Heirloom Seeds

Q. I am interested in starting a vegetable garden this year and wonder about the advantages of planting heirloom seeds.

A. Heirloom vegetable plants are hardy, enduring plants that over generations have acclimated themselves to the weather, the soil conditions and the particular disease and insect problems of a given area. They have proven to be reliable producers of extremely flavorful, nutritious vegetables that have a strong resistance to the pests and problems that plague overly hybridized plants. The seeds produced by these vegetables can be collected and planted the following year, and the resultant crop will be “true” to the original parent — a characteristic not found with most hybrid plants.