What to choose: Hybrid or heirloom?
Gardeners endure long winters by pouring over seed catalogs. We fold over the corners of pages, circle possibilities with red pens, and highlight more varieties than we could ever fit in our gardens. Thankfully, most of us come to our senses and edit our dreams before placing orders.
Among the decisions we make is the choice between heirloom and hybrid seed varieties. The selection of heirloom vs. hybrid seeds has been hotly debated for years. To be educated consumers, we must first understand the difference.
A hybrid plant occurs when plant breeders select two different types of parent plants with specific desirable traits to create a new improved plant, or hybrid, with the best characteristics of both parents.
Heirloom varieties are open-pollinated plants that are more than 50 years old. Heirloom seeds are often passed down through generations of a family, community or region of the country.
Open-pollinated plants result from pollination by bees, insects, wind or even the plant itself if it has both male and female flowers (ex: cucumbers, squash, pumpkins and melons). Seeds of these plants come true to type, but because pollinators spread pollen among plants in proximity to each other, they can be quite genetically diverse.
Hybrids and heirlooms each have advantages. Benefits of modern hybrids include increased vigor, better productivity, more resistance to pests and diseases, consistency and dependability of the size and color of vegetables, and earlier maturity.
An example of a hybrid tomato is Big Beef. An All-America Selections Award Winner in 1994, it is one of the most popular tomatoes. It grows quickly into a robust vining plant resistant to a multitude of diseases. Big Beef is easy to grow and produces large, 8- to 12-ounce fruit ideal for slicing.
I think most would agree the biggest advantage of growing heirloom varieties is exceptional flavor. Other benefits of heirlooms include higher nutrition, less expensive seeds, and saved seeds produce new plants true to type, or just like their parent plant. Heirlooms also have fantastic stories of coming to America or being passed down through generations of family gardeners.
Brandywine is a popular heirloom that dates back to 1885. Known for its amazing tangy flavor, its vines grow very tall and produce large, 9- to 16-ounce, reddish-pink tomatoes.
Both hybrids and heirlooms have their shortcomings, too. The seeds from hybrids will not grow into plants like their parent. New seeds must be purchased every year.
The growth and yield of heirlooms is less predictable than that of hybrids. Heirlooms often take longer to mature and bear fewer fruits.
The debate will continue. I propose gardeners help preserve the genetic diversity and heritage of homegrown vegetables by growing heirloom varieties, and grow hybrids that require less care while producing more. Gardeners can have the best of both worlds.
• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and the garden center manager of The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield, IL 60190. Call (630) 293-1040 or visit online at planterspalette.com. She blogs at gardenwithdiana.com.