I’ve shared this list of commonly available heirloom seeds in the past as so frequently companies repackage common seeds as “heirloom” and double the price. Heirloom seeds are attractive to many gardeners due to their non-GMO and non-hybrid status and the ability to harvest seeds for future planting.
The reality is that many seeds commonly sold at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and similar businesses are in fact heirloom and very inexpensive. The very same seed variety packaged as “heirloom” in a colorful mylar bag will sell for 2-4X what the “budget” seed pack will sell for.
From Burpee.com –
“Heirloom varieties are open-pollinated–meaning that unlike hybrids, seeds you collect from one year will produce plants with most of the characteristics of the parent plant. And that’s key to their survival.
Many heirloom varieties were preserved by home gardeners who saved seed from their family gardens from year to year. Other seeds traveled around the world in the pockets or letters of immigrants, which is why, though the tomato evolved in Central America, we have varieties from Russia, Italy, Japan, France, Germany and Kentucky.”
Here is a list of commonly available heirloom seeds. If you see an error or know of one to add feel free to comment below:
Artichoke, Green Globe
Asparagus, Mary Washington
Basil, Greek
Bean Shell, Bush Dragon’s Tongue Wax
Bean, Bush, Early Bush Italian
Bean, Cannelino
Bean, Gold of Bacau
Bean, Italian Rose
Bean, Lima, Big Mama
Bean, Pole, Green Anellino
Bean, Purple Podded Pole
Bean, Runner, White Half
Bean, Snap, Red Swan
Bean, Triumphe De Farcy Bush
Bean (Pole) Romano
Bean – Harvester Bush Snap
Bean – Kentucky Wonder Pole
Bean – Henderson Bush Lima
Bean – Top Crop Bush Snap
Bean – Cherokee Yellow Wax
Bean – Contender Bush Snap Beans
Beet, Albino
Beet, Bull’s Blood
Beet, Chioggia
Beets – Detroit Dark Red
Beets – Ruby Queen
Beets Early Wonder
Broccoli, De Cicco
Broccoli, Green Sprouting Calabrese
Broccoli, Purple Sprouting
Broccoli, Romanesco
Broccoli – Calabrese
Broccoli – Waltham 29
Brussels Sprouts, Catskill
Brussels Sprouts, Long Island
Cabbage, Brunswick
Cabbage, CharlestonWakefield
Cabbage – Copenhagen Market
Cabbage – Early Jersey Wakefield
Cabbage – Golden Acre
Cabbage – Michihili
Cabbage – Pak Choy White Stem
Cabbage – Red Acre
Cabbage – Savoy
Cantaloupe, Hales Best Jumbo
Carrot, Danvers 126 Half Long
Carrot, Touchon
Carrot – Chantenay Red
Carrot – Little Finger
Carrot – Scarlet Nantes
Carrot – Tendersweet
Cauliflower, Snowball Self-Blanching
Corn, Country Gentleman
Corn, Golden Bantam
Corn – (Sweet) Golden Beauty
Cucumber, Lemon
Cucumber, Straight Eight
Cucumber – Boston Pickling
Cucumber: Lemon
Cucumber, National Pickling
Cucumber, Spacemaster Cucumber
Cucumber – Poinsett 76
Cucumber – Marketer
Cucumber – Marketmore 76
Eggplant, Black Beauty
Eggplant, Long Purple
Lettuce Head – Iceberg
Lettuce – Black Seeded Simpson
Lettuce – Buttercrunch
Lettuce – Salad Bowl Green
Lettuce – Romaine
Onion – Red Creole
Onion – Tokyo Long White
Onion – White Lisbon Bunching
Pea – Green Arrow
Pea – Mammoth Melting Sugar
Pea – Wando
Pea – Lincoln
Pea – Alaska
Pea – Oregon Giant
Pepper – Hot, Cayenne
Pepper – California Wonder
Pepper – Jalapeno
Pepper – Sweet Banana
Pepper – Grand Bell
Pumpkin – Jack O Lantern
Pumpkin – Small Sugar
Squash – Crookneck
Squash – Straightneck
Tomato – Delicious
Tomato – Beefsteak
Tomato – Rutgers
Turnip – Purple Top White Globe
Watermelon – Congo
Watermelon – Charleston Grey
Watermelon – Sugar Baby
Watermelon – Crimson Sweet
Zucchini – Grey
Zucchini – Dark Green
Zucchini – Black Beauty
This list is available in PDF format – Click HERE
