As mentioned in my previous post, heirloom seeds are seeds that have been saved for generations from families all over the world. These seeds are usually open-pollinated (non-hybrid) and have been saved and grown by generations of backyard gardeners for a variety of vegetables and flower plants.

When buying heirloom seeds, find out if the vegetable seeds are old and open-pollinated which will indicate that it is an heirloom. When gardeners refer to open-pollinated, it means that a vegetable or flower plant can be grown from seed and will come back ‘true to type’ and the quality will be just like its parent.

Seed companies today offer hundreds of heirloom vegetable seeds. While some of these are standard varieties, others may be seeds that were popular once but somehow disappeared through the years and some gardeners are bringing them back. There is just something about all the different shapes and flavors of heirloom vegetables that keeps bringing more and more people into the heirloom vegetable craze. (photo courtesy of flickr.com)

And in this mix, you may find varieties that according to some experts they think that some heirloom vegetables are traditional Native American crops and others are old European crops. Nonetheless, heirloom vegetables are here to stay and preferred by many people today. The main reason for this is that vegetables grown from heirloom seeds have lots of flavor and do not compare to the ones you buy in stores today.

If you are new to heirloom vegetable gardening, keep in mind that some heirloom vegetables grown at home will not have perfect colors and are usually not formed like the ones you buy in the stores. As an example, when growing heirloom tomatoes you may get some red ones, purple, green and orange as well. The shape of these tomatoes will also vary from one plant to another. Regardless of the shape and color of these tomatoes, they taste great.

Here is a description of a few heirloom vegetables to get you started with your heirloom vegetable garden.

Tomato Brandywine – Botanical name is Lycopersicon Brandywine

Photo courtesy of Park Seed Co.
This heirloom tomato resembles our modern hybrids but Brandywine produces big purplish-red tomatoes. The shape of the tomato is not uniform and no two will look exactly alike but the flavor is great.

Tomato Contoluto Genovese – Botanical name is Lycopersicon Costoluto Genovese

Photo courtesy of Park Seed Co.
This tomato is ideal for canning and considered one of the best for pastes and sauces. Some people say that once you try this tomato you may like it so much that you never have to buy tomato paste or sauce at the store again. It does not have plate appeal because of its knobby, lobed look, but it is great on flavor.

The Contoluto Genovese tomato has been treasured in Italy for generations and it has been said that it is the secret ingredient in family Italian recipes. The flavor comes from the high acidic content of this tomato which makes it ideal for any recipe that calls for tomato paste or sauce.

Eggplant Prosperosa – Botanical name is Solanum melongena Prosperosa

Photo courtesy of Park Seed Co.
This heirloom from Tuscany is another Italian favorite for generations. The flavor of this heirloom eggplant is more sweet and mild than the hybrids you buy in stores today making this a favorite in Italy. You can fry or roast this eggplant but most people agree that the best flavor seems to emerge when it is baked.

Organic Lettuce Deer Tongue – Botanical name is Lactuca Sative Organic Deer Tongue

Photo courtesy of Park Seed Co.
Wow! Here is an American favorite since 1740 and it is very tolerant to both cold and heat. The history behind this lettuce states that the Europeans settling in the New World wrote about it in the 1740’s so we don’t know how far back the cultivation goes among people from North America.

Since this heirloom lettuce has been around for centuries, it has adapted to a wide range of climates and it tolerates both hot and cold weather. The leaves are triangular and somewhat pointed which is why it was named deer tongue. This seed is Certified Organic from Clemson University DPI according to standards.

To your gardening success,
Diana

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Post tags: backyard gardeners, heirloom eggplant, heirloom vegetables, Organic Gardening, organic lettuce, organic tomatoes, vegetable gardens, vegetable seeds

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When you read all the ingredients in regular food, it is no wonder why more and more people are choosing to go organic. And, as I understand it, in Europe there is a commission that has launched a campaign telling consumers of the benefits of organic food and this commission is supporting anyone who is involved in farming their own organic food.

Organic food not only tastes better but it also offers more nutritional value. It contains more vitamins and minerals than regular non organic products. For these reasons, organic is a word that we are beginning to hear more frequently. So, what is stopping most people from farming or creating their own organic food garden? In my opinion, it is the lack of knowledge about organic food gardening.

The problem is that most people just don’t know where to start and I am here to tell you that you can get step-by-step instructions on how to create a robust organic food garden.
If you are new to organic food gardening, definitely consider a great ebook that I discovered written by Julie Villani. Julie is a passionate organic food grower who has in-depth knowledge on the subject matter. According to Julie, organic food gardening is not rocket science and anyone can learn it.

In her Organic Food Gardening Beginner’s Manual, Julie will teach you:

• the basic concepts involved in organic food gardening
• the best area to grow your vegetables
• how to have healthy, fertile soil without costing a fortune
• how to feed the soil – the organic ways
• how to create an easy ‘no dig’ vegetable plot
• how to save lots of money by growing your food from seeds
• essential tips to successfully transplanting seedling
• tips for the most effective watering
• why mulching is a must in every organic garden
• easy ways to keep your garden weed free
• how to slash your food bill in half, feeling healthy and energized
• how to make great compost for your organic garden
• what never to put into your compost
• how to make your own organic liquid fertilizers
• natural way to protect your plants from pests and diseases
• top 10 easiest veggies to grow
• secrets to growing lush, healthy herbs
• why you should include perennial vegetables
• what to do to grow your food if space is limited
• how much to plant for your family’s needs

If you follow the step-by-step instructions in Julie’s beginner’s manual, you will have an abundance of vigorous plants, bursting with vitamins and minerals, free of pesticides, which creates healthy food for you and your family. Julie’s Organic Food Gardening Beginner’s Manual has the most up-to-date information on organic food gardening.

Enjoy,
Diana

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