I was just first exposed to the wondrous possibilities of heirloom variety vegetables, herbs, and flowers only several months ago. Sure, I had heard of them but had never the opportunity to pick them up. I have actually been able to collect a small handful for my online shop which will be up and running in January and feature such heirlooms as scarlet runner beans, calabash gourd, Amish paw-paw, Kazakh lettuce greens , and so on. These will be available in small numbers only just as I collected them.
Growing heirloom varieties offer the gardener or horticulturist the opportunity to grow a plant that seems to be something straight out of history. Many of the varieties of tomato, pepper, and pumpkin available from the Amish or local greenhouse has not seen the shelves of a market or superstore in generations. This is due to the American shift in agriculture towards selects strains and varieties of fruits and vegetables only. This is due to these certain abilities to hold well being picked mechanically, holding well to particular temperature, surviving shipment, and so on. But certainly, because certain varieties were chosen over others for these abilities does not mean that they are better for one, health wise and anyone who has had experience with heirloom varieties knows where the taste is at! The other wonder from growing these seeds is collecting them after the harvest, showing off your wonderfully exotic and unknown plants to the world. Do not forget that heirlooms exist of cuttings from fruit trees and berry bushes. Imagine growing a cutting from an old farmhouse of the American Civil War, untouched for generations.
Although heirloom varieties may be a bit more expensive and take a little hunting to find, their purchase is far more of a better investment for us small scale farmers, horticulturalists, and gardeners. There are all sorts of heirloom varieties for all sorts of zones, color combinations, and needs for space restrictions.
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