Donkey Kong
Breeder: Prime Cuts
Based on the legendary Gorilla Glue #4, Donkey Kong is a powerful sativa-dominant hybrid known for incredible resin production and high THC content. The buds are absolutely caked in trichomes with massive yields. The undisclosed parent contributes sativa-dominant structure, enhanced lateral branching, and chocolate terpene amplification. Donkey Kong was hunted in-house by Prime Cuts Nursery from original GG#4 seeds and crossed with a proprietary undisclosed genetic. It is distinct from the unrelated "Donkey Kong" by 3rd Coast Genetics (Grease Monkey x Pure Michigan). Prime Cuts clones are HLVd-tested clean through AL&L Agricultural Labs with multi-stage quarantine protocols.
Lineage & Genetics
Cross: GG#4 x Undisclosed
GG#4 (Joesy Whales) from a cross of Chem's Sister x Sour Dubb x Chocolate Diesel — one of the most decorated cultivars of the modern era with extreme resin production at 25–30% THC. The undisclosed parent likely contributes sativa structure and chocolate terpene amplification, possibly Chocolate Thai or Chocolate Diesel derivative.
Terpene Profile
Caryophyllene — Gas, pepper, and diesel providing spicy fuel backbone
Pinene — Pine, conifer, and fresh wood providing sharp top-note
Myrcene — Earth, musk, and chocolate providing body relaxation
Humulene — Woody and hoppy depth
Aroma: Chocolate and pine resin dominance with intensifying gas/diesel. Almost cacao nibs or espresso quality. Breaking open a bud releases a wave of gas.
Flavor: Chocolate and pine on inhale with gas and pepper on exhale. Clean white ash when properly flushed. Chocolate notes deepen significantly with 6–8 week cure.
Effects & Experience
Onset: Fast within 2–5 minutes — rapid cerebral activation with significant pinene.
Heady, creative, and energizing initial rush with euphoria and productive focus. GG#4's indica genetics express as deep muscular calm without couch-lock. Gentle fade into contentment and appetite stimulation.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Commonly Reported Uses
Grower's Notes
Donkey Kong is a proprietary Prime Cuts Nursery cultivar hunted in-house from original GG#4 (Gorilla Glue #4) seeds and crossed with an undisclosed Prime Cuts exclusive genetic. Classified as a 70/30 sativa-dominant hybrid, it inherits GG4\'s legendary resin production while reportedly improving on structure and mildew resistance. Because the second parent is undisclosed, much of what follows draws heavily from confirmed GG4 growing characteristics supplemented by first-party breeder statements from Prime Cuts co-founder Andrew Thurber.
Growth habit and structure
Expect vigorous vegetative growth with strong lateral branching inherited from GG4. GG4 is known for an aggressive stretch during the first three weeks of flower—often doubling in height—so plan accordingly by topping early and keeping veg time to four to six weeks indoors. Thurber specifically describes Donkey Kong as stacking "from top to bottom with nice dense, even nugs, no larf," suggesting tighter internode spacing and better bud-site distribution than typical GG4 phenotypes. This uniform stacking makes it an excellent candidate for SCROG, LST, and trellis netting. Support structures are essential: GG4-lineage plants produce heavy, resin-laden colas that will snap unsupported branches in late flower.
Flowering and yield
Prime Cuts lists an 8-to-9-week flowering period, consistent with GG4\'s 56-to-63-day indoor window. Yield is described as "massive" by the breeder. Extrapolating from GG4 data, indoor growers running optimized LED setups should target 500 to 700+ g/m2, while outdoor plants in warm, dry climates can push 600 to 1,000+ grams per plant with a full season. Training methods (topping, SCROG, heavy defoliation at flip) are critical to hitting the upper range.
Nutrients and media
GG4 is a moderate-to-heavy feeder, and Donkey Kong likely follows suit. In coco or hydro, target EC of 1.2 to 1.6 mS/cm in veg, ramping to 1.8 to 2.4 mS/cm during peak flower (weeks 4 through 7), with a flush down to 0.4 to 0.6 EC in the final one to two weeks. Boost P-K in mid-flower at a roughly 2:3 P:K ratio relative to N. CalMag supplementation is essential throughout—GG4 lineages are notoriously prone to magnesium deficiency, presenting as interveinal yellowing on mid-canopy leaves. Soil pH should be maintained at 6.0 to 6.8; coco/hydro at 5.8 to 6.2.
Environment and light
Donkey Kong thrives indoors, in greenhouses, and outdoors in warm Mediterranean-style climates. Target 800 to 1,000 PPFD during flower, pushing to 1,000 to 1,200 PPFD with CO2 supplementation at 700 to 1,200 ppm. DLI in flower should land between 35 and 50 mol/m2/day. Keep temperatures at 20 to 26C lights-on and 18 to 20C lights-off, with RH at 50 to 55% in early flower dropping to 40 to 45% by the final two weeks. Nighttime dew-point buffer should be at least 6 to 8C to prevent condensation on dense colas.
Pest, disease, and stability
Thurber explicitly states Donkey Kong is "PM resist" (powdery mildew resistant), which is a notable improvement over standard GG4 phenotypes that carry moderate PM susceptibility. However, the dense bud structure inherited from GG4 makes botrytis (bud rot) the primary threat—aggressive defoliation, strong canopy airflow, and strict humidity control in late flower are non-negotiable. GG4\'s origin involved an accidental hermaphrodite pollination; modern stabilized cuts are reliable, but light leaks, extreme temperature swings, or heavy stress can still trigger intersex traits. Maintain strict environmental control.
Wash and extraction
Thurber confirms Donkey Kong "does great for washing and flower production." GG4 is a benchmark hash-washing cultivar, with flower rosin yields of 20 to 26% and trichome heads that release cleanly under ice-water agitation. Hash rosin from premium bubble hash yields 60 to 80% by weight. Expect Donkey Kong to perform at or above these benchmarks given its described resin output. The dominant terpenes—beta-caryophyllene, limonene, and alpha-humulene—carry well through solventless extraction.
Drying and curing
Dense, resin-heavy GG4-lineage buds demand a careful dry. Hang trimmed branches in a dark room at 15 to 21C and 45 to 55% RH for 7 to 14 days; stems should snap cleanly before jarring. Cure in airtight glass jars at 60 to 65% RH (Boveda 62 packs recommended), burping twice daily for the first 7 to 10 days, then reducing to daily through week four. A minimum four-to-six-week cure is strongly recommended to fully develop the chocolate, pine, and gas terpene expression this cultivar is known for.
History & Origin
Prime Cuts Nursery in-house bred strain from Sonoma County. Based on the legendary GG#4 which was created by Joesy Whales from a serendipitous cross. Prime Cuts crossed it with an undisclosed parent to create a sativa-dominant expression that amplifies chocolate terpenes and lateral branching while maintaining legendary resin production.
Frequently Asked Questions
5 common questions about Donkey Kong
What is Donkey Kong and what are its genetics?
Donkey Kong is a sativa cannabis strain (70% Sativa / 30% Indica) bred by Prime Cuts. It is a cross of GG#4 x Undisclosed, testing at 28%+ THC. Based on the legendary Gorilla Glue #4, Donkey Kong is a powerful sativa-dominant hybrid known for incredible resin production and high THC content. The buds are absolutely caked in trichomes with massive yields.
What does Donkey Kong smell and taste like?
Donkey Kong's dominant terpenes are Caryophyllene, Pinene. The aroma is described as chocolate and pine resin dominance with intensifying gas/diesel. almost cacao nibs or espresso quality. breaking open a bud releases a wave of gas.. The flavor profile features chocolate and pine on inhale with gas and pepper on exhale. clean white ash when properly flushed. chocolate notes deepen significantly with 6–8 week cure..
What are the effects of Donkey Kong?
Fast within 2–5 minutes — rapid cerebral activation with significant pinene. Heady, creative, and energizing initial rush with euphoria and productive focus. GG#4's indica genetics express as deep muscular calm without couch-lock. Duration is typically 2–3 hours. Commonly reported uses include Chronic pain, Depression, Fatigue, Appetite stimulation.
How hard is Donkey Kong to grow?
Donkey Kong is rated moderate difficulty. It flowers in 8–9 weeks, reaches medium-tall (4-6 ft indoor) in height, and yields 500–700 g/m² indoors. Best suited for indoor, greenhouse, outdoor environments.
What are the parent strains of Donkey Kong?
Donkey Kong is a cross of GG4. GG#4 (Joesy Whales) from a cross of Chem's Sister x Sour Dubb x Chocolate Diesel — one of the most decorated cultivars of the modern era with extreme resin production at 25–30% THC. The undisclosed parent likely contributes sativa structure and chocolate terpene amplification, possibly Chocolate Thai or Chocolate Diesel derivative..
Sources & References (26)
- Grower's Notes cultivation sources:
- Prime Cuts Nursery — Donkey Kong product page (lineage, THC, flowering time, yield, terpenes) — https://www.primecutsnursery.com/donkey-kong-cannabis-clones
- Prime Cuts Nursery — Clone strain menu (full catalog listing with Donkey Kong specs) — https://www.primecutsnursery.com/clone-menu
- Andrew Thurber (Prime Cuts co-founder) LinkedIn post — first-party breeder notes on yield, structure, PM resistance, wash suitability — https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrew-thurber-b0074026b_donkey-kong-this-in-house-hunted-strain-activity-7221255809672835072-yO8e
- Plantshop — Donkey Kong clone listing (confirms specs from Prime Cuts) — https://plantshop.co/menu/products/prime-cuts-159013/plant/donkey-kong-clone-1086531/
- JointCommerce — Donkey Kong comprehensive strain guide (general phenotype and terpene data) — https://app.jointcommerce.com/blog/category/cannabis-101/donkey-kong-strain-a-comprehensive-strain-guide/
- Grow Guide — GG4 grow guide (EC targets, PPFD ranges, stretch data, dry/cure protocol) — https://growguide.app/blog/gg4-strain-grow-guide-for-maximum-resin-and-yield/
- Strain Guide — GG4 effects, terpenes, THC, and grow guide (flowering timeline, yield data, nutrient needs) — https://strainguide.app/blog/gg4-strain-effects-terpenes-thc-grow-guide/
- Aussie Hemp Seeds — Gorilla Glue grow guide (yield, flowering time, feeding, training) — https://aussiehempseeds.com/blog/gorilla-glue-strain/
- Cheef Botanicals — GG4 strain guide (indoor/outdoor yield, height, training) — https://cheefbotanicals.us.com/blogs/flower-guides/gg4-strain
- STIIIZY — Gorilla Glue strain review (cultivation tips, yield, flowering time) — https://www.stiiizy.com/blogs/learn/gorilla-glue-strain
- Strainpedia — Gorilla Glue #4 (botanical profile, grow notes, PM/botrytis risk) — https://www.strainpedia.com/gorilla-glue-4/
- DSS Genetics — GG4 complete encyclopedia (origin story, hermaphrodite history, breeding influence) — https://dssgenetics.com/strains/gorilla-glue
- JointCommerce — Gorilla Glue comprehensive strain guide (nutrition EC targets, PPFD/DLI, CO2 response) — https://app.jointcommerce.com/blog/category/cannabis-101/gorillaglue-strain-a-comprehensive-strain-guide/
- Strainpedia — GG4 strain page (grow parameters, support needs, mold risk, finish timing) — https://www.strainpedia.com/gg4/
- Herb — 12 best strains for rosin pressing (GG4 flower rosin yield 20-26%, pressing temps, micron bags) — https://herb.co/strains-sense/best-weed-strains-for-rosin
- Calm Leaf — Guide to hash rosin (wash yields, bubble hash to rosin conversion rates, freeze drying) — https://www.thecalmleaf.com/blog/your-guide-to-the-world-of-hash-rosin/
- WKU Consulting — Hash rosin SOP (bubble hash yields, pressing temps, micron grades) — https://cannalabsconsulting.com/hash-rosin-press-bubble-hash-sop/
- Greenhouse Product News — Cannabis lighting guide (PPFD, DLI, CO2 supplementation thresholds) — https://gpnmag.com/article/what-to-know-about-lighting-cannabis-from-a-former-greenhouse-cultivator/
- Royal King Seeds — Cannabis light phases guide (DLI calculations, CO2 saturation points) — https://royalkingseeds.us/blog/cannabis-growing-lights-and-phases
- Cannabis.es — Anthocyanin pigmentation and cold-induced purple expression in cannabis — https://www.cannabis.es/pw/en/2019/12/04/blue-red-or-purple-pigmentation-of-cannabis-plants-against-the-cold/
- GrowWeedEasy Forum — GG4 first grow journal (purple expression, flowering timeline, humidity management) — https://forum.growweedeasy.com/forum/growing-community/166508-my-first-grow-gorilla-glue-4/page2
- True to Plant — Bud rot prevention guide (dense bud management, humidity targets, defoliation) — https://truetoplant.com/cannabis-bud-rot-prevention-treatment-guide/
- Green Avenger Seeds — Dew point vs bud rot guide (nighttime humidity, temperature buffer calculations) — https://www.greenavengerseeds.com/dew-point-vs-bud-rot-a-growers-guide-to-nighttime-safety/
- Leafly — Donkey Kong strain page (consumer reviews, effects) — https://www.leafly.com/strains/donkey-kong
- Pacific Stone — GG4 complete guide (genetics, effects, bud appearance, terpene profile) — https://pacificstonebrand.com/gorilla-glue/
Want to Grow Donkey Kong?
Check our genetics menu for available clones or call us to discuss your growing needs.