The Urban Permaculture Farm Magazine

Heirloom vegetables are becoming more and more popular.  As people look to save a few bucks by growing edibles, they are rediscovering the joys of these tried-and-true plants. Many of the cultivars are literally heirlooms, prized possessions passed down from generation to generation. Flavor, nutrition content, extensive variety, and adaptability are the traits that give heirlooms value and the reasons more people are choosing heirloom vegetables for their gardens.

To qualify as an heirloom tomato the variety must be traditional (old), open-pollinated, and flavorful.  Age is an important factor because by 1951 commercial agriculture began breeding hybrids and the mass production of heirlooms declined.  Open-pollination is a throwback to early gardening methods and simply means that naturally pollinated plants will produce seeds that are viable and true to the parent.  (On the contrary newer hybrid varieties produce either sterile or inconsistent seed.)  However, for most people the definitive quality is flavor.  Heirloom varieties taste vibrant and authentic, like the produce from your childhood memories. 

Besides taste there are other reasons to grow heirlooms.  They connect us across time to people who tended the soil long ago.  Heirlooms are living artifacts and a part of human history.  For instance, gardeners that grow tomato ‘Cherokee Purple’ are agriculturally linked to the Cherokee of Tennessee who originally bred this robust variety.  Planting heirlooms is also a way to preserve genetic diversity.  We can not actually know which immunity-boosting, disease resistant, vigorous genes we will need in the future, so it is best to preserve them all.  Fortunately, many heirlooms and their distinct genes are still available.

To our delight these genes are expressed in a bewildering array of colors, patterns, and forms.  The gardener’s curious nature is definitely piqued by the diversity.  We appreciate different, special, and rare qualities in plants.  The allure of purple, green, yellow, and black tomatoes is enough to win over any gardener.  Their unique beauty is a bonus to their superior flavor.

The flavor of heirloom tomatoes stands out distinctly from many of the commercially available varieties that are bred to store and ship well at the expense of other traits.  One of the great things about growing your own food is that you don’t have to sacrifice taste, texture, color, and nutrition. So let the stores sell what ships best and you can grow what tastes best.

Heirloom vegetables are a delicious way to add variety to your garden and diet.  They can adapt to veggie gardens (or containers) all across America from north to south and from city to suburbs.  Plus, many are ornamental enough to fit into the flower garden or mixed border.  Grow healthy food and keep old-school gardening traditions alive by making space for some heirlooms this season.