What are the benefits of growing heirloom vegetables?

Answer by  udaipur (219)

Store-bought vegetable varieties are chosen because they look nice and last a long time on the store shelves. These are important characteristics, but most people just want good tasting produce. Heirloom varieties might not look as perfect, but they usually are substantially tastier than store-bought alternatives.

Answer by  catman529 (809)

Heirloom seeds are open-pollinated varieties that will produce true seed year after year. Successive generations of hybrids will revert back to the original parents and won't stay true year after year. Also, many heirlooms have better flavor than many hybrids which are bred for production and appearance.

Answer by  willow (5)

Genetic preservation is a one reason. Future generations will only have acess to the genetic diversity we leave them. Heirloom vegetables are like artifacts of our past. Another reason biodiversity is important is survival of a crop. Flavor and beauty are 2 other reasons. Plus you can save the seeds.

Answer by  colleen (32)

Heirloom vegetables not only taste better than store bought, but are a great way to help promote local agriculture. You can also dry and reuse the seeds every year with most heirloom vegetables.

Answer by  tamarawilhite (17883)

It is cheaper to grow them yourself than to buy them at a farmer's market. They can be more flavorful than industrially farmed varieties, thus can be sold for a higher rate to food connoisseurs. Some heirloom vegetables require less insecticide or are better adapted to local environmental conditions than generic vegetable varieties.