Categories: Blog

Favourite Heirloom Vegetables

The Seed Savers Exchange, a family-owned organization devoted to saving and sharing heirloom seeds, defines an heirloom vegetable as “any garden plant that has a history of being passed down within a family.” Heirloom vegetables will also grow true from seed that is collected directly from the plant. Heirloom tomatoes and peppers are among the most popular heirloom vegetables grown, and other vegetables are also becoming popular among local gardeners.

Amana Orange Tomato

Amana Orange is a beefsteak tomato that has very few seeds. Its rich, classic tomato flavor is perfect for eating raw, sliced thick with salt and pepper, or on sandwiches or burgers. Its lovely, bright orange color will surprise your back yard barbecue guests this summer. Amana Orange tomato plants are indeterminant, and come originally from the State of Iowa.

Banana Leggs Tomato

Children love the name of Banana Leggs, a yellow, oblong-shaped paste tomato. The fruit resembles a banana, and sometimes has some light green striping. This variety has a sweet flavor and meaty texture and is excellent for making sauce. These determinant plants are extremely prolific and the pretty leaves are lacy.

Grey Zucchini

One of the most prolific plants in the garden, Grey Zucchini bear beautiful fruit on a uniquely textured and variegated plant. The leaves of this plant exhibit a unique grey, stripy pattern. It is a good idea to plant more than one Grey Zucchini to be certain of pollination, although this plant may be cross-pollinated if other squash plants are nearby in the garden. Fruits should be harvested continuously in order to encourage the plant to continue producing new blooms.

Long Island Cheese Squash

This pumpkin-style squash is one of the most beautiful heritage varieties available to gardeners today. Although it starts out a dark green, the fruit ripens to a lovely rusty orange color. It is extremely decorative, perfect for adorning your front porch in autumn. The flesh of this squash is sweet, terrific for cooking that Thanksgiving pumpkin pie. 10 pound fruits are ready to be harvested in about 105 days.

Paul Robeson Tomato

Paul Robeson is a black tomato. The flavour of the large fruit of this tomato is beyond compare. The fruit is deep red in color, sometimes with green shoulders. These tomatoes are dark in color and very rich in flavor. They are excellent for canning, or for eating in salads. The plants are indeterminant and originated in Russia.

‚”Purple Queen” Bush Bean

Beautiful, slender, 6 inch beans grow bountifully on these plants, providing a punch of color to your crop of beans. The flavor is very similar to traditional green beans, with the added bonus of a pale purple bloom. The seeds can be sown directly into the garden as soon as the soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed. These beans are very tasty eaten straight off the plant, or steamed with a little butter, salt and pepper!

Give heirloom vegetables a place in the vegetable garden this growing season!

Recent Posts

  • Blog

15 Best Garden Seeders

Most homeowners have probably spent hours looking at the different types of garden seeders. You may have even come across…

  • Blog

15 Best Garden Hose Foam Guns

When it comes to vehicle lovers, cleaning their cars on a regular basis is essential to maintaining the paint job's…

  • Blog
  • Reviews

15 Best Gas Chainsaws in 2021

Gas chainsaws are the perfect tool for a variety of outdoor tasks, including chopping up logs for firewood, clearing brush…

  • Blog
  • Reviews

15 Best Electric Pressure Washers in 2021

A home can be a daunting project, one that takes some time and energy to maintain. With hard work, determination,…

  • Blog
  • Featured

How to Grow Ginger

Today ginger is grown all over tropical and subtropical regions in Asia, in parts of Africa and South America, and…

  • Featured

How to Grow Onions

Onions are one of the most popular vegetables in the world, and growing onions is a snap in the home…

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

Howtogardenadvice.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.