What Are Heirloom Seeds?

Handful of seed

Heirloom seeds, heirloom vegetables and heirloom gardening are becoming increasingly popular today. Many people are turning or returning to home gardening for a variety of reasons, and heirloom seeds figure prominently. Some of these include an interest in fresh, local and healthy foods, others need to stretch the family food budget, some need additional exercise – preferably outdoors, and still others are searching for the lost flavors of the family garden when they were growing up.

All of this interest has created some confusion as to what an heirloom seed truly is. Some think that the term “heirloom” is the same as “organic”. Other folks think that anything that is not organic or heirloom means that it is GMO. To make matters worse, some larger seed companies sell both heirloom and hybrid seeds that are certified organic, further confusing the matter.

Let’s take a look at a few definitions so we can better understand what an heirloom seed is compared to a hybrid or genetically modified seed.

An heirloom is anything of value (though not necessarily economic) to a person, family or group passed down from one generation to other. Examples are furniture, China, silver or seeds. An heirloom is generally considered something worth passing down. An heirloom seed, therefore, is seed from a plant that has been passed from one generation to another, carefully grown and saved because it is considered valuable. The value could lie in its flavor, productivity, hardiness or adaptability. Many heirlooms have been grown, saved and passed down for more than 100 years. Some have history reaching back 300 years or more. To have been saved and preserved for so long, these seed varieties have shown their value to many people and families for an extremely long time.

Most heirlooms have been saved and selected because they have the best flavor and production in home and small market gardens. We get the benefit of this long development cycle, as only the best producing, most flavorful, most memorable and most dependable varieties have made the selection throughout the years. Delicate, weak or fickle varieties are no longer with us.

Open-pollinated is another term sometimes used interchangeably with heirloom. They do not mean the same thing, as an open pollinated seed is simply a variety where the seed can be harvested from the plant, saved, replanted, and the same variety will re grow year after year. This is how we have the heirloom varieties that we have today is because they are open-pollinated. All heirloom seeds are open pollinated, but not all open pollinated seeds are heirloom, as there are new open pollinated varieties being introduced that are obviously not old enough to be considered heirlooms. An example of this is the Oregon Spring tomato developed by Dr. Baggett, Oregon State University through traditional plant breeding for early germination and productivity in the cool Oregon spring.

Organic certification is the process of certifying a crop grown to a strict uniform set of standards. The certification process includes inspections of farm fields and processing facilities, detailed record keeping and periodic testing of soil and water to ensure that growers and handlers are meeting the standards which have been set. The USDA sets the standards, and the criteria for meeting those standards. The certifying agency such as Oregon Tilth, CCOF, QAI and OCAI verifies that the grower is meeting the standards set by the USDA. In short, “organic” means only that a crop was grown to a specific set of standards.

A hybrid seed is produced by artificially cross pollinating two genetically different plants of the same species, such as two different tomatoes or two varieties of corn. The cross pollination is done by hand, and a seed that is saved will not grow true to either parent. Thus the farmer or gardener has no choice but to purchase new seed each year. Hybrids are typically bred for commercial use and profit to change the characteristic of the resulting plants, such as higher yield, greater uniformity, more even ripening, improved color and disease resistance. Flavor has only recently begun to be addressed when selecting characteristics for new hybrids.

Hybrids originated in the 1920s and 1930s for small local commercial growers who shipped their produce less than 50 miles to market, and needed more consistent production for a steady supply of fresh produce to the markets. Taste and freshness were still important than, as many people living in the city were recent transplants from the country, and still remembered what fresh produce tasted like. This is completely different from the hybrids of today with the selected characteristics that have resulted in the iconic colorful yet flavorless supermarket tomato that looks and tastes the same year round.

Genetically Modified Organisms or GMO seed have been altered using DNA from completely different species and organisms to give different traits such as resistance to herbicides and acceptance of chemical fertilizers. Some GMO corn, for instance, manufactures its own herbicide in its root structure. Some DNA donors have come from fish, frogs and bacteria. The major crops that are genetically modified are corn, cotton, soybeans and wheat. Sugar beets and alfalfa have recently been deregulated, and potatoes are being studied. Most common garden vegetables are not yet genetically modified simply because the financial return in the market is not present yet.

Two of the better known benefits of heirloom seed include adaptability and flavor. Some varieties of heirloom tomato have been known to adapt to a specific location within as little as 2 to 3 growing seasons, showing better vigor, better production, better flavor and increase disease resistance. This is a result of saving the seed and replanting it year to year. Many people come to heirlooms in search of flavors that they experienced as a child. One of the leading characteristics of heirloom varieties is defined by the depth of flavor that they produce. This single characteristic has been one of the major reasons for the preservation of specific varieties over great spans of time. This is probably one of the biggest reasons for the resurgence of heirlooms in home gardens in the past 10 years, as once people experience the amazing range and depths of flavors that heirlooms offer, they are hooked. Taste is once again becoming a viable characteristic in variety selection for the home garden instead of only production quantity, uniformity, and disease resistance.

People are celebrating the fact that taste trumps volume. It’s the classic quantity vs. quality conundrum, with quality making a comeback.

51 replies
  1. Gwen Holt
    Gwen Holt says:

    This article was interesting and informative. Thank you, Gwen, better known as Welderwoman.

    Reply
    • Stephen
      Stephen says:

      Hope it helps, as there are a lot of folks that don’t quite understand the terms that are thrown around (rightly or wrongly) these days.

      Reply
  2. Bert van Ruitenbeek
    Bert van Ruitenbeek says:

    Dear Stephen,

    Helpful informaiton indeed. Can you explain a bit more about “organic hybrid seeds”. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Stephen
      Stephen says:

      Hello Bert, The term “organic” used in this sense simply means an approved, inspected method of growing or producing food, usually without petro-chemical pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilizers, etc. The term “organic” is not related to nor interchangeable with “heirloom” or “open-pollinated”, but many folks think that they are. You will hear such things as, “That melon is heirloom, so that means it’s organic.” Not true. Organic hybrid seed is simply a hybrid variety has been grown in an organic manner to produce seed. You still can’t save those seeds and have them grow true, regardless that the seed was grown organically or not.

      Reply
  3. Nicole
    Nicole says:

    How can you know if what you are purchasing is truly heirloom? There is no regulation on seed labeling I’m sure.

    Reply
    • Stephen
      Stephen says:

      Hello Nicole, you are right – there are no labeling requirements for heirloom seeds. There isn’t even a strict definition of what “heirloom” seeds are! The generally accepted definition is a variety that has been saved and replanted for at least 50 years, though I prefer to use 70 years. That gets past the initial hybridizations that were started in the 1940s. One of the best ways is to read the stories about the variety, as all heirlooms have wonderful stories that always include a date that they were introduced to the seed trade or were first saved by a family. The second biggest thing is to get to know who you are buying seed from. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and make sure you understand the answers and that they make sense. Most seed companies are proud of their heirlooms, whether that is all that they offer, or is a part of their business. Seeds are unique in that you buy them on trust that they are as represented, and won’t find out until months later!

      Reply
  4. missouri gardner
    missouri gardner says:

    Very helpful information, thank you for clearing these up for us!

    Reply
    • Stephen
      Stephen says:

      You are welcome! Seems like a basic subject, but the terms are misused a lot and many people simply don’t know the differences.

      Reply
  5. Faizah
    Faizah says:

    Hello Stephen! Thank you for all this information! More people today are worried about eating GMO foods. I have a few questions: For a seed to be considered heirloom, it’s supposed to have been “planted, grown, saved and replanted” for decades or centuries? So, if that is the case, is it safe to say that HEIRLOOM SEEDS ARE 100% NON-GMO? Also, are they the TRUE and ORIGINAL mother nature’s seeds? Thank you very much for your attention!

    Reply
    • Stephen
      Stephen says:

      Good questions, Faizah! Heirloom seeds have not been genetically modified, but that doesn’t mean that there might not be some level of GMO contamination in them. For instance, heirloom corn is getting more and more difficult to source, as most experienced corn growers are in the corn belt and are constantly have GMO corn pollen blowing over their property. Most of the quality heirloom seed companies are aware of this problem and take active measures to ensure that their seed is not contaminated. As with anything, you really need to get to know who is providing your seed and ask questions. Listen carefully to the answers and don’t hesitate to ask more questions, until you understand.

      Heirlooms are the “original” seed, but it must be recognized that they are not without human influence, as man has been selecting and breeding seeds for certain characteristics for 12,000 years or more. This selection and breeding has never involved outside genes from viruses, fish, frogs or other species as with GMOs.

      Reply
      • Faizah
        Faizah says:

        Thank you so much, Stephen!! All your answers are great and very helpful!

      • Stephen
        Stephen says:

        Thanks, Faizah, we hope they help you in your gardening efforts!

      • Melissa
        Melissa says:

        Stephen,
        This answers my questions. Thank you so much! I have looked long for this information. I will be ordering from Terrior Seeds in the future. I only wish I had found you sooner.
        Thank you, Melissa

      • Stephen
        Stephen says:

        Melissa, thanks for the warm comments! Enjoy the information, and we hope you are inspired to expand your garden.

  6. Brian
    Brian says:

    Above, you stated that all heirloom seeds are open pollinated, meaning they will grow true to seed. But, based on what you said about GMO corn contaminating heirloom corn, it sounds as if this is not a guarantee. How can one be sure that their own heirloom plants will produce seeds that have not cross pollinated with some other variety? I have heirloom seeds I have purchased and I would like to be able to harvest seed from some mature plants that I grow this year. Once I do this, will I be able to grow the same thing next year?

    Reply
    • Stephen
      Stephen says:

      You raise excellent questions, Brian! In the article, I referred to general rules to help people understand what the differences between the different types of seeds are.

      In today’s world where measurable amounts of DDT are still being found in Antarctic wildlife while at the same time polar bears have measurable amounts of the genetically engineered Bt toxin in their blood in the Arctic, there are few hard and fast guarantees. The genie is out of the bottle; genetic contamination is very widespread and becoming increasingly difficult to control or keep track of. This only highlights the importance of knowing your food-source like never before. Your farmer, rancher and seed company are some of the most important people no one really knows, yet everyone depends on to keep them fed 3 times a day!

      The only real world, workable solution has two parts: the first is to know where your seed comes from – know the seed company and the second is experience in growing, isolating and saving seeds that have the best purity and vigor possible. You will have failures, setbacks and challenges in getting the experience and knowledge needed to grow and save the best seeds possible, those are the same challenges we face daily as an heirloom seed company, and our growers face them as well. With some experience, you’ll do well, but it does take some time. This is why it is so important to get started and get the experience now, and not wait until down the road when that skill becomes essential. Gardening is a skill set like any other that requires practice, patience and mindfulness to improve at, much like archery or firearms proficiency.

      Yes, by all means – harvest and save the mature seeds from your crops this year. Save seed from the best fruit, the juiciest and most flavorful. Do it on a small scale, maybe a couple of varieties to start with. Re-plant them next year and watch them closely. Save seeds from the best again – this is the process of selection, which can produce amazing results in a short time-frame of just a couple years. You’ll learn from close observation what works and what doesn’t and then progress to more and more successes!

      Reply
  7. Mike
    Mike says:

    Thanks for all the information. I didn’t know what heirlooms seeds where and now I do and a whole lot more. I also liked how well you answer peoples questions. Thank you again.

    Reply
  8. Brad
    Brad says:

    Stephen, Great article! Really helped clear up some questions I had. Also, thank you for the concise and easy to understand answers to our questions. Please keep it up.
    God bless!

    Reply
    • Stephen
      Stephen says:

      Thanks Brad, glad to have helped. Thanks also for the kind comments!

      Reply
  9. Cathy
    Cathy says:

    Thank you so much for explaining the differences. Very clear, very educational.

    Reply
    • Stephen
      Stephen says:

      You are welcome Cathy, I hope this article helps clear up any confusion!

      Reply
  10. Melia
    Melia says:

    Hi Stephen,
    Thank you so much for all your information! I was wandering if you have any articles on how to save wheat seed? I have heard it’s difficult, but what like to hear what you have to say.

    Thank you,
    Melia

    Reply
    • Stephen
      Stephen says:

      Thanks for your kind words, Melia! I have written an article on the White Sonora Wheat, which includes a section on cleaning and threshing it. Let us know if you grow it and what you think of it!

      Reply
  11. Chad
    Chad says:

    Hi Stephen,

    I’m looking to start a small organic garden and I’m looking for the “purest” seeds I can find. I’m still getting hung up on some terminology, however.

    Specifically, I’m still getting a bit confused by Organic USDA certified seeds vs. seeds that are not Organic USDA certified, but are instead non-GMO, non-hybrid, Heirloom seeds. I understand that organic is a method used to to grow crops, but when the term is applied to seeds, is it important?

    For example, I’m thinking of buying seeds from a company online that offers Heirloom, Non-GMO, Non-Hybrid, Open Pollinating Seeds. They have also made the Safe Seed Pledge and are not connected to Monsanto or any of their related companies. However, on their FAQ page it states in response to “Are all your seeds Organic?”: “All the seeds listed on the website are 100% Non-GMO. Some seeds are certified organic and will be labeled as such on the site.”

    So, does that mean that there seeds could have come from plants that were grown with non-organic methods even though the seeds are non-GMO, Heirloom, non-hybrid, open-pollinating seeds? Are these particular seeds safe to buy if I’m starting an organic garden?

    Your help is much appreciated

    Reply
    • Stephen
      Stephen says:

      Chad, first you need to define what you mean by “pure”. That is an ambiguous term and can mean as much as “natural” does today. Certified Organic only means that the food (or seed) was grown according to the National Organic Program (NOP) standards, nothing more, much like Kosher is a standard of food production. Both seed varieties can be heirloom, non-GMO, etc., etc. One is Certified Organic and the other isn’t. That’s the difference.

      You also must understand that heirloom and non-hybrid mean the exact same thing. All heirlooms are by definition non-hybrid. The same applies with open pollinated and non-hybrid, they mean the same thing.

      Answering the question of “Are all your seeds organic?” with “All seeds are 100% non-GMO” doesn’t answer the question at all. Yes, this could mean that the non-organic seeds were grown with questionable methods, but that is something that you would have to ask the company for further clarification on.

      It seems to me that your question really relates to seed quality. This is important to know, and it takes getting to know the company better to know what quality of seed they offer. We work hard to produce the highest quality seed possible, and we say this without bragging or hesitation, because we spend a lot of time on it. For more info, read our article, “The Tale of Two Seeds- Heirloom vs Hybrid Seed Production.” “Caretakers of the Seeds” will also show you more about how and why we are “Seed People”.

      It all comes down to this – do you trust this company? Do they explain what they are doing and why? Do they answer your questions, or leave you with more than you started with?

      Buy seeds from the company that you trust and feel has the best, highest quality seeds on the market. You won’t pay the lowest price, but you won’t feel let down either.

      Reply
  12. Misilla
    Misilla says:

    Very informative! I was given some Dr. Baggett’s tomato seeds that were marked “heriloom” although now I know they aren’t…I have grown glass gem corn and scarlet runner beans…..they are such beautiful seeds! Thanks for posting this article! Misilla

    Reply
    • Stephen
      Stephen says:

      You are welcome Misilla! The scarlet runners are grown extensively by landscape architects for their beauty, but are delicious as well as huge pollinator attractants.

      Reply
  13. Nada
    Nada says:

    Hi,

    I wanted to understand something about “organic vegetables”. If they are organic does that refer to the method of production only or does it also refer to the fact that the seed of the vegetable is not GMO? And with regard to your list of GMO crops. I have read that some of the crops that are mostly GMO also include red beets, canola and squash. Is that correct?

    Nada

    Reply
    • Stephen
      Stephen says:

      When a veggie is labeled “Certified Organic” that refers to the method of production – grown to the National Organic Program (NOP) standards. However, in the definition of what is eligible for organic certification, it specifically excludes GMO varieties. So I suppose that it is both!

      As far as the crops you ask about, they are not all crops that are mostly GMO – with the exception of canola. Sugar beets are the only beet crop that is GMO, and there are a very few squash that have been genetically modified, but aren’t readily available on the market when we last researched them. Most gardeners aren’t interested in sugar beets, but there are still non-GMO varieties available to grow.

      Reply
  14. Cassie
    Cassie says:

    Very informative, exactly what I was looking for and clearly answered my questions (just a novice gardener). Thank you

    Reply
    • Stephen
      Stephen says:

      Thanks Cassie! I hope that it helps you in choosing seeds for your garden this year!

      Reply
  15. Marty B.
    Marty B. says:

    Thanks for your help and website, Stephen. How long can the heirloom non GMO seed be stored and still be viable. Does it have to be planted first season? And what is the best way to store?
    Marty

    Reply
  16. Martha
    Martha says:

    dear Stephen
    thank you for all this information! My question is related to seeds from things like apples. I learned that the only way you get a true-to-parent tree/fruit is to take a cutting as the seeds would not be genetically the same? if this is true, what is the difference between seeds from, say, an heirloom tomato, versu an apple tree?
    Thank you!
    Martha

    Reply
    • Stephen
      Stephen says:

      You are welcome Martha, thanks for the questions!

      To really answer your question would require a pretty substantial, in-depth answer, but I will give you an overview. Some species just don’t grow true from seed, while others almost always do. Open pollinated (non-hybrid) tomato seed will almost always grow true to type, while chile seed is more contrary. We have visited a world-renown chile breeder and grower who has been working on several varieties of chile peppers for over 30 years, and some will still show variation in the peppers.

      Apple seeds almost never grow true to the parents, much like potato and garlic seeds. This is one of the reasons you always buy apples, potatoes and garlic for planting as seedlings which are grafts for the apples, and whole potatoes and garlic heads to plant. Part of it has to do with the genetics of the species – peppers are much more genetically complex than tomatoes, as are apples. Part of it has to do with the particular survival/reproduction tactics of the species – apple trees can live for hundreds of years, so having a lot of seedlings that are genetically the same very close together is not a good long-term survival mechanism. It is thought that apples originated in Kazakhstan, and there are groves of apple trees that are close to a thousand years old!

      I hope this helps, but to really understand you’ll need to do some research and reading online.

      Reply
  17. Corey
    Corey says:

    Stephen,
    Thanks for this article, it was very informative. My question is can I, or anyone else, get viable seeds from fruit or vegetables from the supermarket? Such as can I harvest, save and plant the seeds from Bell Peppers, tomatoes, etc that I buy at the store?

    Reply
    • Stephen
      Stephen says:

      Excellent question Corey! The short answer is “it depends”, meaning that the success in saving seeds from the supermarket depends on a number of factors, very few of which you have any control or input on. The single biggest one is if the vegetable in question is a hybrid or open pollinated. If it is a hybrid, like most tomatoes and peppers today, then you will have much less chance of success in saving your seeds. The second factor is how mature the seeds are – for seed production, mature seed means an over-ripe vegetable that is not likely to be found in the market. Most veggies are picked young with very immature seeds, so the chances are less that you will find viable seed.

      Having said that, I know of a number of gardeners that have taken seed from supermarket veggies, cleaned and dried them and had success next season – just because the odds are stacked against you doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try, just be realistic with your expectations and you won’t be disappointed.

      Reply

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

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