HOMEHeirloom Plants
Plants, variety and heirloom vegetables have been around since early human history. These type of Old fashioned plants are not yet used in modern large scale agriculture. They have distinct characteristics which include appearance, taste, color, smell and unique histories. The plants have been handed down from generations of family gardners. The growing of heritage, historic plants has become very popular over the last ten years in the United States and Europe.
If you are looking to plant a flower garden similar to your grandmothers, special "historical" flowers are still in abundance today. They have been passed down through the generations from family to family and neighbor to neighbor. They are an open-pollinated cultivar that has not been in large scale agri-businesses. In old times flowers were grown for the protection of animals at night, but most were grown as herbs or for medicinal use. You will find seed companies who carry an abundance of these seeds today. Some of the heirloom varieties may include Hollyhock, Sweet Pea, Snapdragons and Morning Glory's. Large Antique or what some call "old" roses are a timely favorite that are sought after because of their beauty and frangrance. They date back to the time of the Roman Empire. Rose petals were used at wealthy celebrations and rose perfume was used by the very rich. Heirloom roses have more fragrance than hybrid roses. Old garden roses are easy to grow, winter hardy, and disease-resistant.
Heirloom vegetable plants are still around today because farmers want to preserve their marvelous taste and other fine qualities. This allows gardeners of today to see, taste and appreciate the cultural artifacts of yesterday. Heirloom vegetables mostly range from 100-150 years old with some that are even older. These vegetables are open-pollunated cultivars and are not hybrids. They will consistantly come back year after year from seed just like the year before where hybrids will not. Hybrid seeds might not germinate because they are sterile. If they do produce a plant they will not take on the same characteristics as their parent the year before.
American Heirloom