What is an Heirloom Vegetable Plant?

An heirloom (heritage) is an older variety plant produced from open-pollinated seed. These plants have not been genetically or chemically altered. They grow “true to type”, which means when seed is gathered from the plant in the fall and properly stored they can be planted in spring and produce another plant just like the parent. This will allow the same cultivar to be grown from seed and handed down for many generations.

There are many opinions as to how old a variety must be to be considered an heirloom. Some consider 1951 to be the last year as that is when widespread introduction of hybrids started. Many varieties are 100 to 150 years old and some are much older. Some varieties may be much older than recorded as tracing seed lines vast distances, some ancestries go through Asia, Africa and pre-Victorian Europe, poses difficulty with languages and recordkeeping practices.

Some gardeners consider all old-time varieties to be heirlooms while others will exclude varieties listed in seed trade catalogues. This greatly limits the varieties to those grown in backyards and passed to others by hand. Regardless of age or catalogue listings if a plant is grown widely and commercially it is not considered an heirloom.

The heirlooms I grow are all open-pollinated and chemical free. I have always purchased from heirloom growers and do not knowingly buy non-heirlooms, the growers I purchase from have the same policies. While the date of a variety may indicate more recent than 1951, this may be the first year listed in North American seed catalogues but has been known in other parts of the world previously. Where the history of a variety is available I include the information and those with little information I am researching further through other growers, historical catalogues and antique gardening books. I also indicate whether a variety is Rare or Endangered and attempt to offer you as much information as possible so you can feel confident in the choices you make.

There is great concern over the ongoing reduction in bio-genetic diversity. In the last 100 years we have lost 90% of our vegetable varieties. This is a serious loss in diversity. The remainder of our varieties must be preserved in the face of hybrids and genetically altered varieties.

Before the agricultural methods of today, produce grown acre upon acre with extremely limited variety, we had a vastly wider choice. Varieties are now produced solely for the market with the main consideration focused on the food handling, mega-machine harvesting, cross country transportation, the ability to tolerate chemical pesticides and have a consistent, unblemished look at market. A former research associate with the Biochemical Institute at the University of Texas, Austin, Donald R. Davis indicates the grocery stores shiny, unmarked, big and perfect looking vegetables are between 5% to 40% lower in minerals of magnesium, zinc, calcium and iron than the produce of 50 years ago.

The difference is the massive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Crops are often picked immature to ripen in transport. This important time of final growth and ripening done without any water, nutrients or life altering sunshine. This selective breeding and hybridization for volume has also led to declines in protein, amino acids, six minerals and thousands of phytochemicals.

By growing an older variety you will help preserve our vegetable heritage in a sustainable garden, collecting seeds from your heirlooms to sow next year’s garden. The only time you would need to purchase another plant is for a new variety. Combined gardening practices where friends and family also grow heirlooms allows for the exchange of seeds as well as the overflow from productive gardens. Heirlooms are often resistant to local pests, diseases and extremes of weather as they have adapted naturally to the climate and soil in which they were grown.

Growing an heirloom plant is a wonderful way to try new and unusual flavours, colours and shapes. We grow these varieties for taste. Many people become backyard growers because they remember vegetables from the gardens of relatives or neighbours and the incredible flavour. There are heirloom varieties from many different countries, some of us may remember these from childhood or from the memories of exotic travels. As many reasons to look for and grow heirlooms there are varieties to fill your wishes.

Heirlooms protect against further lose of diversity in our food source and the danger it poses to the security of the future food supply. Health benefits of traditional organic gardening range through increased vitamin and mineral content to the stress lowering activity of puttering in a garden. Growing a rare or endangered plant gives a sense of accomplishment, watching a struggling variety thrive in your hands. Experiencing the flavour of a healthy vegetable and knowing you have a sustainable garden, a yearly garden without any further cost, regardless of the increased produce prices in our markets. The benefits are undeniable.

Grow strong, Live long.

Susan

On to companion planting