Heritage Seeds

What is a heritage seed variety?

It is a variety that has been nurtured, selected and handed down through the family over many generations, usually deemed as a pre 1950 introduction, and until now many lost to gardeners. With the relaxation of regulations on selling heritage varieties, Thompson & Morgan is delighted to bring back some of the traditional, truly tasty, vegetable varieties of yesteryear.

Today most production is with F1 Hybrids which comply with criteria more suited to the commercial market, with uniformity in maturity, shape and size and ability to travel distances. Heritage varieties differ from F1 Hybrid varieties in that instead of being a cross between distinct parent lines, they are 'open pollinated' either by wind or pollinating insects such as bees. Pollination occurs naturally through the movement of the breeze or insects moving freely between the flowers and the same variety will be produced time after time.

The new Thompson & Morgan Heritage Seeds range in cludes 30 varieties selected for excellent flavour, performance, growth and pest resistance.