
Basil is famous as a herb for Italian pasta sauce and pesto, but it can offer so much more. From holy uses in sacred traditions to medicinal, culinary, and herbal benefits to biting insects repelling properties, basil has a lot to offer. And in addition to that, it’s extremely easy to grow. No wonder Basil Seeds are one of the must-grow plants for the home garden.
But have you ever considered growing Heirloom Basil Seeds? For those who might not know, heirloom seeds are the ones that have been cross-pollinated or open-pollinated, depending on the kind of genetic variation the grower is seeking.
These are primarily old seeds that have been preserved to produce new plants and pass down the genetic information from generation to generation for around 50 years or more. Here is why you should consider growing Heirloom Basil Seeds in your garden:
- Heirloom Basil Seeds are time-tested.
Pop an heirloom black cherry tomato into your mouth, and you will quickly know how the flavor has become a significant selling point for heirloom seeds. In fact, it’s the reason many gardeners plant Heirloom Basil Seeds in their gardens. They admire the flavor they remember enjoying from their grandparent’s vegetable garden.
New hybrids are often bred for the properties like early maturity, longevity, and disease resistance. However, it sacrifices the authentic flavor. When growing your own vegetables or herbs, you want to produce something that will knock you off with its DELICIOUS flavor. Heirloom seeds are preserved through generations for their exceptional flavor. So you might want to give it a try.
- Keep Saving Heirloom seeds.
Plants need to be pollinated in order to produce seeds. Open pollination refers to leaving the pollination up to mother nature. It means the pollen gets where they need to be via the summer breeze, insects, and birds. If you grow the resulting seed, those plants will have the same characteristics as the plant pollen came from. The whole process is a hundred percent natural and creates authentic seeds with original qualities.
In contrast, for creating hybrid seeds, people get involved in the pollination process to produce specific characteristics. Although the hybrid seeds are also excellent for growing, they do not come with the exact same properties as the original plant. So if you are looking to Buy Basil Seeds, consider heirloom seeds to enjoy the authentic flavor. You can also save the seeds once the plant produces them to regrow the same variety.
- Heirloom Basil Seeds are Guaranteed Non-GMO
GMO stands for genetically modified organisms, and in gardening is used to define plants with their DNA artificially modified, often with unrelated species, to give them unique qualities. For instance, GMO corn has been modified with bacteria genes to make it naturally resist certain pests.
Heirloom seeds cannot be genetically modified. They are always guaranteed Non-GMO and give you the essence of the plant’s natural authentic flavor and aroma. It is one of the significant reasons many home gardeners choose Heirloom Basil Seeds.
- Heirloom Seeds are Often organic.
Organic is not just a term used to refer to how the seed has been grown but also how produced. Organic seeds need to be raised following organic standards set by the state government. They must be grown in certified soil and only use fertilizers that are allowed by organic regulation. Organic seeds fit under all these requirements; hence best to grow.
Where to Buy Heirloom Seeds?
Several seed-saving organizations and seed companies offer a rainbow of heirloom seeds. You can also purchase these seeds from renowned online nurseries such as USA Garden Shop. Heirloom seeds are easy to grow, and the cost is almost the same as other seeds. But these old seeds’ tried and tested varieties open up a world of unique colors, rich flavors, and several other outstanding characteristics that truly makes them a treasure.
You can start by planting Heirloom Basil Seeds in your garden. These seeds require full, direct sunlight and well-draining soil to thrive. The seedlings will take at least 6 to 8 weeks before they are ready to harvest!