Part 1 of 2

eirloom 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 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 tomatoes, blue potatoes, and rainbow-colored chards is enough to win over any gardener. Their unique beauty is a bonus to their superior flavor.
     Ornament is appreciated, but once they are on the plate, their flavor definitely takes center stage. Heirlooms were bred over many generations for taste and performance. Similar to dog breeders, in this way gardeners selected for the traits that appealed to them. For example, the mildness of 'Corno di Toro' pepper, the sweetness of 'Dixie Golden Giant' tomato, the musky tartness of 'Concord' grapes, and the size of 'Mortgage Lifter' tomato were all refined by gardeners many decades ago that had preferences for these particular traits.
     The flavor of heirlooms 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!

And that's the Scoop!

Check back next week for part 2 of this series!

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