Old by Any Other Name

Images: Batch of heirloom tomatoes. Old fragrant peony. Wild petunia. Heirloom hollyhocks.

What is an Antique/Heirloom flower?

The most widely accepted definition is antique or heirloom plants are open-pollinated varieties that originated 50 or more years ago. Open-pollinated flowers are fertilized by insects, hummingbirds or wind, and the resulting seeds will produce plants that are identical or very similar to the parent plant.

Heirlooms have typically adapted to whatever climate and soil they're grown in and are resistant to that region's pests, diseases and weather extremes.

The definition of the word heirloom, when describing plants, is highly debated. Here are some expert opinions:

1. The age or date point on cultivars must be over 100 years old.
2. The age or date point on cultivars must be over 50 years old.
3. Anything prior to 1945 (the end of WWII). This was the beginning of widespread hybrid use by growers and seed companies.
4. 1951 is the last year a plant can be originated and still be called an heirloom. That was the year widespread introductions of the first hybrid varieties hit the markets.
5. Another set of experts declares heirloom cultivars are those plants that have been nurtured, selected and handed down from one family member to another for many generations.

There is another definition similar, but definitely different, called "commercial heirlooms." They were introduced commercially generations ago and had enough merit to have been saved, maintained and handed down even when the seed company or business has gone out of business and the seeds have been dropped from the market.

Most experts agree the plants must be open pollinated and no genetically modified organisms used.

There is a growing controversy concerning the growing and storage of heirloom seeds by only seed companies and government entities. It is feared all dependency will be insured to only those seed companies and the true heirlooms will be lost forever.

Heirloom plants are typically vegetables and before industrialization of agriculture, a much wider variety of plant foods was grown for human consumption.

The industrialization maximizes consistency for shipping, storing, shape, color and tolerance to drought, frost, or pesticides. Nutrition, flavor, and variety are frequently secondary or not a concern at all. This has led many to turn "back" to heirloom varieties in their personal gardens.

There is also seed gene banks - a new and controversial movement.

Many of our national parks practice "in-situ" conservation" of seed producing plant species. This allows the targeted seeds to grow in their natural environment, unlike an arboretum that grows them in a protected state.

Aside from the above bigger issues and convoluted definitions, gardeners grow heirloom plants for many reasons:

• There is the historical interest of preserving a plant that was grown by our ancestors, friends, historical figures, or during a particular era.
• Increasing the available gene pool for future generations. An effort to keep these plant from becoming extinct.
• Use in organic gardening.
• Others simply want the taste or variety of vegetables.
• And, those that want to grow something rare or different.

Heirloom plants may take a little more care in the beginning, an ability to expect and tolerate the more subdued, and a realization you're in for a different experience.

I once grew an old Polish heirloom tomato that had purple flesh. It was wonderfully delicious but getting past the purple took a little mental adjustment.

If you've never grown heirloom plants, give one a try. Or, if you currently grow them, share the seeds. I never look at my "Cousin Bonnie" hollyhocks (started from seeds she shared) that I don't think of family.

"Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." - II Corinthians 9:10-11