In search of heirloom seeds

[DimondaleBergs]

Hello everyone!
I am new to this forum, but have been gardening for a while. But, I have to admit, I was naive to the whole GMO thing until this past fall/winter. As of right now, my husband and I own a smallish place in a small town about 5 minutes outside of Lansing, MI. We are beginning our search for a bigger piece of property, but are not looking at that happening before this growing season. SOOOOO, to get to the point of my post...lol, we are looking to try our hand with heirloom seeds.
I'm hoping that you great people can give me some tips on growing them, and even more, I'm hoping that you can tell me where I can get "truly legit" heirloom seeds.
Thanks in advance!

 

[canesisters]

to the forum!

Baker Creek is a good place to look for seeds. That's where I got mine last year. I went so overboard ordering seeds that I'll be planting leftovers this year and will probably still have some left to put on the seed train thread.

 

[jackb]

You might also try Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. Good Luck

jackb

 

[DimondaleBergs]

Thanks, canesisters, and jackb!
I will check both places out!
I'm also wondering if what I heard about heirlooms not being as productive as the GMO seeds is true? What's the difference in output? I'm okay with it if they are, just want to know ahead of time so that I can plant a few more of my tomatoes, and cucumbers if I need to. lol
Thanks

 

[Carol Dee]

I planted heirloom tomatoes last year and had more than we could use. I don't think they produce anything less.

 

[digitS']

Welcome, DimondaleBergs.

There are very few genetically modified vegetable seeds in the gardening catalogs. Will hybrids not be okay in your garden?

Heirlooms are sometimes fairly specific as to the locations they do well.

Steve

 

[thistlebloom]

Welcome to TEG!

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

Welcome to TEG!

As far as the production gos - I guess that it all depends on the variety, your growing conditions and way of growing things, and your general circumstances when it comes to the weather.

Like Carol said, I wouldn't expect them to produce anything less. I myself usually, nearly drown in the vast harvest that my gardens produce. Keep in mind though that crop failures, heirloom or not, happen sometimes. So don't give up if a variety of tomato (or some other vegetable) doesn't produce for you the first time you plant it!

 

[Smart Red]

Welcome to TEG, DimondaleBergs! This is a great site and I hope you will be a frequent visitor and participant.

Heirlooms and Open Pollinated are two titles you may see often in catalogs. Open Pollinated means the seed will product fruit that is the same as the parent. Heirloom means a variety of plant has been grown for many years -- usually contained to a specific area. Not all open pollinated varieties are heirlooms, but all heirlooms are open pollinated.

It is also true that Hybrids are not necessarily GMO. A hybrid (F1 for example) is a cross between two varieties of the same type of plant. Usually hybrids are made with the intention of making a type of plant somehow better than either parent. That might be a stronger stem, bigger flower, longer bloom season, or virus protection.

This is not a bad thing. The problem arises when we try to save seed. The seed saved from a hybrid will seldom grow the same type of plant. This, too, is not necessarily a bad thing unless you really liked the parent plant. You have already been given several good choices for buying heirloom seed. Looking around this site will give you even more places that offer good seed and good service.

Buying from a seed company near your home will get you seeds that should grow well in your area although many varieties are valued because they are dependable growers in many places. Good luck with you garden this year. We hope to hear from you with follow-ups and photos as you go through this gardening season.

 

[so lucky]

I have read that some heirloom seed doesn't produce as much as some modern seed, but I don't know if they were talking about field crops or vegetables. I don't think you will run into much GMO garden seed, mostly just hybrids, which aren't the same as GMOs. GMOs have other genes introduced into them, such as from a bug or a different plant. Hybrids still only have their own plant genetics in them, but they are chosen and cross bred. Hybrids usually don't reproduce true from saved seed. If you save seed from --say--Better Boy tomatoes, and grow them next year, you may get something similar to a Better Boy, but it won't be exactly the same. If you save and plant seed from--say--a Rutgers, you will get Rutgers till the cows come home.
The bad thing about hybrids is that people have to buy new seed, ultimately from the company that owns the plant rights. That fact doesn't sit well with lots of folks who like to be more independent from Big Business Farming/Gardening.
The other thing is that the hybrids are bred for specific qualities, such as looks or disease resistance, and so some things, like nutrition or taste, are bred out along the way. (Not always, but often enough) Many old wonderful veggie types are lost due to not being continually grown and shared, but there are folks that make it their life's work to save little-known heirlooms.
I may not have gotten some of the terms right, but I think you will get the gist of my message. There are many reputable heirloom seed companies. SeedO gave a comprehensive list in one of his posts a while back. I'll see if I can find it. And Welcome to TEG!