LIT Farms: The Formula 1 Team
LIT Farms: The Formula 1 Team
🔍 Meta-Search Description
LIT Farms (Lost In Translation) Seed Bank review:
Founded: ~2018 Founder: Ray Schiavone (Tahoe Hydroponics) Location: Reno, Nevada / California Specialty: High-Potency "Gas" Strains, Red Velvet Lineage, "Loud" Terpenes Reputation Tier: S-Class (The High Performance)
🏎️ The Executive Summary
If Seed Junky is the engine manufacturer, LIT Farms (Lost In Translation) is the Formula 1 Racing Team.
Founded by Ray Schiavone, the mastermind behind the award-winning Tahoe Hydroponics, LIT Farms operates with a level of commercial precision rarely seen in the breeder world. They are not just tossing pollen in a garage; they are running massive, state-of-the-art facilities in Nevada and California designed to hunt for the highest testing, loudest smelling plants on Earth.
LIT Farms is best known for two things: Red Velvet and Collaboration. They have heavily utilized genetics from Grandiflora (like Project 4516 and E85) and refined them into stable seed lines for the home grower. Their aesthetic is "High Performance"—everything is built for speed, potency, and bag appeal. They are the bridge between the "Hype" of the Bay Area and the "Scale" of commercial cultivation.
🧬 The Differentiator: The "Red" & "Fuel" Lines
Dessert meets Gasoline.
LIT Farms dominates two specific flavor profiles in the modern market:
The Red Velvet Line: LIT Farms popularized the "Red" terpene profile. Their flagship strain, Red Velvet (Lemon Cherry Gelato x Pina Acai), introduced a unique mix of floral, cinnamon, and red berry notes that was completely distinct from the standard Runtz/Gelato candy profile.
The Formula 1 (Fuel) Line: Ray Schiavone is obsessed with "Gas." Through strains like E85 and LIT OG, they prioritize the harsh, biting, chemical fuel terpenes that heavy smokers crave. They treat THC percentage like horsepower—if it doesn't test over 28%, it doesn't make the cut.
🚜 Breeding Methodology: The "Scale" Advantage
LIT Farms has a unique advantage: Tahoe Hydroponics.
Massive Pheno-Hunts: Because they own one of the most awarded cultivation facilities in Nevada, LIT Farms can hunt through thousands of seeds in a commercial environment. This means their "Keeper" cuts have already been stress-tested in a high-intensity grow room before they are ever bred for seeds.
Grandiflora Partnership: LIT Farms has a symbiotic relationship with Grandiflora Genetics (Mark McCafferty). You will often see Grandiflora cuts (like Project 4516) used as the male in LIT Farms projects. This gives LIT access to some of the most exclusive genetics in Oakland before the public ever sees them.
Feminized Focus: They cater to the production grower. Almost their entire catalog is Feminized, ensuring that every square foot of canopy is producing flower.
🏆 The Strain Catalog (33+ Cultivars)
LIT Farms' catalog is a showcase of modern power. Below is the authoritative list.
The "Red Velvet" Line (The Flagship)
Red Velvet: Lemon Cherry Gelato x Pina Acai. The icon. Red berries, cinnamon, and cream.
Red Velvet Runtz: Red Velvet x Runtz. Adds candy sweetness to the floral velvet profile.
Velvet Heat: Red Velvet x Project 4516. Dark purple color with intense chemical gas.
Red Velvet Gary: Red Velvet x Gary Payton. High yield, savory terpenes.
Strawberry Gary: Red Velvet x Gary Payton (Pheno selection). Tastes like artificial strawberry candy.
Velvet Lushers: Red Velvet x Gushers. Exploding with fruit juice terpenes.
Cherry Dosidos: Red Velvet x Dosidos. Heavy sedation with a tart cherry finish.
Bangkok: Red Velvet x Thai Landrace (Experimental). A rare Sativa influence.
The "Permanent Marker" & "Zoap" Era
LIT Marker: Permanent Marker x LIT OG. The modern champion. Sharpie fumes mixed with lemon kush.
Permanent Marker S1: The stabilized seed version of the Strain of the Year.
Sharpiez: Permanent Marker x Zoap. Floral soap mixed with chemical markers.
Zoap S1: The seed version of the DEO Farms classic. Smells like luxury hand soap.
Pink Kitty: Pink Runtz x Permanent Marker.
Marker OG: Permanent Marker x OG Kush.
Magic Marker: Permanent Marker x RS11.
The "Formula 1" & Gas Line
E85: (Grandiflora Collab). Wedding Cake x Project 4516. Pure ethanol fuel.
LIT OG: Their proprietary OG Kush selection. Lemon, pine, and high-test gasoline.
Motorbreath 15: (Pisces/Chemdog). Preserved and worked by LIT for maximum potency.
Hot Rod: Motorbreath x Grandpa’s Breath. Old school funk meets new school power.
Gas Cream: GMO x Project 4516. Savory garlic mixed with sweet fuel.
Petrol Pie: Grape Pie x Project 4516. Fruit on the inhale, gas on the exhale.
Runway: Project 4516 x Runtz.
Project 4516 S1: The seed version of the Grandiflora mystery cut. Purple, gassy, and strong.
The "LIT" Exotics (Dessert & Fruit)
WAP: Cheesecake x Project 4516. Sweet, creamy, and incredibly frosty.
LIT Farms Melon: Watermelon Zkittlez x LIT OG.
Temons: Lemon Tree x Runtz. Sour citrus candy.
Apple Banana Zoap: Apples & Bananas x Zoap. A complex fruit salad.
Bubble Bath: The Soap x Project 4516. Clean, floral, and potent.
Gummy Buns: Biscotti x Grease Monkey. Sticky, doughy, and sweet.
Rainbow Saltz: Zkittlez x (Unknown). A salty/sweet candy profile.
Mac 1 v2: Miracle Alien Cookies refined for yield.
Temptation: Ice Cream Cake x Project 4516.
Cream N Tina: (Exotic Genetix lineage worked by LIT).
❓ FAQ: LIT Farms
Q: Is LIT Farms the same as Grandiflora? A: No. They are separate entities. However, they are close partners. LIT Farms often "powers" the breeding for Grandiflora or utilizes Grandiflora's elite cuts (like Project 4516 and E85) as the basis for their own seed lines.
Q: What is "Project 4516"? A: It is a mysterious, high-purple strain bred by Grandiflora (often rumored to be Gelato 45 x Platinum Puff). It is used by LIT Farms as a "Male" (reversed female) in many crosses because it adds incredible purple color and density without overpowering the flavor of the mother.
Q: Are LIT Farms seeds good for beginners? A: Yes. Because they breed for commercial facilities (Tahoe Hydroponics), their strains are selected for Vigor and Yield. They are generally easier to grow and less finicky than ultra-rare boutique lines, as they are designed to perform at scale.
Q: What does "LIT" stand for? A: Lost In Translation. It represents the idea that the "feeling" of the plant often gets lost in the modern industry, and they aim to bring that soul back through superior genetics.
🏁 The Architect's Verdict
LIT Farms is the Formula 1 Team. They are built for speed and power.
They are the perfect breeder for the Commercial Home Grower and the Gas Lover. If you want a tent full of plants that look like they belong in a dispensary jar—dark purple, covered in white frost, and smelling like a gas station—you grow LIT Farms. They deliver the "California Look" more consistently than almost anyone else.
Score: 9.6/10 Best For: "Red" Terpenes, High THC, and Commercial-Grade Yields.