In a previous post I explained that I purchased primarily heirloom organic seeds, but a reader has pointed out that I never truly explained why I felt this was important. I have read many articles and books on the subject and therefore could probably write an essay’s worth of explanation, but I will try to summarize shortly below by explaining what each characteristic is and why it is important to me.

Image by Steven Depolo

Important Characteristics of Seed

Heirloom – Heirlooms are the traditional varieties that have been grown and selected for their desirable traits, passed on from one generation to the next. They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, textures and flavors. Typically, heirlooms have adapted over time to whatever climate and soil they have grown in. Due to their genetics, they are often resistant to local pests, diseases, and extremes of weather.  All heirlooms are open-pollinated.

Wikipedia states that heirlooms are grown for a variety of reasons: for historical interest, for interest in traditional organic gardening, to increase the available gene pool, to grow rare varieties or because “without the ongoing growing and storage of heirloom plants, seed companies and the government will eventually control all seed distribution.”

Open-Pollinated (OP) – Open-pollinated vegetable varieties reproduce themselves through either cross-pollination between two individual plants or through self-pollination. So long as plants of an OP variety are kept isolated from different plants with which they can cross, they will produce seed that will come “true to type.” In other words, the plants in the following generation will resemble the parent plants.  Open-pollinated varieties generally have better flavor, are hardier and have more flexibility than hybrid varieties. Continue reading →