This “Heirloom” Trend Transformed My Garden Just in Time for Spring

My house is decorated with thrifted and antique treasures — from 105-year-old chandeliers to vintage drapery. So perhaps it’s no surprise that I’ve found a way to incorporate history and old things into my gardening, too. I’ve always loved an heirloom tomato at the farmers market — the imperfect shape and rich colors always draw me in — but it wasn’t until last year that it occurred to me that I could plant my own at home. I always assumed they were grown with some secret seeds that were unavailable to the general public.

I was very wrong. As it turns out, there are heirloom seed libraries across the country that focus on the preservation of these storied seeds. So last year I got my hands on some heirloom seeds and started incorporating them into my garden. The results were transformative — here’s why. 

By definition, heirloom seeds are seeds that have a history that goes back 50 years or more. They are the seeds of “true-to-type” plants, which are vegetables, fruits, or flowers that haven’t been altered or pollinated by humans. Over the years, they’ve been carefully saved, planted again the next season, and preserved. 

Often, heirlooms might not resemble the shiny, pristine produce that you’ll see at the grocery store, but their taste makes up for their imperfect appearance. While mass-grown produce can sometimes sacrifice flavor in lieu of year-round growing at scale, heirlooms are the truest representation of the original plants. They’re flavorful and rich in nutrients. Each time I pluck an heirloom tomato for a fresh salad or roast an heirloom carrot, I feel a connection not only to my process of growing it, but also to the heritage of the seeds.

Plus, while I haven’t personally tried this (maybe this is the year?), heirloom seeds are known to be easier than other seeds to harvest and grow again the next year, with the exact same results. This isn’t the case for the typical hybrid seeds you’ll buy at a garden store, which can vary if they pop back up the next year because they’ve been specifically cross-pollinated for that year’s crop. Heirloom tomatoes, however, aren’t just a “this year” investment — they’ll literally become your garden’s heirlooms. That intentionality and focusing on something beyond the now is something I’ve been  craving right now.

Just like you can find heirloom tomatoes at most farmers markets, you can also find heirloom seeds at nurseries that specialize in a broader selection of plants. But I like to go a little further back than my local nursery. Sources like Monticello’s Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants or the Colonial Williamsburg Heirloom Seed Library offer both vegetables and flowers in their heirloom collections, and their seeds have a heritage that goes back hundreds of years in some cases. For an online-only resource, there are websites like Annie’s Heirloom Seeds and Seed Savers, which is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving heirloom seeds.

The seed packets generally run about the same as seeds you’ll purchase at a local nursery, and I have my eye on this seed packet box for the spring — I can’t turn down seeds that are beautifully packaged in addition to having historic roots.

I’m currently planning out my spring garden, and, of course, heirloom tomatoes are at the top of the list. But I’m also focusing on other heirlooms that are reportedly easy-to-grow. Carrots, zucchini, peppers, and cucumbers are all on my list (and I should be able to grow each of them in containers in my city garden!). 

These seeds have not only made my garden feel beautiful, but they’ve also made the entire gardening process feel more intentional. When I garden and watch my plants grow, I think of all the effort and hands that have gone into each of these seeds. Where I used to simply throw seeds down hoping for the best, now I feel like there’s a connection to history and generations before. I’m invested in growing these plants.