3.2 Soil and climate

Three groups of hemp varieties can be distinguished worldwide: European, American and Asian varieties. Some cultivars, incidentally, thrive on more than one continent. Within Europe, there are three regions where specific varieties have been developed: North-West Europe, Mediterranean Europe and Central-East Europe. Some varieties were purposefully developed for a continental climate with harsher winters and wet hot summers. Others for cultivation under Mediterranean conditions, characterised by dry summers. Again, some varieties are performative in more than one region. Before choosing a cultivar, it is important to understand its suitability for the specific environment in terms of climate, soil and intensity of cultivation support.

Roughly speaking, hemp varieties can be distinguished into early and late flowering, and cultivation and harvesting methods are also determined by this. The time of flowering is not dependent on the sowing time, but on the cultivar, the altitude and the climate. An early harvest is desirable for textiles and flower contents, a late harvest for seed extraction and high fibre yield.