Growing heirlooms offer many advantages for today's gardener. Varieties of yesteryear have stronger flavors, and come in many wonderful colors, shapes and sizes. The more common varieties such as Black-Seeded Simpson Lettuce and Calendula are easy to grow, however, there are a few varieties that need a more experienced gardener to achieve success. Some of the uncommon cultivars are susceptible to disease and pest problems. New resistant cultivars have been created, and may be the only types to grow, in order to assure success.
Heirlooms can be finicky as well.
They can take longer to germinate or germinate sporadically and can have growing traits unlike anything you have seen before. Heirlooms give us a peek into life of earlier times. Holding a seed that contains all the genetic codes of the original plant, which could be over 100 years old, can bring wonder and excitement. It's likening to opening a tomb and holding an artifact from thousands of years ago. Heirlooms give us the chance to reconnect with history.