Just my thoughts

I would like to take some time to share my thoughts on gardening and heirloom variety vegetables. As I was looking at my garden yesterday, I noticed some things that were too coincidental. All the varieties of veggies that I have planted that were heirloom varieties have done well under adverse conditions. We have had the excessive rain, limited sunshine and still the old stand-bys have thrived. We have open pollinated Boone County White corn planted for cornmeal, and it is dark green and 6 ft tall now. The sweet corn, being hybrid is an abnormal 2 to 3 ft tall and tasseling. It did not thrive under the conditions. Both planted and treated the same. The tomatoes are all heirloom varieties and are setting tons of tomatoes. Peppers are another hybrid that has not done well at all. They do have peppers on them but will not by any means be considered a success. Watermelons and cantaloupes are heirloom varieties and are doing great. And again hybrid squash not so well. This leads me to believe that the heirloom varieties are stronger genetically and can adapt whereas the hybrids are bred for limited conditions and cannot adapt. I draw this conclusions knowing that all the crops in my garden got equal care and nurturing. Hopefully I will live to garden another year and if so blessed I will strive to plant all heirloom seeds. The old ways are still the best, tried and true. This is just one gardeners humble opinion. Til next time, blessings from the McGuire homestead.

stella