On Thu, 30 Jan 2003 23:45:21 GMT, Another Thyme
wrote:

There are so many endearing qualities to heirloom plants, tomatoes
included.

They are foolproof, dependable, disease resitant naturally, tasty, you
can save the seeds or if you have to buy them they cost a fraction of
the hybrid seeds (the whole rational behind hybrid seeds is that you can
not create the same plant in your home garden so you will need to buy
more seeds, at many 100 price points above the cost of heritage seeds)
and best of all is the connection with the past that is really what
gardening is all about. Sure, we want fruit or veggies, or even herbs
and flowers, but anyone who plants a garden is connecting with the past
and those of us who love heirlooms have a strong connection to bring
forward for future generations.


No, sorry, can't agree. I garden more for the RESULTS than
for the 'connection with the past'. I grow vegetables and
fruits so that we can have them and eat them fresh, preserve
some perhaps, and share them with neighbors and friends.

The heirloom tomatoes I grew were most definitely not
foolproof, and not dependable. I couldn't even have saved
the seeds as the tomatoes did not ripen before a killing
frost came along.

If I can have the results I want *plus* a connection with
the past, that's fine. But otherwise, the connection with
the past is definitely not my first priority.

Pat
-- Pat Meadows
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