Heirloom Seeds

[CorbinsMama]

I am jumping into vegetable gardening this year with both feet! It just doesn't make any sense to me anymore to NOT grow what we eat. So, I am starting a "lasagne" garden, getting some worms (I've already made their bin), and will be starting plants from seed.

I would like to order some seeds from Baker's. They just look so gorgeous! Have any of you found that heirloom seeds are more or less finicky than other seeds?

Megan

[northwoods1995]

I ordered from Botanical Interests and Baker Creek but I haven't received my BC order yet.

With the seeds that I've started from BI I've had 100% germination rate so far. My peppers haven't come up yet but I need to get a heat mat under them still. I haven't started a ton of things yet b/c I'm in zone 3 but they've been doing well so far.

This is my first year with heirlooms too.

[JamieCatheryn]

Depends which ones, some rare varieties that are grown for novelty or diversity I've found very hard to grow. Others were bred for productivity and hardiness and taste over many years through open pollination and do excellently. Look at the companies' notes about each variety you consider, see what they have to say.

[CorbinsMama]

Wow, NW! That's great!

JC, I'm going only with the ones at Baker Creek that have good ratings/reviews. I'm hoping that I'm setting myself up for success!

[lmonter]

I stick with heirlooms so I can save seeds myself. I've become a snob like that and refuse to buy hybrids. Germination rate depends on the variety/crop though. The thing that's honestly most important to me beyond taste and how big the plant gets is the maturity date. I have a shorter growing season, so 120-day tomatoes don't cut the mustard.