing real trees in cartoon vision, are common.
The high is similar to the marvelous Apollo 13, but with a
sweeter taste and a slightly more psychedelic quality.
Both phenotypes give the user a strong stone with a kiss of
well-being behind it. Subcool recommends writing, thinking,
talking, music and art as good activities while in Sputnik orbit.
Appearing in public might be less easy, as you may be more
inclined to let your goofy side out to play.
