A seed story: Heirloom vs. non-heirloom

'Tis the season for seed shopping. I received the first catalogue of this upcoming season in mid-October. By mid-January, I will have received as many as two dozen, if last year is any indicator. Some offer a broad spectrum of seeds. Others are specialized. Some refer to their seeds simply as seeds. Others will offer a combination of "seeds" as well as "heirloom seeds." Seed catalogs are a marketing tool with beautiful, enticing pictures. Most seed companies have a website in addition to their mail-order catalogs from which to order their products. Both offer a wealth of information. Amongst the many details provided by seed sellers is whether the seeds are heirloom, a term used interchangeably with open-pollinated. Heirloom seeds will produce vegetables true to type, making for a consistent experience each season. Heirloom seed have been around since the beginning of time, having been passed down for generations by private individuals and over the last half dozen decades or so by professional seed retailers. They are available from many but not all seed retailers. We will want to look specifically for these two terms when shopping for seed. If we see no mention of these terms, it is a hybrid seed, a result of our need to offer traits that heirlooms have been unable to provide us. Home gardeners might prefer heirloom seeds for their unique taste, the ability to save seed at the end of the growing season and the greater likelihood of success if seed is regionally adapted to local growing conditions. Saving seeds reduces growing costs, especially if we save seeds each year. It increases self-sufficiency, an aspect that predominated the early years of our country and has made a resurgence over the last several decades. Growers will see a more consistent harvest with heirlooms, often increasing a gardener's pride in their work. Seeds from companies offering heirloom seeds west of the Rocket Mountains might not grow as well in northern Ohio as seed from companies in New England or Minnesota, which have growing conditions like our conditions here. Hybrid seeds have a different history than heirlooms. These seeds are created thru various means such as cross-pollinating two parent plants. The result is traits that are desirable such as disease resistance, ability to readily be transported, better appearance and better yield. But if a gardener were to save the seeds of a hybrid plant, the resulting generation would be disappointing as it would not be true to type. We need hybrid seed to assure a continuous and more affordable supply of produce. Most people have heard the term GMO seed, short for genetically modified organism. This is a particular type of hybrid seed developed for field crops. GMO seeds are not available to the home gardener, typically because they are intended for field crops and packaged in copious quantities sufficient to meet the needs of commercial growers. Seeds labeled with the USDA logo as organic refer to the growing methods used by the organization from whom the seed companies bought their seed. Home gardeners often prefer organic seeds for a variety of reasons, including the satisfaction of supporting the smaller scale seed supplier. Growers who sell their produce must use organic seed if available to comply with certification standards. One last item to look for and consider when buying is whether the seller has taken the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) pledge. According to Osseeds.org, pledge includes these freedoms: the right to use the seed in any way you choose (including freedoms to sell, trade or share with others; pledge not to restrict others' use of the seed or its derivatives (by way of patent or other restrictions); and to include this pledge with any transfer of the seed or its derivatives. In short, one type of seed is not better than another generally speaking. Each type has a worthy purpose and we all benefit from both. Happy growing! For more information, check out the following: Fedcoseeds.com Rareseeds.com blogs.cornell.edu/learning/hybrid-vs-heirloom-seeds-pros-and-cons/