Apples and Bananas
Also known as: Apples & Bananas, A&B
Breeder: Compound Genetics (Cookies collaboration)
A multi-generational hybrid released in 2019 that helped establish Compound Genetics as a top-tier breeder. Created by Christopher Lynch (formerly Tiger Trees) in collaboration with Cookies. Combines old-school purple berry traits with modern gas-dominant cookie structures. Known for exceptional trichome density, fruit-forward terpenes, and balanced euphoric effects. A fixture on boutique dispensary menus and a proven extraction cultivar with strong hash performance. Apples and Bananas has quickly become one of the most sought-after cultivars in the modern market. Its four-way genetic background produces a remarkably complex terpene profile that genuinely delivers on its namesake: ripe banana candy, tart green apple, cookie dough, and creamy gas. The buds are dense and chunky, featuring coiled olive-green and violet leaves with sparse orange pistils and a heavy coating of white trichome frost. Effects are balanced, offering clear-headed euphoria and creative mental energy on the onset that transitions into a smooth, full-body relaxation without burnout. At moderate doses, the experience runs 2 to 4 hours. Hash yields from this strain are exceptional, typically returning 4.5 to 5.5% with outstanding flavor retention in both bubble hash and rosin.
Lineage & Genetics
Cross: ((Platinum Cookies x Granddaddy Purple) x Blue Power) x Gelatti
Platinum Cookies (Girl Scout Cookies x OG Kush pheno) contributes dessert sweetness and potency. Granddaddy Purple (Purple Urkle x Big Bud) adds deep grape/berry aromas, heavy body effects, and purple coloration genetics. Blue Power (Sour Double x Blue Moonshine x The White x Master Kush, from Sin City Seeds) brings body-effect intensity, resin density, and earthy-sour undertones. Gelatti (Gelato x Biscotti, from Cookies) delivers creamy fuel-forward complexity with a savory, nutty undertone and strong cerebral euphoria.
Terpene Profile
Myrcene —
Caryophyllene —
Limonene —
Linalool —
Pinene —
Aroma: Bold candy-sweet aroma of sliced apples, ripe bananas, and creamy banana pudding up front. Sharp gassy finish with hints of diesel, black pepper, and spice. Dessert-like richness that lingers. After a proper cure the complex apple-and-banana-gas profile locks in fully.
Flavor: Layered tropical fruit (banana, green apple, pear) with creamy dessert notes from the Gelatti parentage. Light earthy-sour undertone from the Blue Power side. Cookie sweetness from Platinum Cookies finishes the exhale. Subtle nutty, savory quality noticed by experienced consumers.
Effects & Experience
Onset: Fast-acting — euphoria lifts within minutes of the first hit. Initial wave is cerebral and uplifting with bursts of creativity and happiness.
Progressive: clear-headed euphoric onset transitions into functional physical relaxation without heavy sedation. Sparks creativity, elevates mood, and produces a calming body tone that doesn't weigh you down. Well-suited to social settings and creative projects.
Duration: Moderate to long. The euphoric peak sustains for 1–2 hours before gradually settling into a mellow, grounded body state.
Commonly Reported Uses
Grower's Notes
Apples and Bananas is a balanced hybrid (50% indica / 50% sativa) developed by Compound Genetics in collaboration with Cookies. It descends from a complex four-way cross: (Platinum Cookies x Granddaddy Purple) crossed with Blue Power, then crossed again with Gelatti. THC levels typically test between 23% and 30%, making it one of the more potent modern hybrids. The strain is known for its unique aroma of sliced apples, banana pudding, and a sharp gassy finish.
Growth Structure and Training
Indoors, Apples and Bananas flowers in 8 to 9 weeks (56 to 63 days), with some growers pushing to the full 63 days for maximum terpene development. Indoor yields in a dialed environment reach 2.0 to 2.5 pounds per light, roughly 450 to 550 g/m2. Outdoor harvests typically land in early to mid-October. The plant exhibits a moderate stretch of 50 to 60% during the first three weeks of flower, so flip timing should account for this. Overall structure is a compact hybrid frame with rock-hard, fist-sized colas at maturity.
Growth Structure and Training
Training is essential. Use topping and low-stress training (LST) or a Screen of Green (SCROG) to spread the canopy and improve airflow to lower bud sites. Tuck fan leaves under the trellis during the stretch phase and perform light under-canopy pruning to encourage vertical development. The plant responds well to silica supplementation, which strengthens stems and helps support the heavy colas that develop in mid-to-late flower.
Nutrient Management
Apples and Bananas is a moderate-to-heavy feeder. Prioritize nitrogen during vegetation, then shift to a phosphorus and potassium-heavy formula during mid-flower when bud development accelerates. Heavy PK demands in weeks four through six are typical. Maintain calcium-magnesium supplementation throughout flowering to prevent early yellowing and leaf deficiencies. Trichome production begins early and coats the developing bracts in a greasy, almost oily resin.
Environment and Climate
Environmental control is critical. Maintain daytime temperatures of 70 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit and reduce relative humidity to 40 to 45% during the final weeks of flowering to prevent mold in the dense, resinous colas. To coax out deep purple and violet hues, lower nighttime temperatures by 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit during weeks seven through nine. Flush with plain, pH-balanced water for the final 10 to 14 days to preserve terpene clarity.
Drying and Curing
Post-harvest handling matters significantly. Hang whole plants at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 60% relative humidity for 12 to 14 days. A slow dry followed by a minimum three-week cure is essential to fully lock in the complex apple and banana gas aroma. The dominant terpenes are caryophyllene, limonene, linalool, and humulene.
History & Origin
Created by Christopher Lynch, founder of Compound Genetics (a rebrand of the now-defunct Tiger Trees, founded 2016 in San Jose). Lynch spent two years in Amsterdam before returning to the US and starting his breeding career with Chemdog D and Sour Diesel IBL. Apples and Bananas was released in 2019 as a Cookies collaboration and quickly became one of the strains that put Compound Genetics on the map. It has since spawned an entire collection of crosses (68+ direct descendants cataloged on SeedFinder) and remains one of the most sought-after cuts in boutique cannabis.
Notable Crosses
Strains bred using Apples and Bananas as a parent:
Frequently Asked Questions
7 common questions about Apples and Bananas
What is Apples and Bananas and what are its genetics?
Apples and Bananas is a hybrid cannabis strain (50/50) bred by Compound Genetics (Cookies collaboration). It is a cross of ((Platinum Cookies x Granddaddy Purple) x Blue Power) x Gelatti, testing at 23–30% THC. A multi-generational hybrid released in 2019 that helped establish Compound Genetics as a top-tier breeder. Created by Christopher Lynch (formerly Tiger Trees) in collaboration with Cookies.
What does Apples and Bananas smell and taste like?
Apples and Bananas's dominant terpenes are Myrcene, Caryophyllene, Limonene. The aroma is described as bold candy-sweet aroma of sliced apples, ripe bananas, and creamy banana pudding up front. sharp gassy finish with hints of diesel, black pepper, and spice. dessert-like richness that lingers. after a proper cure the complex apple-and-banana-gas profile locks in fully.. The flavor profile features layered tropical fruit (banana, green apple, pear) with creamy dessert notes from the gelatti parentage. light earthy-sour undertone from the blue power side. cookie sweetness from platinum cookies finishes the exhale. subtle nutty, savory quality noticed by experienced consumers..
What are the effects of Apples and Bananas?
Fast-acting — euphoria lifts within minutes of the first hit. Initial wave is cerebral and uplifting with bursts of creativity and happiness. Progressive: clear-headed euphoric onset transitions into functional physical relaxation without heavy sedation. Sparks creativity, elevates mood, and produces a calming body tone that doesn't weigh you down. Duration is typically moderate to long. the euphoric peak sustains for 1–2 hours before gradually settling into a mellow, grounded body state.. Commonly reported uses include Daytime creativity, Stress relief, Mood elevation, Anxiety reduction.
How hard is Apples and Bananas to grow?
Apples and Bananas is rated moderate difficulty. It flowers in 8-9 weeks, reaches medium-tall in height, and yields 450-550 g/m² indoors. Best suited for indoor preferred environments.
What are the parent strains of Apples and Bananas?
Apples and Bananas is a cross of (Platinum Cookies x Granddaddy Purple) x Blue Power and Gelatti. Platinum Cookies (Girl Scout Cookies x OG Kush pheno) contributes dessert sweetness and potency. Granddaddy Purple (Purple Urkle x Big Bud) adds deep grape/berry aromas, heavy body effects, and purple coloration genetics.
Does Apples and Bananas turn purple?
Yes. Apples and Bananas is known to express purple coloration, with reported colors including Olive green, Deep purple, Blue hues, Orange pistils. Cooler nighttime temperatures during late flowering typically intensify anthocyanin expression.
What strains were bred from Apples and Bananas?
Apples and Bananas has been used as a parent in several notable crosses, including Tribute, A.B. Parfait, Apple Crasher, Apple Jester, A To Z. Its genetics contribute to a wide range of modern cultivars.
Sources & References (20)
- https://seedfinder.eu/en/strain-info/apples-and-bananas/compound-genetics
- https://www.strainpedia.com/apples-and-bananas/
- https://seedsherenow.com/apples-and-bananas-strain-review/
- https://avldispensary.com/strains/apples-and-bananas-strain/
- https://app.jointcommerce.com/blog/category/cannabis-101/apples-and-bananas-strain-a-comprehensive-strain-guide/
- https://coloradoharvestcompany.com/strains/apples-and-bananas/
- https://www.trophyseeds.com/product/compound-genetics-apples-bananas-s1-cookies-colab/
- Grower's Notes cultivation sources:
- https://www.strainpedia.com/apples-and-bananas/
- https://www.getseedsrighthere.com/product/apples-bananas-clone/
- https://medbud.wiki/cultivars/apples-and-bananas/
- https://avldispensary.com/strains/apples-and-bananas-strain/
- https://www.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com/strains/apples-and-bananas/
- https://www.leafly.com/strains/apples-and-bananas
- https://weedmaps.com/strains/apples-and-bananas
- https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/hybrid/apples-and-bananas
- https://www.wikileaf.com/strain/apples-and-bananas/
- https://conceptionnurseries.com/library/apples-and-bananas/
- https://www.growdiaries.com/strains/apples-and-bananas
- https://seedfinder.eu/en/strain-info/apples-and-bananas/compound-genetics
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