What’s the Difference Between Heritage and Hybrid Seeds?

Learn about heritage and hybrid seeds, their benefits, and which type is right for your garden in this comprehensive guide.

When it comes to gardening, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is selecting the right seeds for your plot. But, what’s the difference between heritage and hybrid seeds? Understanding the key differences can help you make an informed decision on which seeds to grow and ensure the best results for your garden.

It’s important to know these seeds are also split into two categories: open-pollinated and hybrid.

What are heritage seeds and how does this link to open-pollinated seeds?
Open-pollinated seeds are those that have been pollinated in a natural way. In the case of heritage seeds, this can have been over many, many years. This means that when these plants set seed, these are ideal to save and sow again in following seasons – it is almost like preserving a little piece of your own garden history. Seed libraries (such as Garden Organic’s Heritage Seed Library) are making sure that many of the older varieties are not lost as time goes past, and play an instrumental part in reintroducing types that may have been on the verge of extinction.

What are hybrid seeds?
Hybrids, on the other hand (F1 seeds as they are otherwise known), are specifically bred from two parent plants chosen for desirable characteristics (such as early ripening, large yields, resistance to disease, etc.). These are recommended to be sowed each year from newly bought seeds, as saving seeds from these types can have unexpected results. It is likely that you will still get a crop, however, the seed may show any characteristics from either parent plant, meaning it is unlikely that you will get exactly the same type of plant as in previous years. For some growers, this is an exciting opportunity to try something completely new, but for those needing to save seeds for a certain type, it may not be such a desirable option.

How have hybrid seeds changed over the year?
One of the key developments with F1 seeds is that these have often been developed with a particular characteristic in mind – such as a resistance to certain diseases or pests. This obviously makes them the perfect choice for any new growers who are looking to gain confidence, as well as plot-holders in areas that may be susceptible to certain problems year after year.

Should I buy heritage or hybrid seeds?
There is no right or wrong answer as to which seeds you should buy – if you go for those with care advice that fits in with the time you can allocate to your garden, the conditions they need, and the qualities that appeal to you, you can’t go far wrong. Also, experimenting on the plot is fun – so grab some seed catalogues and get started!

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