What are heirloom seeds anyway? It's a question many have been asking–and once they know, it's something they'd be proud to have!
Heirloom Seeds | Preserving Your Heritage
An heirloom is anything valuable to a family, group or person, handed down from generation to generation. It could be some old china, silver, furniture, or even seeds. Generally, an heirloom is anything considered as worthy passing down a legacy. Taking this definition into consideration, an heirloom seed, therefore, is a seed from a plant that has been carried from one generation to generation, prudently grown and saved because it is intended to be valuable. An heirloom seed is a treasure.
Value of Heirloom Seeds
The value of an heirloom seed could be its flavor, hardiness, productivity or adaptability. Many heirlooms have been grown, saved and transferred for centuries, having been valued by generations and generations of people and families. Some believe that heirloom seeds provide the original, high-nutrient diversities and traditional strains our ancestors used for hundreds of years. Some strains go back biblical and pre-historic times.
But What’s All This Fuss About Heirloom Seeds
Unlike hybrid seeds which have lost their genetic diversity during the breeding process, heirloom seeds are like genetic diversity banks that maintain many unique genes from generation to generation (which are often lost due to the development of more and more hybrid plants). This is because an heirloom seed is obtained from open-pollination, and the produced seed typically looks a lot like the parent. In other words, you can usually collect seeds from heirloom plants (plants are grown with heirloom seed) and obtain offspring that resemble the parent plants. This gives it its unique tastes, textures, smells, forms, and other unique traits.
Heirloom Seed Downsides
The downside of heirloom seeds are, admittedly, they usually would not give the brightest blooms, the most disease-resistant vegetables, perfectly round fruits, and many of the flashy bells and whistles seen on hybrid plants. But that’s the beauty of heirloom seeds: less predictability, more charm, and uniqueness in its own special way.
Want some tips on how to start heirloom seeds indoors? Check out this video from Becky's Homestead:
That’s all, fellow homesteaders! Find your own heirloom seeds from your relatives, neighbors, or friends, and enjoy the wonderful experience of growing something that has grown and enjoyed well before your time. You can also buy some online, sites recommended here.
Did you enjoy this information about heirloom seeds? Let us know in the comments section below.
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This post was originally published in April 2015 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
I use to have some been seeds with spots on them that were given to me by a late uncle of mine i do believe they some sort of pole been but i am not sure can you help . Steven Stewart , [email protected]
It is May 2017. I have been looking around for Heirloom seeds of all kinds. What I have found will astound you and I hope will motivate you into storing seeds as you eat and grow them. There are corporations that are corning the market with their own brand of seeds and plants. These have been genetically modified to grow and NOT reproduce like the seedless watermelons or corn that you find in the grocery stores. These fruits and vegetables are usually tasteless monstrosities that you will be forced to feed your family. Their nutrition is held into question.
If these corporations are allowed to eliminate free seeds and heirloom seeds; then you will be held at their mercy. Only those of us that saw the handwriting on the wall will be able to break their hold. The only way you can break their hold is to save your own heirloom seeds. For example, when I say tomatoes, what comes to your mind? Big red delicious tomatoes, right? What if I told you that there are over 100 different varieties of tomatoes that range from yellows, blues, back, and reds? Wouldn’t it be worth while having all these different varieties available to grow according to your needs and tastes? What about the other fruits and vegetables and their different strains?
There is nothing like the self-satisfaction that you get when you grow your own food. Not all areas can support the same varieties of vegetables; that is why there are so many different varieties. Wouldn’t be so nice that no one goes hungry because they grew their own foods? You can help supplement your own food and lesson your grocery bill if only you grew your own foods. The taste will be greater, the bounty greater, and your bragging rights are yours to spread throughout your family and friends. The nice thing you will end up with is a surplus that you can share with your family and friends and the cost is FREE.
Just remember to save your seeds so that you can plant your garden next year and the year afterwards.