Heirloom seeds come from plants passed down through generations. These seeds help keep cultural history alive, connecting us with ancestors who also grew these plants. It is like bringing the past back to life. Heirloom seeds are no less than 50 years old and often the plant varieties were developed before World War II. An heirloom seed could potentially grow the same variety of plant that was grown in Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello garden.
In addition to connecting us with a colorful past, there are other advantages of using heirloom seeds. Fruits and vegetables grown from heirloom seeds have better flavor and more nutrition than commercial fruits and vegetables. Flavor and nutrition are sacrificed to create a hybrid plant that is more commercially viable. When a plant is allowed to grow slower the fruits and vegetables have more time to create more nutrients. This is why heirloom plants capture the flavors of the past. This can be proven by comparing the taste of a home-grown heirloom tomato with a store-bought tomato. The taste is notably different
Heirloom seeds are open-pollinated through natural pollinations from insects, birds, and wind. These plants grow the same way each year, their genetic makeup remains unchanged for generations. Hybrid seeds are bred to increase specific characteristics of the plants they create. It is not practical to save the seeds from hybrid plants because the seeds are very unpredictable. The second generation of hybrid plants will not be the same as the first. The second generation of hybrid plants may not even produce seeds.
Hybrid plants grow faster and produce faster. These seeds will rapidly produce a high yield the first year but the crop will come in all at once. For avid canners this can cause problems. It is much easier to can heirloom produce as it comes in slower and is easier to manage.
There are a number of online heirloom seed companies. Homestead and Gardening (Themakinglife.com) lists several of the top heirloom seed companies as:
Seeds for Generations – a small family-owned company (affiliated with Homestead and Gardening).
Baker Creek Seeds – family-owned, free and fast shipping.
True Leaf Market – good selection of heirloom and organic but does offer hybrid seeds.
Gardener’s Basics – all seeds and seed collections are heirloom but not organic.
Mary’s Heirloom Seeds at A Glance – small business, woman owned.
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