Why Open-Pollinated, Heirloom seeds are BEST~

With all the information out there about hybrid and GMO seeds it can be hard to muddle through the mire about what is actually best.  I am here to offer you a breakdown of the different types of seeds and why, most of the time (there are a few exceptions) an open pollinated heirloom variety is by far your best choice.

OPEN POLLINATED: a seed of this variety is one that is pollinated by natural means (birds, bees, insects, etc) 

Why is this important?

• Because pollen is not restricted in any way, open-pollinated plants are more diverse genetically. This means more variety within plant populations, which in turn can mean that plants have the ability to adapt to regional climates and growing conditions.  The seed will produce offspring that is an EXACT replica, unless there is pollen crossing between same species varieties (called cross pollination) 

HEIRLOOM:  a seed or plant that has historically been shared within a group, area or family. (think of it like a family treasure that has been passed from grandma to grandchild on through the generations, like a steamer trunk or valuable piece of glassware).

• Heirloom varieties are open-pollinated varieties, however, so as not to confuse, not all open-pollinated varieties can be considered heirlooms. (it depends on your definition of heirloom)

HYBRID: This is seed produced by a carefully controlled pollination of two different varieties of seed or species of seed that has been crossed by human intervention. This method has been around since the 1920's and is not the same as GMO seed production.

It is possible for hybridization to occur naturally through cross pollination by insects and birds, but commercially available hybrids are deliberately created to breed a desired trait. Do know that any seed labeled as a hybrid is by nature, genetically unstable which means you cannot save seed from this plant for use in future gardens.  The plants will not remain true copies and will be much less hearty and vigorous.  When using hybrid seeds you have to purchase your new seeds yearly. 

GMO:  Not to be confused with hybridization, GMO (genetically modified organism) seed is seed that has been modified in such a manner as could NEVER occur in nature.  

These type of seeds are often designed with the insertion of genes from other species, including insect and animal genes...weird and frankenstein-like right?  This is not hybridization where two tomato plants are spliced to form a more hearty and disease resistant tomato, this is insertion of foreign matter to obtain heartier varieties and is only available to large scale commercial growers.

Okay, now that I have shared all of that information let me just show you what surprised me and made me happy yesterday.  I went out to the garden with the intention of planting some spinach, lettuce and kale (all cold weather crops) in this beautifully warm spring weather we have been having.  I was bending down to weed my lettuce bed when I saw this...

Other than the few darker green bits of clover in there, those are all lettuce sprouts!  My lettuce from last year simply re-seeded itself.  I found basil and cilantro today that had also done the same.  I love these little garden treats.  I dutifully tucked my packet of lettuce seeds back into my apron pocket and smiled.  This means I should have lettuce galore in a few short weeks, and I didn't even have to do anything this year to get it!