Sunday, April 5, 2009

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Cultivating Garden Heritage

Ahhh, there is nothing like an old-fashioned rich, flavorful tomato picked from the vine.

Both Bridgman Farm and Northridge Organic Farm feature heirloom tomatoes at the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market.

Heirloom seeds are seeds that have been passed from generation to generation or cultivated by a group that has worked to preserve them. For example, Monticello, in Virginia, sells heirloom plants and seeds that originated back in Thomas Jefferson's day. And, Mike Laughlin at Northridge Organic Farms features a tomato that's great for sauces that has been passed down from its origins in Italy.

Heirloom seeds are from plants grown usually at least 50 years ago and are preserved at the end of each season. Some heirloom plants can be as old as 100 years -- an English tomato called "Moneymaker" is over 250 years old. Heirloom plants are never genetically-modified and cannot be cross-pollinated (only open-pollinated) or hybrids.

Whatever the science, heirloom tomatoes have a tremendously deep flavor, with colors that brighten any table at any occasion.

To read more about heirloom plants in Ohio click here.

Click here to learn more from the Seed Savers Exchange.

Sources:
diy Network: Gardening by the Yard

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