What Are the Pros and Cons of Growing Heirloom Vegetables?
The main focus of the garden we are planning for next year is quality not quantity. Last year was our experiment year so we focus more on quantity. I have also heard that heirloom varieties are dying off and people want to protect them, is that a reason to grow them?
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Tagged with: Garden Planning • Growing Vegetables • heirloom varieties • Heirloom Vegetables • People • Pros And Cons • Pros Cons
Filed under: Your Garden Q and A
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Heirloom varieties of plants and animals are dying out. The serious part about this is, heirlooms are genetically valuable. They carry different genetic information about resistance to various diseases. So we can understand about genetic diversity, lets look at the cheetah. Cheetahs are in danger of becoming extinct. The reason being, cheetahs have evolved with almost identical genetics from one animal to another. These animals could have absolutely no relation to each other, and yet; genetically, they are clones. Because there is no difference in genetics, the cats have no resistance to various diseases. Canine Distemper is decimating them. Because there is no difference genetically from cheetahs that were born hundreds of miles apart, it is impossible to make genetic alterations to boost immunity to canine distemper. There isn’t enough genetic diversity to make any changes.
That’s why saving heirlooms is so important. They contain genetic information that could save a species. Hybrid tomatoes have to have resistance bred into them. Many plants are being genetically modified to carry Roundup in their genes. While this may seem like a good idea in the short term, in the long run, weeds will become resistant to Roundup, because of the constant exposure to it. Then they will have to find another chemical herbicide to take it’s place.
Some heirloom cultivars could have resistance to blossom end rot. Others can be resistant to powdery mildew. If we lose the genetic diversity, we lose the ability to avert disaster when the hybrids fail.
pro- better taste
con- susceptible to disease and pests
My heirloom tomatoes have one to three tomatoes per plant on average (think this may be because they don’t like the heat).
Grow a bit of both, the heirloom ones i have are going to be giant purple tomatoes when they eventually ripen (looking forward to them), and the ones nearby from seeds from shop tomatoes have got some nice red ready to pick fruit on them to enjoy now.
I find no pros to growing heirlooms at least tomatoes anyway. The best taste comes from hybrids derived from indeterminate heirlooms. First to do any good for a variety dying off you would have to be an expert plant breeder, rest assured these seeds are stored and used to come up with the productive hybrids. This is done by universities, there are notable breeders that contribute to tomato varieties, they usually get their products listed for sale, and they make a real contribution for the future. If you don’t understand plant genetic there is no pros to growing heirlooms because, their taste are equaled by some of the better hybrids, such as jet star, big beef, super sonic, lemon boy, pink girl, beefmaster, Burpee’s super steak Hybrid, parks whooper, parks beefy boy, and several more, if you notice in tomatoes none of these are determinate, never found a determinate that taste good, have a friend that has recommended Empire, going to try it but already for the disappointment. Other vegetables heirlooms may be more productive in comparison with hybrids. But usually hybrids are more productive, and the breeder is always striving to improve the breeding. There are vaults that heir loom varieties are stored so they won’t be lost. This is important, but unless you have the knowledge to contribute to the genetics, it won’t make a whittle of difference except you will raise less.
Hybrids are are a scheme to control the market on making profits on seeds. To prevent large companies from manipulating the market on seeds, keep planting heirlooms. That way you don’t have to fork off money to conglomerates to grow something to eat. You may get better vegetables by using hybrids, but in the end you lose your right to grow your own and the world is then controlled by big companies. All they have to do is freeze the market on seed distribution and starve the world. The wise will continue to retain their heirloom varieties. Be wise.
firstly. what ‘cajundude’ said was correct… watch "the world according to monsonto"
we need to save our heirloom seeds…
it is correct that they don’t always have the disease resistance at first… but all the other genetically modified or hybrid plants/trees may have it initially but soon the pathogen (insect/disease) finds a way to attack the plant- evolution/species survival
for example: look at scab resistance in crab/apple trees; or gmo cotton used in India; or gmo corn in mexico.. and many, many more examples
the argument for hybrid tomatoes: tomatoe blight… well just use cultural practices to control it..like keeping leaves off the ground, watering during day, rotating planting areas each year, place plants next to other non tomatoe plants
this year I will be using all heirloom plants-fruits and veges.. I will also save my own seeds
In general, heirloom vegetables are more difficult to grow because they are more susceptible to pests and diseases. You will also get less fruit/vegetable production from each plant.
Now for the advantages – many people swear by the taste of heirloom vegetables over hybrid varieties (I fall into this category for tomatoes, but not so much for beans, peas, squash and herbs). Most chefs at fine dining restaurants much prefer heirloom tomatoes over hybrids and they are willing to pay a little bit more for them.
Tomatoes seem to be the most desired heirloom vegetable (fruit, really) and most people don’t have an opinion one way or the other about other heirloom vegetables or herbs. Some heirloom varieties can be traced back a couple hundred years and it’s kind of interesting to think that you are growing and eating the exact same variety of produce that your great-great-great grandfather grew and ate. Heirloom vegetables are also advantageous if you are interested in the sustainability of growing your own food. With an heirloom plant, you can save the seeds and plant them again next year and get the exact same plant and fruit/vegetable as the parent plant. This can generally not be accomplished with hybrid varieties. If you plant a seed from a hybrid vegetable, there’s no telling what you might get – a large plant with no produce, produce that is different in color, shape, size, texture and taste, etc….
The choice is really up to you. I’ve grown several different varieties of heirloom vegetables over the years with varying success. I now grow only heirloom tomatoes every year, along with hybrid varieties. I usually figure that I need 3-4 heirloom plants to produce the same number of tomatoes as a single hybrid variety.
Also keep in mind that "heirloom" does not necessarily mean organic. Some heirloom seeds have been chemically treated and can also be grown using fertilizers, insecticides, etc…
The following link has lots of good tips and advice for planting, watering, fertilizing, harvesting and storing lots of different types of vegetables, along with information about different varieties, recipes, etc… Good luck!
http://www.backyard-vegetable-gardening.com/