ABC Wednesday H is for HEIRLOOM
An heirloom seed is seed treasured by people who love the plant because it’s nature. Growers have through generations learned to value the name, history, flavour, fragrance and outward appearance of the plant. The heir is proud to receive the heritage from their ancestors, it’s a precious gift. To be an heirloom, a plant must be open-pollinated. Open pollination allows the same cultivar to be grown simply from seed for many generations. 1951 was the year of the first hybrid (another interesting H) varieties because of that many growers consider 1951 to be the latest year a plant can have originated and still be called an heirloom. Some heirloom plants are much much older, some being apparently pre-historic.
Heirlooms have adapted over time to whatever climate and soil they have grown in. Due to their genetics, they are often resistant to local pests, diseases, and extremes of weather. This is great and amazing. But...
I have been thinking of that, the grower have to consider just that, because one heirloom plant tastes wonderful, have a superior fragrance and looks and all that in one place does not mean that it will be an excellent plant in your garden. Consequently I myself try to select heirlooms seeds that have been grown in similar conditions that I have in my garden, soil and weather-wise. Although sometimes of cause I fall for their names and history. Interesting names like Cherokee Purple, Plum Lemon or Belize Pink Heart are very tempting names of tomatoes that I would love to have a go at. The first two are actually on my 2009 growing list of heirloom tomatoes.
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Real Seeds UK.
Impecta Sweden
Runåbergs fröer Sweden
Recent post Potager - Heirloom Tomatoes 2009
other Heirloom posts here in the Greenhouse...
Well that's all folks!
Read about more great ABC Wednesday 'H' here.
TYRA
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29 comments:
Da har jeg lært noe nytt idag også - dette visste jeg ikke i det hele tatt. Takk skal du ha!
A great choice for the letter H Tyra. I am also guilty of sometimes falling for the names - it's easily done :)
Intressanta bilder och information. Återkommer och läser mer.
hi, thats great ! nice pictures !!!
kathrin aus Bremen
Very interesting. I didn't realize seeds and plants could be designated as heirlooms. No doubt the ones that have been growing in the same area for centuries are the best adapted to soil and weather conditions.
Great H word!
I do not have a vegetable garden, but fortunately there is a market nearby that sells heirloom tomatoes - so much better-tasting that the tasteless varieties that have been developed for ease of shipping. Good choice for "H".
Interesting how we see the language.
Ahhh, takk for informativ post, vakre bilder og en flott H :)
I didn't know all the information about heirloom seeds. I will be looking around for heirloom tomato plants that others in my area have grown in their gardens.
Hi Tyra
Just a couple of years ago I grew my first heirloom tomatoes - and I'll never go back! This year I will have 10 different heirloom tomatoe varieties, four of which I saved seeds last year. I also will have four varieties of heirloom melons, some beans, peas, and lettuce. I am trying to find the varieties that we like the most and grow those in future years. Some heirlooms are tastier than others - for my taste!
I'm trying to convince someone in my family to raise heirlooms...it shouldn't be up to me. I have no luck at all with tomatoes. None. And I dearly love them....
It's lovely and the pictures are great - make me think about trying it on mu own
Thank you for all the information on Heirlooms. Now I understand better.
my goodness your vegetables look delicious!
Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting, Tyra. I have been looking at your photos and admiring your talent! I am very impressed.
Wonderful post, very colourful.
The genetic heritage is of greater importance to life than nonsense about climate. A fine post.
Thanks for the great information on Heirlooms. They are so beautiful though I don't think I've ever tasted one. I will attempt to grow some in containers this summer.
Hard job to protect them !
Thanks
Those tomatoes totally make me think of summer! Yummy as can be! Happy Wednesday!
that was very interesting!
There is lots of food for the mind and the eye in your post.
And you have a real GLASS greenhouse!
Well, that was an unexpectedly fascinating post! I was thinking it would be about jewellery or some other type of possession!
Wonderful "H" post, Tyra! Thanks.
I love your garden posts, and this one is Highly enjoyable! I hope your Heirlooms grow well for you.
Oh I love tomatoes and most of the new varieties available in the shops have no taste at all. I'm convinced the older varieties taste much better, and they have such great names too. Good luck with growing them. Great photos!
En skikkelig informativ løsning på oppgaven. Flotte bilder!
what a great post, really fascinating!
so colourful!
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