Heirloom

Question

HelloHeirloom Tarheel green beanHeirloom seedsHeirloom vegetablesHeirloom plants--- Does "heirloom" mean "traditional"?

GPY · Accepted Answer

Yes, an old traditional variety, probably one that is not now commercially grown.

Newguest · Answer

Hi

So if I will say traditional vegetables or seeds instead of heirloom it should be OK?

I'm just looking for an appropriate expression, because heirloom is not quite clear to me.

Or maybe I should add "old"? Old traditional vegetables and seeds.

GPY · Answer

NewguestSo if I will say traditional vegetables or seeds instead of heirloom it should be OK?

This is OK, but it may not exactly capture the idea that these varieties are no longer commercially grown. If that aspect is important then you may need to say that separately.

NewguestOr maybe I should add "old"? Old traditional vegetables and seeds.

Though I wrote "old traditional", in your case "traditional old vegetables and seeds" seems preferable. "old" is optional; it may not add a whole lot.

CalifJim · Answer

NewguestI'm just looking for an appropriate expression, because heirloom is not quite clear to me.

Consider what you're saying here. "heirloom" is the term that is used. It's the appropriate term. But you don't know what it means, so you think it would be a good idea to change it to something you understand even if it is a less appropriate term.

A heirloom is an object of sentimental value that is passed down from one generation to another. Often these are things that no one even has any use for in the modern world — the saddle your great-grandfather used when riding his horse around the old homestead; Christmas-tree ornaments that went out of style more than a hundred years ago. The word "heirloom" has been borrowed into the world of edible plants. An heirloom tomato is a variety of tomato that your great-grandmother may have planted in her own garden and her family would have enjoyed.

In some sense these are not traditional varieties because the tradition for growing them and eating them has died out. And "old" does not capture the idea at all, in my opinion. Old seeds might not even germinate. Old tomatoes are beginning to rot.

In brief, I don't think there is any need to substitute other words for 'heirloom' when 'heirloom' has exactly the meaning needed.

CJ

GPY · Answer

CalifJimIn some sense these are not traditional varieties because the tradition for growing them and eating them has died out. And "old" does not capture the idea at all, in my opinion. Old seeds might not even germinate. Old tomatoes are beginning to rot.

Well, "old" by itself might mean that, but I don't think that "traditional old ~", which was the context in which "old" was suggested, could be understood that way.

Incidentally, the only dictionary where I can find this specific meaning defined says "Denoting a traditional variety of plant or breed of animal that is not associated with large-scale commercial agriculture" (http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/heirloom).

CalifJim · Answer

GPYWell, "old" by itself might mean that, but I don't think that "traditional old ~", which was the context in which "old" was suggested, could be understood that way.

Regardless, I don't see these substitutions as satisfactory. Maybe it's just me.

Heirloom seeds > Traditional old seeds
Heirloom vegetables > Traditional old vegetables
Heirloom plants > Traditional old plants

CJ

Heirloom

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