Some scientists believe that there is not enough genetic diversity in heirloom plants. The selective breeding for one or two traits often leaves plants that have little or no defense capabilities and some other negative characteristics, like fewer flowers or cracking fruits. The argument is that these flaws in heirlooms can be corrected through hybridization.
There are two problems, in my humble opinion, with this argument when it comes to Alaska gardeners. For one, it is not sustainable to have hybrid seeds. You have to buy new seeds every year instead of just using seeds from last year's best fruits and vegetables. Second, we really don't seem to have many pests, yet. What may be weak Outside probably would do just fine here.
And third, I believe we Alaskans need to develop our own heirlooms first. Then we can consider hybridization to improve on these if necessary. Let's get the best tomato fruits, the earliest sweet peas, really, really big cabbages through crossing open pollinated seeds. Once we get a tomato that will grow outdoors without protection and taste good, then we can consider hybridization of those seeds.
No matter where you sit on the argument, you have to love the descriptions of some of the available heirlooms; they make great reading. And in reading them, you can find plants designed to produce the best fruits in our climate.
Gary Ibsen's TomatoFest offers over 600 different kinds of organic heirloom seeds. One of the great things about the site is how the offerings can be searched in different ways such as "New Varieties," "Top Ten," "Varieties by Color" and such. Look for the "very early" seeds when you go through the offerings. There are lots and these are the ones that usually produce the most up here, in my opinion. There is a lot of information here as well as a minimum order, just in case you didn't see it.
Laurel's Heirloom Tomato Plants offers 100 heirloom tomato varieties that are in plant form. She buys her seeds from Gary Ibsen. I don't think you want to ship live tomato plants up here, but the site is fun, if only for the beautiful and scrumptious pictures. There is also a lot of information here, and since it is just a click on your computer, go ahead. Still, if you want to buy actual tomato plants, do so from your local nurseries. They sell heirlooms, too.
OK, I am a sucker for Russian tomato seeds because I have this fantasy that these will do best of all in our climate because we can see Russia from here. Check out Tatiana's Tomatobase. It is all Russian seed. You have to click on the offerings to see pictures and get additional information, but it is worth it. Again, you have to marvel at the history behind some of these beauties. Keep a history of your seeds.
Maine, too, is a good place from which Alaskans can buy heirloom seeds. This is one reason Johnny's Selected Seeds is one of the "must have" catalog/webalogs for us. Fedco Seeds is also located there and has some fun offerings along with a bunch of the standards. There are great pictures also, but only if you let your cursor hover over the thumbnails.
In my opinion, you have to love a company that has an exclamation point in its name as does The Incredible Seed Company! Well, maybe, anyhow. Regardless, take a look. Lo and behold, they offer an "Alaska Heirloom Tomato" that matures in only 59 days. I wonder where that came from? I suspect it still needs a greenhouse, but it's an early open pollinated plant and a good place to start at getting a great heirloom for your particular area of the state.
Golden Harvest Organics has a bunch of different tomatoes. Also check out Heirloom Tomatoes' site (though there are no pictures), and Mary's Heirloom Seeds too.
Finally, why not check out an Alaska company, Foundroot. They have early fruiters as well as a whole host of great for Alaska open pollinated seeds. I like Stupice, a Czechoslovakian tomato even though there is no longer a Czechoslovakia. Lots of folks carry it, but if you can buy from Alaska, why not? And, again, local means trying to buy from your favorite nurseries.
Jeffs Alaska Garden Calendar
Alaska Botanical Garden Annual Spring Conference, March 19: Mark your calendar. It's the 10th annual conference and a must-attend, if you can snag tickets, which always sell out. Early bird costs are $85 for students, $105 for members and $120 for nonmembers (rates increase March 1). Purchase tickets at alaskabg.org.
Celery: First seeds to be planted if you must.
Sweet peas: Plant now if you have not already.
Jeff Lowenfels has been writing this column for 40 years and never missed a week. He is the author of the best-selling, award-winning books "Teaming with Microbes" and "Teaming With Nutrients."