Chumasande MatiwaneUnlike modern hybrid seeds, heirloom seeds have been carefully preserved and passed down due to their unique traits. These open-pollinated seeds offer incredible flavour, with good genetic diversity.
What are heirloom seeds?
The name gives you a hint. These seeds are traditional, having been passed down from generation to generation. Most heirloom seeds are old seeds. This doesn’t mean the seeds themselves are old; however, it does mean that these seeds have a history and have been carefully cultivated over decades. These are the flavours many people have enjoyed for a long time.
Since heirloom plants are open-pollinated through natural processes, they breed true to type. The child plant will be the same kind of plant as the parents. While many heirloom seed growers may select the plants with the best traits to provide seeds, they are not fundamentally changing the type of plant or variety. The seeds must be bred and stabilised using classic old-school breeding methods.
Image Credit: Pexels
Benefits of growing heirloom seeds
As a gardener, why should you grow heirloom seeds? These seeds offer numerous benefits that are significant for the specific plant type and variety.
Better flavour
What all the careful cultivation adds up to is flavour. The produce from heirloom seeds is generally more flavourful and robust. You can easily tell the difference with every bite.
A wider selection
Heirloom seeds provide home gardeners with a wider variety of options to explore and choose from. Heirloom tomatoes such as Black Krim and Cherokee Purple are ones you won’t find just anywhere. They are bred specifically due to these seeds.
Less expensive
Normal hybrid seeds cost more because they have to be cross-pollinated anew every generation. In addition to paying more upfront, you can’t save the seeds for planting next season.
Seed saving and sustainability
Since heirloom seeds breed true, you can save seeds from your best plants to grow the next growing season. This is especially valuable for heirloom flowers like zinnias and marigolds, which are easy to collect and save seeds from.
Image Credit: Pexels
By growing heirloom seeds, you are tasting the flavours of the past, preserving history, and ensuring biodiversity for future generations. These time-honoured varieties have been passed down for a reason.
ALSO SEE: ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR SAVING SEEDS FROM YOUR GARDEN HARVEST
Feature Image: Pexels
