A lot of attention is being given to both Heirloom and Open Pollinated seeds these days. Many think that they are the same thing, but there is a difference. Heirloom (or Heritage) seeds simply have a long story behind them, being used for generations of farmers. They are probably also Open Pollinated, which simply means that they are naturally pollinated (fertilized) among members of that species. That means that they are likely to be more genetically diverse, and the sharing about of pollen done by insects brings together a range of variations from the plants.
Contrast this with Hybridized seeds, which are created by crossing two different species or varieties. In animals, think of the mule, which is a cross between a horse and a donkey. Many hybrids are infertile (like the mule), and if they are fertile, they will not be “true-to-type”. That means that they will not pass on the characteristics of the hybrid parents. What does this mean for gardeners? To put it briefly, if you grow hybrid plants you need to purchase that seed every year from a supply house that produces it under controlled conditions. If you want to save your own seed, hybrids are off the table. And for the plant-eating community? Hybrid seeds are less resilient, needing controlled production every year. This results in a limited range of varieties. Open pollenated crops have more varieties, more resilience and are an important part of healthy biodiversity. Amber, from Red Cedar Farmstead, favours open pollenated plants. She commented: “A lot of trial and error. I’ve only been gardening for 9 years and those first two years I didn’t know anything. I soon found out about heirloom and open pollinated seed varieties and haven’t looked back. Finding out some of my favourites has just been by testing out various varieties and giving them a chance. I like experimenting. I try to order my seeds from companies that share the same values I have. I also try to save as many of my own seeds.” Some of her favourites to grow include:
Look for these vegetables from her farmstead’s offerings!
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