Heirloom? Organic? Hybrid? Open-Pollinated? Treated Seed? Spring is an exciting time for gardeners with the colorful displays of seed packets that are found almost everywhere. Once choosing vegetable or flower seed was very easy, however choosing seed types today can be quite confusing. Each seed type has something to offer, depending on the gardener’s needs. Here are a few distinctions that might help you decide what to grow this season:

Heirloom seeds: Heirloom seeds are open-pollinated seeds that have not been exposed to hybrid breeding. Open-pollination simply means that a plant has been pollinated naturally by wind, self-pollination, or insects. The use of these seeds guarantees that gardeners will always harvest what they planted because Heirloom seeds will produce plants with the traits of the parents. Heirloom seed breeders are careful avoid any cross-pollination.

Note: There is debate over how old seeds must be to be considered “heirloom.” Some claim 50 years, some claim 100 years, and others pinpoint the year in which World War II ended and the modern agricultural industry began, 1945.

OPEN POLLINATED: Because there are no restrictions on the flow of pollen between individuals, open-pollinated plants are more genetically diverse. This can cause a greater amount of variation within plant populations, which allows plants to slowly adapt to local growing conditions and climate year-to-year. As long as pollen is not shared between different varieties within the same species, then the seed produced will remain true-to-type year-after- year.

Note: For seed-saving purposes, the most significant distinction among Open-pollinated, hybrid and heirloom seed varieties is that gardeners can save true-to-type seed from open-pollinated and heirloom varieties, but not hybrids.

Non-GMO seeds: The terms genetically modified (GM) and genetically engineered (GE) refer to recent advances in technology that allow producers to introduce the DNA of one species into another species. This is done in laboratories and is something that is impossible for nature to do. For example, companies might add a gene to corn to make it more drought-resistant, which therefore expands the regions in which the crop can be grown.

There is considerable debate about GM products. However, many companies and researchers support GM efforts to solve worldwide problems that contribute to malnutrition, famine, and starvation, such as regional nutritional deficiencies or harsh growing climates.

Non-GMO seeds indicate the seeds are free from this type of modification. In the United States, there are only two vegetables that have been developed by genetic modification: sweet corn and squash, and a home gardener will not be able to purchase these (only select commercial farms). All other vegetable seeds are not genetically modified. Marketing seeds as Non-GMO Seed is just an advertising gimic.

Certified organic seeds: These seeds are produced according to organic standards where the use of chemical or synthetic fertilizers is prohibited. The U.S. Department of Agriculture only allows manufacturers to use the “organic” label if they have proven to use only organic methods. Organic certification is appealing to many consumers and gardeners since the USDA regularly inspects certified facilities and enforces strict penalties and fines for noncompliance.

What makes the program confusing is that the FDA offers three categorizations: 100% organic, 95% organic (made with 95% organic ingredients), and “made with organic ingredients” (a minimum of 70% organic ingredients with the remaining 30% restricted to non-GMO ingredients). Products that fall under the last category may not use the “certified organic” label on their packaging.

TREATED SEEDS: Treated seeds receive an application of fungicide (or other chemicals), to protect the seed from specific seed-borne or soil-borne pathogens (basically to protect the seed from rotting in the soil before germination). Some reasons seeds are treated are to extend growing time, improve crop quality, or protect from disease or pests. This class of chemicals is designed to break down quickly in the soil, usually within days or weeks of planting.  The type of treatment used may or may not be considered organic. Packages should be labeled “treated”.

Filmcoat – Seed has been coated with an inert, food-grade material for easier handling and flowability. When treated seed is filmcoated, the filmcoat helps the treatment adhere to the seed.

Pelleted – Seed has been coated with an inert material to increase the seed size, uniformity and for easier planting. The pellets are made of clay-based materials which don’t harm the seeds or soil. As the pellets absorb moisture they dissolve, allowing immediate access to oxygen for fast, uniform seedling emergence.

Primed – Seed has been primed for easier germination, through a physical processes like steam treatment or through chemical treatment. Example – Many lettuce seeds are primed to enhance germination. The priming process decreases the storage life of the seed so you should purchase fresh seed each season.

Detailed – Fibrous “tails” have been removed from seeds for easier handling and flowability. This may be achieved through either a physical or chemical process.

STANDARD, UNTREATED SEEDS: Untreated seed is clean and has not been treated using any chemical, biological, or physical method. Standard vegetable seeds available for purchase at most locations are those that have been produced under non-organic conditions so the parent plant most likely received synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

HYBRID SEEDS: Hybridization is a controlled method of pollination in which the pollen of two different species or varieties is crossed by human intervention during a controlled breeding process. Using these two parents, cross-pollination will produce a seed that combines features from both parents. The goal of hybrid breeders is to capture the most valuable traits from both parents and create a superior vegetable plant (higher yields, improved fruit setting, reduced pest and disease problems, extended growing season, earlier maturity, withstands weather stresses, or uniformity). Hybridization can occur naturally through random crosses, but commercially available hybridized seed, often labeled as F1, is deliberately created to breed a desired trait. F1 or the first generation of a hybridized plant cross also tends to grow better and produce higher yields than the parent varieties due to ‘hybrid vigor’. However, any seed produced by F1 plants is genetically unstable and cannot be saved for use in following years as the plants will not be true-to-type and they will be less vigorous. Gardeners who use hybrid plant varieties must purchase new seed every year.

I hope you will now look at the seed packet more carefully so you can choose the type of seed you really want.