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What are Heirloom seeds?


AND WHY HEIRLOOM SEEDS


Most gardeners have heard of heirloom seeds and probably have a fairly good idea what they are.  There are three traits that really set heirloom produce apart from commercially grown produce: age, pollination, and quality.

Unlike the commercially grown vegetables you find at the grocery store, heirloom vegetables are grown from seeds that have been passed down through the generations, typically at least 50 years. (Although, many varieties are actually much older than that.) Some experts classify heirlooms as vegetables introduced before 1951, the time when plant breeders first introduced hybrids. 

Heirloom vegetables are also open-pollinated — meaning that pollination happens totally naturally, with no outside assistance. It relies on natural pollination from insects and the wind.   All heirloom varieties are open pollinated but not all open pollinated varieties are heirlooms.  For practical planting purposes, heirlooms and modern open pollinated varieties can be treated much the same way. In both cases one can save seeds for replanting the following season and expect a relatively true breeding line. If you are looking for varieties that are naturally produced, breed true and seeds can be saved then both open pollinated and heirloom varieties will work for you.  To keep a heirloom seed strain pure, it is important to select seeds from plants producing traits that are in line with the original variety. 

Heirlooms have become increasingly popular, not just for their connection to the past, but for their outstanding flavour and traits that are not seen in many commercially available hybrids. The wealth of genetic resources contained in all of the heirloom varieties around the world is breathtaking! Heirlooms have given us purple tomatoes, yellow carrots, brown cucumbers, plus countless other unique traits you won't find in the produce at your local grocery store. Benefits of heirlooms are their time proven attributes such as superior flavour, colour, size, and production.  

To completely preserve the quality of an heirloom, it’s best, especially for the small home gardener, to plant only one variety of a species at any one time to prevent cross over.   Choose the healthiest, most productive and tastiest plants to save seed from before harvesting the entire crop. Allow seeds to ripen prior to harvesting, as they are more likely to produce healthier plants. Then bring the seeds indoors to continue to dry. Label them clearly with the date and variety. Three to five years shelf life is ideal for most dry seeds stored in a sealed glass jar in a cool, dry area. Silica gel packs will aid in keeping the seeds dry.

There’s a reason that hybrid plants became so popular. Heirloom vegetables and fruit often don’t have the disease resistance that hybrid plants are purposefully created to combat. That said, it should in no way deter you from getting out there and growing heirloom plants..



Till' next time xo
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