During my teenage years, I found joy in assisting my parents with their vegetable garden. However, as soon as the harvest overflowed into our home, I dreaded watching my mom start her lengthy process of dealing with what seemed like endless piles of vegetables. The tedious job of boiling jars full of tomato sauce for hours in the scorching August heat wasn’t particularly appealing.
Later, when I visited my friend Will Bonsall—a farmer, writer, and well-known seed saver—I observed something intriguing: even at the end of September, he still had rows of unripe plums. Will deliberately cultivated these slowly maturing heirlooms called ‘Royal Chicos’ so he wouldn’t have to work near a blazing stove during the hottest part of summer. Instead, he harvested whole plants and stored them in his cool basement until October, allowing him to handle the fruit once it was perfectly ripe without enduring uncomfortable temperatures. Unlike many modern tomato cultivars which focus on quick harvesting times, this traditional breed catered precisely to those farmers who preferred not being stuck indoors sweating away throughout summertime.
Heirloom garden plants consist of older varieties that are open-pollinated, enabling home gardeners to collect seeds and maintain the distinctive traits, tastes, and looks of these plants across multiple generations. While modern hybrids offer numerous advantages for domestic gardening, they fail to consistently reproduce offspring similar to themselves through saved seeds and necessitate reliance on suppliers who might discontinue popular cultivars in subsequent seasons.
The global consolidation of seed production has led to an efficient system that has phased out numerous traditional and specialized varieties. Seed offerings now cater primarily to large-scale farmers, prioritizing traits like early maturation and convenient transportation, frequently at the expense of accommodating specific requirements for smaller gardens or various cultural applications.
We seldom use the word “extinction” when referring to garden plants; however, species like black rhinos face similar challenges as rare potato and carrot lineages struggling for survival beneath our gardens’ soils. If these vegetable types become extinct, they will be gone permanently, taking with them their genetic links and cultural ties to the traditions and communities that nurtured them over time.
Similar to an old family relic found by “Antiques Roadshow” to be surprisingly valuable, heirloom vegetables handed down over generations can possess unforeseen significance. Apart from offering distinct flavors cherished by amateur gardeners, these veggies boast genetic variety which might unlock solutions for developing resilient strains capable of tackling upcoming obstacles. Traits such as disease immunity, adaptation to changing climates, or distinctive cooking applications could lie hidden within the DNA of common household plants.
The true strength of heirloom plants lies in actively utilizing them in both gardens and kitchens. As the Director of Horticulture at the New England Botanic Garden, my role involves presenting an extensive array of heirloom types to the numerous home gardeners who visit our Vegetable Garden annually. This exposure serves as a source of inspiration for new experiences. By experimenting with and regularly using these plant varieties, gardeners have the opportunity to uncover the deep historical background behind their utility which led to their creation. Additionally, cultivating heirlooms allows individuals to maintain living links to our varied horticultural legacy.
Numerous smaller farms and groups work diligently to link people with heritage plant varieties.
Seed Saver’s
The Exchange has turned into a nationwide center for exchanging heirloom seeds and sharing knowledge, making it an excellent starting point for exploration. When you dig into the soil with your spade and start setting up your seasonal garden, be sure to include these heirloom varieties that can add distinctive and surprising charm to your area.
Gardening Central Mass provides environmentally conscious advice and engaging articles tailored for home gardeners, courtesy of CEO Grace Elton and Director of Horticulture Steven Conaway from the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. Situated in Boylston, this botanical garden crafts plant-based encounters aimed at inspiring individuals and enhancing our planet. For further information, visit their website.
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The column appears on the third Sunday of every month.
The article initially appeared on Telegram & Gazette.
‘The genuine strength of heirloom plants’: Safeguarding our rich garden diversity
