Video: What are Heirloom Seeds?

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Heirloom seeds are seeds saved and passed on that contain specially cared for genes and plant types. Learn about growing heirloom seeds and getting into seed saving from an organic farmer in this free gardening video.

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Video Transcript

So, what are Heirloom Seeds? Well, essentially, Heirlooms are old-fashioned Heritage varieties that have been passed down from many generations, which means that someone somewhere thought they were special. And, they were either passed down by a village, a tribe, a family, maybe a region that grew them in a different country. Many of them have stories attached to them, and all of them are open-pollinated. In other words, they breed true. If you grow a seed from a tomato that you love, a Cherokee Purple or a Pineapple, you'll get a Cherokee Purple or a Pineapple, as opposed to the hybrids which were developed in a university, or a laboratory by a selected cross between two specific parents. So, the Heirlooms are essentially 50 years old, they're open-pollinated, and they've been created and passed down by generations of growers - people who recognize their value, and have been selecting and saving them through the ages.

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What are Heirloom Seeds?

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