Don’t get me wrong, I am a city girl who doesn’t like to get her hands dirty…normally. However, after a recent trip to Italy, I discovered that the vegetables and fruit grown and sold in the United States are not as tasty as they could be, and once were. While in Naples, I tasted a tomato that was so tomatoey it was crazy. It was like tasting a tomato for the very first time.
I now go to my in-laws’ house and help plant and maintain their garden. I never thought I would enjoy getting dirty but it is so fulfilling! I have even decided to “can” this year so that I can enjoy the garden throughout the year.
The concept of heirloom gardening is fairly new - I find it strange to refer to something that applies to heirlooms and antiques as new! Well, the concept of heirloom gardening is not new per se, but has only recently become more popular. I attribute the attention heirloom gardening is getting from the likes of Martha Stewart and The Beekman Boys and the rising popularity of cooking shows showcasing the concept of preserving foods that are in danger of being lost to the "advances" of modern industrial agriculture.
You can now indulge in an heirloom garden with varieties that are truly yours, passed down from generations, or you can go to your nearest garden center and buy an heirloom plant or seeds.
Before you start with gardening heirloom, you should understand what an heirloom crop is. Most definitions of heirloom plants vary, but the standard understanding of an heirloom is that it is an open pollinating, non hybrid plant that is capable of reproducing on its own, true to type from seeds. Do not be confused by some of the hybrids-crossbred plants that are available out there, those are not heirlooms.
There are no specific tips for Heirloom Gardening that can be given. The only tip for heirloom gardening is that you need to understand your plants. You need to know how old the heirloom plant is. Some are 50 years old, and some are 2000 years old! Most heirloom plants available today, or rather the most popular ones are from the 18th and 19th century.
If you want to grow an organic heirloom garden next spring, it’s never too early to start planning. One of the best ways to start is to researching heirloom gardening online. Don't be afraid to ask questions of your gardening friends and read the seed catalogs that many companies publish and offer free of charge. My favorite is Seed Savers Exchange. You can buy heirloom varieties of fruits, nuts, vegetables, flowers and even ornamental plants…you never know; the heirloom fruits you eat could be the same your ancestors grew and ate!
