First off: The heirloom/op seeds are much cheaper to produce, therefore it doe not makes sense for someone (seed company) trying to sell hybrid as heirloom.

Second : It does not matter how many thousand seeds are packed and sold. It does not change anything. Major seed companies buy their heirloom seeds from grower, from all over the world that are grown naturally. Again, b'c it is the cheapest way to do.

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This post was edited by seysonn on Sat, Apr 19, 14 at 13:29

I don't know of any reason to be suspicious of the heirloom tags. While it is true that some of them may not meet the true definition of 'heirloom' in terms of documented histories, age, etc. they are still open-pollinated (the more accurate label), non-hybrid varieties.

But unfortunately the majority of the public only thinks in terms of heirloom meaning not-hybrid so that is the marketing label used. Slap the label of open-pollinated on some of the varieties that aren't quite true heirlooms and the public just goes "Huh?"

If it says it is a Cherokee Purple or a Black krim or a Mortgage Lifter then it is. What they don't tell you is which variant of Mortgage Lifter of Brandywine etc. it is. They should but that is apparently asking too much. :).

Dave

Is your concern that the variety listed on the tag is incorrect? Or that they are calling a variety an heirloom when it is actually a hybrid? Because you can always look up the variety and learn whether it's a hybrid or not.

"Heirloom" just means that the variety has been around for 50+ years and is open pollinated. Whether they are mass-produced by the tens of thousands or started by a home gardener shouldn't make any difference in what you get, assuming of course that someone hasn't gone around and switched tags around.

I don't have much to say... most of my "heirloom" tomatoes from various stores were true to description EXCEPT the "black Cherry" from Bonnie's. It was black, but wasn't a cherry but rather was pear shaped. I was disappointed, even though it tasted okay (read as not great).

I usually don't buy from the BBS, but every so often Real Life is such that I have to buy plants rather than start my own. Unfortunately 2014 is another of those years.

If Bonnie says a plant is variety Whatever, then in the absence of evidence, I'll assume it is.

That said, three years ago a Metrolina Greenhouses (a big downstate grower) seedling which was supposed to be Sweet 100 (a 1" hybrid cherry) bore instead big, juicy beefsteaks (better than store-bought but nothing to write home about). And a Bonnie Plants Black Krim pot contained two plants, one of which was not a BK but a clear-skinned, 4-celled purple egg with fantastic taste (unfortunately, between RL problems and the local Late Blight epidemic, I haven't been able to taste what might come from its seeds).

But seed ID issues also happen with seed packets from reputable seedsellers, so I can't really blame Metrolina or Bonnie or other BBS.

I have bought heirlooms at big box stores and they were fine and true to the variety printed on the label as far as I could tell. I start most of my own plants but if I am out at a big box store or nursery and something catches my eye, I will buy it.

I have saw some tags switched before. Most likely by a customer with poor eyesight that pulled it out to read and stuck it back in the wrong tray!

Last year I saw some potato leaf better boys, according to the tag! :)

My biggest worry with BB plants is disease and pests. If I buy plants, which I rarely do, I get them from a local Mom and Pop greenhouse that has a great reputation. The price is close to the same and sometimes cheaper. And they are much healthier.

I used to occasionally buy a plant or two from my local feed and seed until they started carrying Bonnie.

The problem is the varied and fluid definition of "heirloom." Your idea can be far and away from mine in what constitutes that description. But as was said its an awsome marketing tool so it can be overused.

That being said, if you are concerned look it up. Tags are *usually* correct so if you think a variety labeled as an heirloom is dubtful you can always research that variety and find out if that variety fits your criteria.