WHAT IS AN HEIRLOOM SEED?

HORTICULTURE TOPIC: What Is An Heirloom Seed?

Nancy Percivall, Committee Chair for Horticulture, discussed the differences between heirloom, open pollinated and hybrid seeds.

• Heirloom is a plant variety that has a history of being passed down within a family or community. An heirloom variety must be open-pollinated, but not all open-pollinated plants are heirlooms.
• Open-pollination is when pollination occurs by insect, bird, wind, or other natural mechanisms.
• Hybridization is a controlled method of pollination in which the pollen of two different varieties or species is crossed by human intervention.

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HEIRLOOM GARDENER – WHAT IS AN HEIRLOOM SEED?