Preserving Your Heirloom Plants

When it comes to capturing a slice of history at home, why not take it outside? Antique plant varieties—more commonly known as heirloom plants—allow you to take a trip down memory lane and enjoy the cultivars you enjoyed as a child, whether it was the sweet corn from the farmer’s market down the road or your grandmother’s morning glories.

According to Popular Mechanics, heirloom plants are "open pollinating non-hybrids, capable of reproducing themselves, true-to-type, from seed. While some hybrids—crossbred plants—produce viable seeds, these seldom produce a second-generation hybrid. Instead, they revert to one of the parent plants."

And if heirloom cultivars could speak, what a rich story they would tell! While many date back 100 years or so, some boast an amazing 2,000-year history. Many traveled around the world before arriving in America. Martha Stewart weighs in with a video showcasing her favorite seasonal heirloom vegetables.

But there’s more to heirloom gardening than nostalgia—for many, it’s about reclaiming the loss of genetic seed diversity caused by the hybridization of plants. Learn about the importance of planting heirloom seeds. Others agree that the abundant varieties of heirloom fruits and veggies boast a richer, more enjoyable flavor and scent than their hybrid counterparts.

To landscape with heirloom plants, look at old photographs and books for inspiration. Try to keep plants, garden structures, and other architectural features as close to the period style as possible. Learn more about creating a period garden.

My grandmother gave my mother cuttings of various plants that have roamed her garden for years, and I’m hoping my mother will share these plants with me someday (when I have my own yard!). To ensure your heirloom garden stays for generations, make cuttings that you can pass along to family members. HGTV explains how.

Even if you don’t have access to a relative’s heirloom plants, it’s easy to find heirloom seeds. Old House Web provides a list of heirloom plant suppliers. Also check out the Seed Savers Exchange, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving heirloom seeds.

What are your favorite heirloom plants? Or what kind of heirloom seeds are you searching for? Share here.

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All