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Heirloom seeds are finding a new following as gardeners today begin growing more of their own food.

What constitutes an heirloom variety? Many gardeners think an heirloom variety should be around 50 years old to be classified as such. Officially, there is no hard and fast rule to determine the designation. It is recognized however, that an heirloom variety be open-pollinated. That means that seeds collected from the plant will grow true to the variety as opposed to a hybrid which is a cross between two varieties. Hybrids will not produce seed that will grow true to the parent plant.

Americans have a rich heritage for seed saving and experimentation. In fact, Thomas Jefferson maintained extensive gardens at his home, Monticello, in Virginia. Jefferson imported seeds from the Jardin des Plantes in Paris yearly for his own gardens and for other plantsmen of the era. He cultivated extensive flower, fruit and vegetable gardens. At Monticello there was ‘The Fruitary’ where his gardeners experimented with the old world varieties and developed new ones. Delectable fruits and vegetables were cultivated for the statesman’s table. His gardens are still maintained in part so that this rich genetic pool of seeds will be valued and understood. Today, we can follow his example of cultivating a large variety of edible plants to help feed our families the best and freshest produce available.

When we grow plants from heirloom seeds we use seeds grown for years and saved by families from generation to generation. Heirloom seeds often are desirable for their taste and quality. Many of the newer varieties have been bred to be more disease resistant or because they are more adapted to commercial cultivation. Anyone who has tasted both a dry, bland grocery store tomato and a luscious, juicy home grown tomato in season will understand the difference in taste between a new commercial variety and an heirloom variety grown for personal use.

This summer, N.C. A&T will be getting the community in on the heirloom craze by growing heirloom tomato varieties and inviting the public to the "First Ever Great Tomato Tasting." The tasting will be held at the N.C. A&T farm on Saturday, July 17, from 8 a.m. to noon. Save the date to taste some of the best tomatoes you have ever tasted or host your own tomato tasting! Visit the following Web site for a starting list of heirloom tomato seeds and potential sources: http://snyderfarm.rutgers.edu/assets/pdfs/2009TomatoSeedSourceList.pdf

Many gardeners like the idea of growing the same plants their ancestors or close friends grew. I enjoy knowing that the bearded purple iris I grow today came from stock that my great grandmother Anna grew a hundred years ago. This iris’ fragrance is stunning too. The yellow dwarf plum tomatoes I grow from seed come from tomatoes that my grandfather grew on his farm in Kentucky. I enjoy knowing there is a continuum within the family in that respect …and they taste delicious!

As a culture, we are more dependent on a diversity of seeds than one might think. If the diversity of seed varieties shrink, we become more likely to suffer the loss of genetic material for future crops. Our food source becomes at risk in cases of climate or cultural change. The federal government even warehouses seeds in case of future loss due to war or environmental disaster.

Now that you are intrigued with growing your own heirloom varieties, look for reputable companies that sell heirloom seeds online or through catalogs. After you have enjoyed the bounty of the growing season it is time to save your own seeds!

Follow these steps:

* Allow the seed to dry thoroughly.

* Store seed so that the relative humidity is low, less than 10 percent is optimum. One good way to keep moisture out is to use a sealed jar in the freezer or refrigerator.

* Never leave stored seed in a sunny spot.

* Seed stored properly will last for several years. To test your seed’s viability germinate a test sample in moist paper towel. If 6 out of 10 seeds germinate you can expect a 60 percent germination rate.

* Have fun and eat well!

Nancy Seay, ASLA, is a Guilford County Master Gardener Volunteer and a registered landscape architect. She tends a garden in Greensboro and can be reached at seaywhat7@aol.com or 336-580-3611.