We’ve had this NL5 (original cut) cutting in my direct circle for over 20 years now, my friend who shared it with me got it from his mentor in Nor Cal and he had it since the early 90s. It’s an amazing plant to smoke but an even better plant to breed with if you asked me. An old friend and ex-partner and I both wanted to bring a seed version to share with others but didn’t want to outcross it to something random or “sort of close” so we waited. He got seeds of the NL5 x NL2 that Nevil made from Jim Ortega (via JJ of Top Dawg) and we knew this was our chance to finally start the work. There are a lot of stories both from Nevil himself and those that worked with him regarding the NL5(s) that he used in his breeding projects so we didn’t regard the first crossing to be a backcross. We made NL Blvd. [NL5 (original cut) x (NL5 x NL2)] and then started the back-crossing process. We stopped being partners soon after making the NL Blvd so I carried on the project that I decided to call “NL555”. Over the next few years I kept on selecting and learned a whole lot about the back crossing process, finding some really cool plants along the way. I made the back cross 3 generation and then took a break from breeding for a couple of years. Last year I was finally able to get back to it and tested the NL555 bc3 and finally started finding a lot of plants that resembled the NL5 original cut in both smell and flavor with some improvements on the plant’s structure. I have also made a version called “NL222” that is the back crossing to the NL5 x NL2 side in the hopes of being able to share those genetics as I respect other people’s hard work and don’t share or sell any of their genetics without their direct approval and blessings. It has been this way with the Destroyer and Double Thai from Cannabiogen as Charlie isn’t online (as far as I know) to get his blessings. Since I can’t share, I try to make my own crosses and versions of those genetics to share as once you start working them, they become more and more your own work.
The NL Blvd is in the f3 generation and will be taken to f4 this year and I will be making more of the NL222 as I haven’t worked on that project for about 8 years now. The NL555 has some bc4 gen seeds maturing right now and also some bc3 f2s since I don’t really know which direction to take it since I’ve pretty much fulfilled by intentions with that breeding project. I still keep some bc2 gen males around to make more bc3 seeds but I’m all the seeds I made last year are nearly gone now. I sent MeanGene some NL5 original cut flowers last year and he said that it is the only plant he’s ever seen that resembles that NL cutting that they had when he was growing up, as since they lost it, apprently everyone lost it or didn’t keep it as well. He shared with me some NL3 seeds that I’m currently looking into (pollen already collected) so we will be seeing some new NL lines in the future!
@Radicle_Reefer The NL5 original cut is difficult to describe. The flavor is pine and a funky citrus kush, old school hindu kush-like, not OG kush. The effect has an upfront heady high and then relaxes into a nice indica stoney type.
No clue on the NL3, it was a gift from Seatltle Greg’s son to MeanGenefromMendocino and he shared them with me, along with some NL4.
I smoke so much of all of them I couldn’t really tell you which is more narcotic. The NL Blvd stands apart as it has a very strong pain killing effect that is very interesting for those dealing with muscle and joint pains. It comes from the NL5 x NL2 side.
Let me clarify a bit first, it’s not NL2 x NL5. This was first mislabeled by Cannarado as he was gifted the seeds at the same time as my ex-partner. He doesn’t know much about NLs so he mislabeled them and then shared them with Bobhemphill, who just labeled them as he got them. As far as i know, there is no real old school NL2 x NL5. Nevil made NL5 x NL2 available via the Seed Bank cataloge back in 89/90. I would never release pure NL5 x NL2 unless I got the blessings directly from Jim Ortega himself, and I am not in touch with him. That is where the NL222 comes in and I will be making more this year.
@SmokingGun Thanks! That is exactly the intentions we have over here, bring back the old school genetics in new crossings, but keeping it pure old school.
@86it Happy to do so! No shade, but I always am suspicious of folks who say they have NL5 in seed form as it was never publicly released (only way would have been to have a direct connection to Nevil back in the 80s). Now if we’re talking BCSC NL5 or Sensi NL5, then I understand that, but those are well known to be back-cross projects with the NL5 cutting and they never shared what they outcrossed their projects with, so who knows how pure they are in the NL sense.
@Skywalkerf1 Thank you! I too have a love for the old school. The newer stuff just doesn’t get you there like the older stuff.
@Kazzy Thanks! I’m nearly out of NL555 bc3 beans but have some NL555 bc4 and NL555 bc3 f2s maturing at the moment. I’ll share some testers with those interested as I’m trying to get genuine NL genetics back out there, as they are amazing.
Bc seeds stock they got from Nevil kicks about still seedstockers in Spain offer a S1 of the 5x2 from them they ain’t the only one there’s a few company’s offering it but none in reg form
@3bombedmice Sorry but I don’t understand. “bc” is shorthand for “back-cross” ergo the bc3, being back-cross 3, the third generation in a back crossing.
@Conor_c I’m sure there are a lot of folks out there offering reproductions of Nevil’s lines, like you mentioned, an S1 of his NL5 x NL2.
My NL5 x NL2 has been taken 3 generations since it’s been with me, no idea how many Jim Ortega took them before I got them.
Personally I respect other people’s hard work and dedication and would not sell their direct work (or reproductions) without their direct blessings. That’s just me and my morals, let others do as they please. Even releasing an f1 cross feels iffy to me as I haven’t done any real work aside chuck some pollen. F2 and beyond is fine. Sharing is a whole other subject, sharing with friends for free is cool, but profiting from other’s work just doesn’t sit right.
