North Texas Vegetable Gardeners Forum

General => The Lounge => Topic started by: Brian Gallimore on February 05, 2012, 10:10:24 PM

Title: What exactly are Heirlooms and what makes them better?
Post by: Brian Gallimore on February 05, 2012, 10:10:24 PM

Heirloom just means antique. Most people really mean open pollinated when they say heirloom.  Open pollinated means you can save the seeds, plant them, and get a new plant similar to the plant you collected the seeds from. (as opposed to hybrid - if you plant seeds collected from a hybrid you will get something like one of the parents, but not like the plant you want)

Title: Re: What exactly are Heirlooms and what makes them better?
Post by: Brian Gallimore on February 28, 2012, 02:29:32 PM

here is a better / more eloquent / more complete answer:

http://www.karenshanley.com/2008/01/whats-the-difference-between-heirloom-hybrid-and-gmo-seeds/

(hattip Kelly for the link)

Title: Re: What exactly are Heirlooms and what makes them better?
Post by: Brian Gallimore on May 13, 2012, 01:27:09 PM

The difference between open-pollinated, heirloom, and hybrid seeds
By: Christy, Seed Savers Exchange | Published: MAY 2, 2012

http://blog.seedsavers.org/open-pollinated-heirloom-and-hybrid-seeds/