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  • From: "TradingPostPaul" <tradingpost@riseup.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Why grow heirlooms?
  • Date: Sun, 27 May 2007 15:04:51 -0600


Why grow heirlooms?
http://www.heirloomseeds.com/history.htm

Remember those tomatoes your Grandmother grew, or the ones that the farmer
down the road used to sell at his roadside stand? With the advent of
hybrid seeds, the older open-pollinated varieties are getting harder to
find. While the hybrids have many advantages (disease resistance, greater
productivity, more uniform fruit, etc.) they just can't match the heirlooms
for taste, and isn't that why you grow your own vegetables? With a little
extra care and planning, the heirloom varieties can do just as well as the
hybrids in your backyard garden. As for flower varieties, many of today's
nurseries consistently offer the same varieties year after year, with
little variation. The older varieties seem to have taken a back seat to
the newer, flashier varieties. This year, why not try some of the simple
old fashioned varieties in your garden? We think you will be pleasantly
surprised! Don't forget to plant a few herbs, as well. They'll complement
your fresh produce nicely on the dinner table. After tasting your own
freshly picked herbs, you'll readily agree to their superior taste! Once
you try them, you'll always insist on growing your own!!

What exactly is an heirloom variety?

Sorry to say, but there is no "exact" definition for this term. In fact,
there have been entire books dedicated to this subject and still there is
no agreement between gardeners as to what constitutes an heirloom and what
does not.

First, lets try to cover what everyone agrees on. Heirlooms are always
open-pollinated varieties. This means that if the seeds produced from the
plant are properly saved, they will produce the same variety year after
year. This cannot be done with hybrids, which are a cross between two
separate varieties, as the seed produced from those plants will either be
sterile, or start to revert back to the parent plants.

The next part of the definition starts to get a little fuzzy. Most
gardeners agree that heirloom varieties should be at least 50 years old.
But can a variety that is 48 or 49 years old be eliminated from this group,
but then be eligible 1 or 2 years later? And what about an improved
variety of an old favorite? We'll let the so called "experts" argue about
this one!

Lastly, many gardeners think there should be some history behind the
variety, perhaps a story on a variety's introduction, some ethnic
background or a tie to a certain time in history. Part of the joy of
growing heirlooms is discovering these stories behind the seeds. But in
some cases, the early history of some seeds is not known. Should these
varieties be eliminated from the group? Many heirloom gardeners will only
grow varieties introduced outside the seed trade. What about the older
varieties that were originally introduced by professional plant breeders
over 100 years ago? Would it be fair to eliminate all of these varieties
from the group?

In conclusion, we believe gardening should be fun. So, how strict you want
your definition to be is purely a personal matter. Choose the varieties
that seem the most interesting to you! Keep growing your old favorites,
but make sure to include a few different ones each year. You may find
varieties you like even more!






  • [Livingontheland] Why grow heirlooms?, TradingPostPaul, 05/27/2007

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