9 Reasons to Grow Heirloom Vegetables
Heirloom vegetables, in particular, can be a great addition to any garden due to the immense variety of colors, flavors, and shapes they offer. Just a couple of quick reasons to grow heirloom vegetables are that they are open-pollinated and can remain true-to-type for generations.
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9 Reasons to Grow Heirloom Vegetables
Gardening has become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people embracing the act of growing their own food.
Not only is it rewarding to be able to witness a seed grow into a full-fledged vegetable in the comfort of your own home, but it also allows you to exercise control over the ingredients in your food.
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Evergreen
Year after year, you can count on the same amazing results with these seeds! Their consistent characteristics ensure you get the same beautiful garden each season, unlike hybrid seeds which won't produce the same plants the following year.
Open Pollination
Heirloom plants are great because they pollinate naturally, with no help from us! How cool is that? Bees, birds, and even the wind are all part of the process. That means you can save up the seeds from this season, and use them to plant new heirloom plants in the spring – no need for hybrid seeds here!
Non-GMO
Heirloom seeds are always Non-GMO, meaning they haven't been tampered with by humans. No genetic modifications have been made to the plants.
Unique Produce
Heirlooms are great for stretching out your harvest season as they grow and ripen at different times, so you don't end up with a whole lot of produce all at once. Plus, they often have unique shapes and colors, making them much more interesting and beautiful than their hybrid counterparts!
Excellent Taste
Nothing beats originality! And it's no different with heirloom plants – their flavor is simply divine! Heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables are so much tastier and juicier because they're allowed to ripen in their own time, naturally, without any mass production to compromise the quality.
More Nutritious
Vegetables that are picked when they are ripe and eaten shortly after harvesting are much more nutritious than those that have been picked before they were ripe and have taken a long time to reach the grocery store. Hybrid varieties may produce a lot, but they don't always offer the same level of nutrition.
Hardiness
Growing your own heirloom vegetables from your local area is a great way to ensure a healthy harvest season after season! Not only will you be able to enjoy delicious produce, but you can rest easy knowing that these veggies are resistant to common diseases and pests. Forget those disappointing harvests that can happen when using foreign seeds – homegrown is the way to go!
Self-Sustainability
Growing heirloom varieties allows you to have a continuous supply of seeds each year – simply harvest the seeds from the same plant! When you have your own seed bank, you can become more independent and be less reliant on outside sources. Plus, you won't have to worry about any disruptions to the food supply chain.
Less Expensive In The Long Run
If you're looking to start your own seed bank, heirloom seeds are a great place to start! The upfront cost may be a bit more than conventional, but you won't need to purchase the same variety ever again. Plus, you'll be able to trade seeds with fellow gardeners and expand your selection over time – how cool is that?
I hope these reasons have given you some thought and inspiration for looking to invest more in heirloom seeds. They play such a particular part in our gardening society and ecological cycle. Imagine if we could preserve some of these fantastic vegetables for our great-great-grandchildren!
