What Are Heirloom Vegetables?

What are heirloom vegetables? Learn about the heirloom seeds definition and the many advantages over modern hybrid seeds. Most have superior taste and nutrition and have developed resistance to local pests and diseases.

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What are heirloom vegetables? Learn about the heirloom seeds definition and the many advantages over modern hybrid seeds. Most have superior taste and nutrition and have developed resistance to local pests and diseases.

When you shop for vegetable seeds for your garden, there are two main types to choose from: modern hybrids or heirloom vegetable varieties. Hybrid seeds are created by crossing two selected varieties, sometimes resulting in vigorous plants that yield more than heirlooms. Heirloom vegetables are old-time varieties, open-pollinated instead of hybrid, and saved and handed down through multiple generations of families. Usually, they cost less than hybrid seeds. But there are more reasons than just seed prices to choose heirlooms.

Why Choose Heirloom Seeds?

Exceptional taste is the No. 1 reason many gardeners cite for choosing heirloom varieties.

Crinkly-crisp cone-head cabbages from Sicily, nutty Native American squash, your grandma’s voluptuous deep red canning tomatoes — they all immediately invoke flavorful images for those who knew them in childhood and others who have discovered them.

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