When it comes to seed storage, having viable seeds that will produce beautiful and bountiful plants is crucial. This is why you’ll see many people speaking and writing about heirloom seeds regarding emergency preparedness. Heirloom seeds come from generations of plants that have proven the lineage to be reliable. To be considered “heirlooms,” they must be 50+ years old, or at least two generations. Now, it must be said that heirloom seeds do not produce plants with perfectly rounded visages. For instance, both heirloom tomatoes and apples tend to be lumpy. Still, they taste amazing in comparison to their “conventional” counterparts because they haven’t been modified to produce aesthetics over flavor.
Some heirloom seeds and their produce have been in use for centuries, so when you plant an heirloom, you’re bringing that past to life. It’s a beautiful thing, and you won’t regret it. Let’s go over what types of seeds you can find in heirloom varieties.
Many people think of heirlooms and automatically assume tomatoes, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. With some careful research, it’s possible to find vegetables such as:
- Brussel sprouts
- Tomato
- Mustard greens
- Green peas
- Romaine lettuce
- Turnips
- Corn
- Squash
- Collards
- Broccoli
- Onion
- Bibb lettuce
- Eggplant
- Squash
- Spinach
- Cauliflower
- Cucumber
- Kale
- Bell Pepper
- Radish
- Carrots
- Okra
- Beans
- Celery
- Cabbage
- Beets
- Swiss Chard
- Cantaloupe
- Pumpkin
Even herbs come in heirloom varieties, though it’s often more difficult to harvest the seeds for the next season. Still, it’s worth looking into if you want fresh herbs that you can use or dry/dehydrate for storage. You can find such herbs as:
- Angelica
- Marjoram
- Basil
- Tarragon
- Rosemary
- Peppermint
- Lemongrass
- Mugwort
- Parsley
- Oregano
- Mint
- Epazote
- Thyme
- Cumin
- Cilantro
- Chives
- Sage
- Dill
- Anise
Before you start your quest for the perfect heirloom varieties, you must ensure that they haven’t been purposely mislabeled. In fact, many gardeners shy away from purchasing heirloom seeds from companies and instead use seed exchanges or ask friends and family. If you’re looking into emergency preparedness, this is your best bet for ensuring you’re getting true heirloom quality and not hybrid seeds posing as heirlooms.
It’s often best to wait until the seeds have dried on the plant to harvest them, so check your local harvest schedule and set up a time to acquire your seeds straight from the plant. Prolific gardeners will have no problem giving you a time window for when the seeds will be ready. Try to acquire seeds from several different plants of the same variety within a garden so that you can rest assured you have enough for proper pollination, which is an essential factor when growing your heirloom plants. You do not want to cross-pollinate, as you’ll risk the traits you’ve come to expect.
After you’ve acquired your seeds, proper storage is vital. Allow them to fully dry in a well-ventilated, sun-free space. For short-term storage, an airtight container in a cool, dry area is sufficient. For long term storage, consider making space in the back of your refrigerator or freezer.
Remember, the great thing about heirlooms is that you can plant the seeds, harvest the food, and then harvest the seeds for later use over and over again. If you follow the proper procedures, your family can use the same varieties for generations!