Well, I don't know all those answers! but your question has been there a couple of days.

Heirloom varieties are those that have been around a long time and may have become hard to find. A lot of us seek those out, knowing we can save some seed from them and they should come true. I am also sure that a true heirloom seed won't be GM.

On other questions, I leave it to others. My knowledge on them is mostly assumption, which, I guess, means it isn't knowledge at all!

I'd like to watch this thread, as I've wondered if hybridizing is considered genetic modification, or if GM refers only to splicing genetic material intentionally.

bug tussel

"Are all Organic seeds non-GM? " There are no GM vegetable seeds cuurently available under the "organic " label. But organic refers to to cultural methods so could be possible in the future. Only GM vegetable currently available is Syngenta's Bt sweet corn and it is not available to home gardeners.

"Are all Heirloom seeds non-GM?" currently yes. "heirloom" is a varying definition. Some use age of introduction, others anything not introduced by a major seed company, others use the term for any open pollinated seed. All "heirlooms" are open pollinated"

"Also - seedless grapes - all varieties will be genetically modified, right? Does that mean they are chemically treated? " No seedless grapes were developed using standard crossbreeding practices. As with most named cultivars of fruits, they are reproduced by cloning. (grafting)

"Are some seeds genetically modified simply to create a new variety - and are not necessarily unhealthy? (I consider all the seeds treated for either pests or weed-growth to be unhealthy.)" While a vast amount of experimenting has taken place over the years, most GM products introduced to the public have been (1) (field cropS) and (2) pest control. Bt corn and Round-up ready corn, soybeans etc in the forefront.

One form of treated seeds are those treated w/ antifungicide to keep them from rotting in the ground before germination.

Corn, Pumpkin (are all I've dealt w/)- lets them be direct sowed in cooler weather where as non treated seeds will rot in the ground before germination takes place which is usually dependent on hotter soil temps.