There is a small debate amongst hobby and small farm organic gardeners as to whether hybrid or heirloom varieties are better.  The debate centers around a lot of criteria between the two, though some hobbyists are misinformed about what one or the other might be.

To define them, hybrid vegetables are plants that have been cultivated over time and selectively bred (pollinated) with other plants to create new plants that have the most desirable properties of the two plants being crossed.  This is the same way that dogs, horses, etc. have been bred.  It’s a natural process coupled with human intervention to “steer” it in the desired direction.

Heirloom varieties are plants which have been cultivated through time with the seeds from those plants being passed down from one garden to the next.  These varieties see little change beyond natural selective processes and are largely unchanged from their earliest known versions.  Many traditionalists consider these “better,” but the reality is that nearly all agricultural plants we grow are really hybrids.  It’s just a question of when the human intervention for selection took place.

Knowing this, the question then comes down to the advantages and disadvantages of specific varieties of hybrids or heirlooms.  Some, for example, might have a better taste whereas the other may be more hardy and easier to grow.  Nearly always, the choice is a matter of taste and preference (subjectivity).

In general, most heirlooms have the following advantages:
1.    Seeds can be easily saved to be used again year after year and most heirlooms have the quality of producing good seed stock.
2.    Heirloom variety seeds are often cheaper (per packet or seed) than their hybrid counterparts.
3.    The seeds are often generationally handed down amongst humans and so will often have a family or cultural history to be handed down with them.
4.    The natural variety between plants creates non-uniform harvests.

And most hybrids also have general advantages as well:
1.    Bigger harvests and generally lower seed attrition (plants per seed planted).
2.    Hardier and often more pest and disease resistant.
3.    More uniform harvest times and yields.
4.    Larger variety of plants available, each with unique properties.

These pros and cons of each seed type might vary when looking at specific seeds, but in general they are the main differences between hybrids and heirlooms when considering the questions of a gardener.  Other, more subjective differences such as how they taste, how nice the fruit looks, etc. may also be considered.

Given these generalities, though, you can probably see that your level of gardening skill and the preferences you have for yields and time spent in the garden will probably be the ultimate deciders for you.

Gardeners who prefer to harvest and aren’t really excited about the maintenance aspects of gardening will likely be happier with hybrids.  Gardeners who enjoy gardening and caring for plants will probably be more satisfied with heirlooms.

Most gardeners will mix-and-match the two, picking plants for preference in taste, type, or whatever suits them.

So what are your favorite seed varieties?  Have a perfect heirloom tomato maybe?  Or a favored hybrid cucumber?  Share your thoughts!

Buy Organic Seeds

[phpzon]Organic Seeds, 10,HomeGarden[/phpzon]