Organic Heirloom Seeds

Organic Vegetable Seeds are a Great Start to Your Garden

Organic heirloom seeds are worth the effort and the price. Organic heirloom tomato seeds, organic herb seeds, and other organic vegetable seeds are great starters for organic vegetable gardening.

Using organic heirloom seeds is one way to support biodiversity and make sure that your garden is filled with tasty, ecologically friendly vegetables, fruits, and herbs. More and more consumers are focusing on turning their homes and gardens into 'green' areas. Organic seeds for sprouting are one of the answers the lawn and garden industry has begun providing.

Organic vegetable seeds and organic herb seeds are specially fostered from plants that are grown on certified organic lands. This means that the seed has never come in contact with chemical fertilizers or nasty pesticides. Additionally, regional and national governments (in the US it's the USDA) regulate how the seeds get harvested and processed for sale so that you can be assured of a truly wholesome product.

Heirloom seeds, like organic heirloom tomato seeds which are very popular, are seeds from plants that were grown earlier in history and that were not genetically modified. However heirloom seed use has decreased. There are several types of heirloom seeds, but nearly everyone agrees that no new plants that came into use after 1951 qualify for that category. The types of heirloom seed groups include:

• Seeds from cultivars over 50 years old;
• Seeds from cultivars over 100 years old;
• Family seeds that have been saved and handed down through generational lines;
• Commercial heirlooms (from companies that may have since gone out of business).

Besides this list, the organic heirloom seeds must come from open-pollinated plants without any genetic modification. Open pollination means that the plant is pollinated by the wind, birds, insects or other natural means vs. controlled pollination where humans play their hand in determining a crop’s makeup.

Until about 10 years ago it was difficult to find heirloom vegetables.

Thankfully, there is a new trend emerging and several companies are specializing in selling heirloom seeds.

Before you buy, however, do your research to make sure that the seeds you are planning to plant is well-suited to your environment and the conditions in your garden.

There's no question that heirloom plants aren't 'cut and dry'. They can be 'persnickety' (also known as a challenge!). Some seeds grow far more slowly than others, and then suddenly appear late in the season. Other plants are very picky about the type of soil and drainage in which they’re grown.

In this respect heirloom growing requires a little patience. Think of it as an experiment, and remember that you have the opportunity here to literally keep some types of vegetables and herbs from disappearing altogether!

People who grow organic heirloom seeds seem to truly enjoy the experience. It's like you are taking a 'bite out of history'; you will also feel that heirloom herbs and vegetables generally have more flavor and taste better.

While there can be some struggles in raising heirlooms depending on your regional conditions and soil, the effort seems well worth it. And heirloom seeds just naturally seem to partner well with growing organically.

Additionally, from an ecological standpoint, there are many heirloom plants that need to be preserved, and one way to do that is become the guardian of their seeds and keep plants growing.

Additional Reading

• Building Raised Garden Beds

• Goji Berry Plants

• Grow Organic Vegetables

• Organic Ant Control

• Organic Garden Supply

• Organic Strawberry Facts

• Organic Strawberry Nutrition Facts

• Organic Strawberry Pots

• Organic Termite Control

• Organic Weed Killer

• Raised Bed Organic Gardening

• Square Foot Gardening

• Return from Organic Heirloom Seeds to Organic Food for Everyone