The Best Organic Heirloom Varieties to Grow for a Nourishing Kitchen Garden
There is nothing I love more than stepping into my kitchen garden and harvesting vibrant, flavorful produce to create meals that nourish both body and soul. Growing organic heirloom varieties allows me to connect to nature, honor ancestral gardening traditions, and savor the exceptional flavors that modern hybrids (and grocery store produce) simply cannot match. In this post, I’m sharing the best heirloom vegetables, herbs, and flowers for USDA hardiness zones 5b-8b, focusing on varieties that are easy to grow, packed with flavor, and versatile in the kitchen. As you plan your kitchen garden this year, I suggest incorporating as many heirloom varieties as possible to ensure a delightful, flavorful, and nourishing season ahead.
What Is an Heirloom Variety?
Heirloom varieties are time-honored plant cultivars passed down through generations, often treasured for their rich history, unique characteristics, and incredible taste. Unlike hybrid plants, heirlooms are open-pollinated, meaning they produce seeds that grow true to type year after year. You can harvest the seeds, plant them the following year and trust that the same genetic qualities of the plant will grow. One of my favorite things about growing heirlooms (aside from the flavors) is that I only need to buy the seeds or plant once in my lifetime. I can save and replant the seeds every year. I can gift the seeds to friends and neighbors, and I can pass along the seeds and their associated recipes to the next generation so they can enjoy them too. When grown organically, these plants are cultivated without harmful pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, aligning with USDA organic standards. This ensures the health of the soil, the environment, and, ultimately, your family.
Where to Get Organic Heirloom Varieties
It’s possible to get organic heirloom seedlings or starts at local nurseries in the Spring, just look for the variety names I share here, or the “USDA Organic” and “Heirloom” labels listed on the plant tags. It’s very important to support independent seed companies and seed suppliers. My favorite seed companies are Botanical Interests (they have the best organic heirloom selection for edible gardens), Grand Prismatic Seed Co. (the best dye plants), and Floret Flowers (incredible flower seed selection).
Should I Sow Seeds or Plant Starts?
I direct sow all cool season plants by seed in the garden outside in spring. I also start some warm-season plants by seed indoors in early spring, then transplant outside after my last frost. However, if I can find heirloom starts for sale at my local Mom & Pop nursury, then I’ll support them and buy a start or two to transplant after my last frost. This is usually a personal choice. Starting warm season plants by seed indoors is hard if you don’t have a temperature and humidity controlled environment, grow lights, heat pads, plug trays, and soil blends. It can be rewarding to start plants by seed, but it’s a learning process. I advise beginners to look for seedlings at a nursury and gardeners with a couple seasons under their belt to go for starting their own seeds.
How to Save & Store Seeds
A Seasonal Gardening Checklist
Top Organic Heirloom Varieties for Your Kitchen Garden
Tomatoes
Heirloom tomatoes are the crown jewels of the kitchen garden, bursting with flavor and vibrant colors. Come August and September, my kitchen counter becomes an altar to the tomato gods. My canning supplies come out and I spend my weekends making salsa, tomato sauce, bruschetta, caprese salad, or simply eating fresh slices of meaty heirlooms on garlic toast, the Spanish way.
Brandywine
Why Grow It: This classic heirloom tomato boasts large, meaty fruits with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.
How to Use: Slice for sandwiches, chop into a Caprese salad, or simmer into a rich tomato sauce. Layer a meaty slice over cottage cheese or burrata on toast grated with garlic and olive oil drizzle for the perfect late summer snack.
Black Krim
Why Grow It: Known for its smoky, slightly salty flavor, this deep purple tomato thrives in zones 5-7 with proper support and regular watering.
How to Use: Roast for soups, dice into salsa, or enjoy fresh with a drizzle of olive oil.
San Marzano Roma
Why Grow It: San Marzano tomatoes are a prized heirloom variety from Italy, renowned for their sweet, low-acidity flesh and thick skin, making them ideal for sauces.
How to Use: Simmer into a rich marinara, slow roast for a deep, caramelized flavor, or can for winter use. These are a staple for making pizza and pasta sauces.
Golden Jubilee Tomato
Why Grow It: This golden-yellow heirloom is sweet and low in acidity, making it ideal for those who prefer milder tomatoes. It’s also a prolific producer.
How to Use: Slice for fresh salads, pair with basil for a colorful Caprese, or can for a vibrant yellow sauce.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens bring both nutrition, in the form of minerals and micro-nutrients as well as variety to your kitchen garden. The key to growing and enjoying leafy greens is to harvest the leaves while they’re young in the cooler portions of the season. This ensures a sweeter or less bitter taste. I like to direct sow seeds in my garden in high-spring, then again in late summer for two harvests. Leafy greens will bolt (flower and seed) very quickly during hot temperatures, so avoid growing these in summer.
Lacinato Kale (aka Dinosaur Kale)
Why Grow It: This robust, dark green kale is cold-hardy and pest-resistant, thriving in cooler northern climates. Plant this next to onions, garlic, nasturtiums, or marigold to biodynamically control aphid infestations.
How to Use: Sauté with garlic, bake into crispy chips with olive oil, blend into smoothies, or massage into a hearty autumn kale salad with roasted butternut chunks, walnuts and pomegranates, or add to a winter white bean soup.
Buttercrunch Lettuce
Why Grow It: This tender, sweet lettuce is easy to grow and perfect for continuous harvesting.
How to Use: Use as a base for salads, tuck into sandwiches, or wrap around fillings for low-carb wraps. I especially love to use this as a tuna salad wrap with diced refrigerator pickles, red onion, and pickled peppers - all from the garden, of course!
Bloomsdale Spinach
Why Grow It: This heirloom spinach variety is celebrated for its rich, earthy flavor and resistance to bolting, even in warmer temperatures. This is a fantastic source of nutrients and minerals that’s easy to grow nearly all season through succession sowing.
How to Use: Toss fresh leaves into salads, wilt into omelets, or blend into smoothies. Its robust texture holds up well in sautés and soups.
Sylvetta Arugula
Why Grow It: Sylvetta, also called wild arugula, offers a spicy, nutty flavor and thrives in a variety of climates.
How to Use: Use fresh in salads, as a topping for pizza, or blend into a peppery pesto. Pair with shaved Parmesan and a drizzle of balsamic and lemon for a simple, elegant side dish.
Legumes
Legumes are not only delicious and an amazing source of plant protein and fiber, but also enrich your soil by fixing nitrogen - meaning their roots scavenge for the essential macro-nutrient nitrogen in the soil and transform it into a form that allows surrounding plants to use it as a fertilizer! Saving the seeds is so easy - allow the bean pods to dry on the stalk through late summer. Open the pods and the dry beans (seeds) are safe for storing.
Blue Lake Pole Beans
Why Grow It: These beans are prolific producers, with tender, stringless pods that thrive when grown vertically.
How to Use: Steam and toss with butter, pickle for snacks, or stir-fry with garlic and soy sauce.
Scarlet Runner Beans
Why Grow It: Known for their showy flowers and nutty-flavored beans, they double as an ornamental and edible crop.
How to Use: Shell the beans for soups or sauté the young pods as a side dish.
Kentucky Wonder Green Beans
Why Grow It: A prolific producer, this heirloom variety is known for its tender pods and rich, beany flavor. We love these in our household, especially sauteed with a steak and garlic on the side.
How to Use: Steam, sauté, or blanch for salads. These beans are perfect for pickling or adding to casseroles.
Cucurbits
Squash, melons, and other vine-growing heirloom plants in the gourd family are versatile, nutrient-dense, and so easy to grow.
Waltham Butternut
Why Grow It: This butternut squash has a sweet, nutty flavor and stores well through winter.
How to Use: Roast with olive oil and herbs, purée into soups, or dice for stews.
Costata Romanesco Zucchini
Why Grow It: This ribbed Italian heirloom has superior flavor and texture compared to modern zucchinis.
How to Use: Grill, spiralize into noodles, or bake into zucchini bread.
Hale’s Best Cantaloupe
Why Grow It: A classic heirloom melon known for its intensely sweet, fragrant flesh and disease resistance.
How to Use: Serve fresh, blend into smoothies, or wrap in prosciutto for a savory-sweet appetizer.
Boston Pickling Cucumber
Why Grow It: A classic heirloom variety, this cucumber is known for its thin skin, crisp texture, and perfect size for pickling.
How to Use: Pickle in brine for crunchy pickles, slice for sandwiches, or use fresh in salads. This is a must
Armenian Cucumber
Why Grow It: Technically a melon, this long, slender "cucumber" has a mild, refreshing taste and thrives in hot climates. Its ribbed skin adds an interesting texture.
How to Use: Slice thin for salads, spiralize for cucumber noodles, or snack on it fresh.
Root Vegetables
Heirloom root vegetables are packed with nutrients and flavor. These are wonderful starchy and hearty additions to autumn and winter meals. Carrots and beets are considered cool season plants so they grow best in the cooler seasons when temps are moderate and water is abundant. They both tend to get bitter in the heat of summer and if not watered every day. To enjoy my beet and carrot harvest through the rest of the year, I love to pickle them. Pickled root vegetables is amazing for gut health.
Scarlet Nantes Carrot
Why Grow It: This sweet, crisp carrot is easy to grow and thrives in loose, well-drained soil.
How to Use: Snack on raw, roast with honey, or shred into slaws.
Chioggia Beet
Why Grow It: Recognizable by its striking pink-and-white rings, this beet has a mild, earthy flavor.
How to Use: Roast for salads, pickle for a tangy treat, or blend into smoothies.
Danvers Carrots
Why Grow It: With a deep orange color and sweet, earthy flavor, Danvers carrots are perfect for a range of dishes and grow well in a variety of soils.
How to Use: Roast with herbs, shred into slaws, or bake into carrot cakes. Their sweet crunch also makes them a delightful snack fresh from the garden. Many times, these carrots don’t make it into my kitchen because I eat them raw while I weed my garden.
Alliums/Bulbs
Alliums are kitchen staples that add depth and flavor to countless dishes. Garlic and onions are especially powerful “anti” ingredients - anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial - which makes them essential for immunity.
Amish Rocambole Garlic
Why Grow It: This heirloom garlic variety is prized for its robust, spicy flavor and excellent storage capabilities.
How to Use: Roast whole, mince into dressings, or sauté for savory dishes.
Yellow Potato Onion
Why Grow It: A heritage multiplier onion that’s easy to grow and offers a sweet, mild flavor.
How to Use: Caramelize for toppings, dice into soups, or roast alongside root vegetables.
Egyptian Walking Onion
Why Grow It: A perennial onion that "walks" by producing small bulbils at the top of its stalks, it’s low-maintenance and highly productive.
How to Use: Use the green tops like scallions, or harvest the bulbs for pickling or sautéing.
White Lisbon Bunching Scallions
Why Grow It: A fast-growing, flavorful variety that adds a mild oniony zest to dishes.
How to Use: Chop fresh into salads, stir-fries, or as a garnish for soups and stews. Their delicate flavor pairs wonderfully with eggs and Asian-inspired dishes.
Peppers
Peppers add a vibrant splash of color, flavor, and versatility to your garden and kitchen.
Jimmy Nardello Sweet Pepper
Why Grow It: This prolific Italian heirloom produces slender, sweet peppers perfect for cooking or eating fresh.
How to Use: Sauté with olive oil, stuff with cheese, or grill as a side dish.
Hungarian Hot Wax Pepper
Why Grow It: A medium-hot pepper that’s easy to grow and produces abundantly even in cooler climates.
How to Use: Pickle for a tangy kick, dice into salsas, or slice for topping pizzas.
Chocolate Bell Pepper
Why Grow It: This unique variety has a deep brown color and a sweet, rich flavor.
How to Use: Roast for soups, dice into salads, or stuff with grains and vegetables.
Herbs
No kitchen garden is complete without fragrant herbs to enhance your cooking.
Genovese Basil
Why Grow It: This aromatic herb is a must-have for Italian cuisine and grows abundantly with proper pinching.
How to Use: Make pesto, sprinkle on pizza, or infuse into oils.
German Chamomile
Why Grow It: Easy to grow and drought-tolerant, this herb produces delicate flowers perfect for tea.
How to Use: Dry the flowers for calming tea, or use fresh as a garnish for desserts.
Flowers
Heirloom flowers bring beauty, pollinators, predator insects, birds and even edible blooms to your garden. They are essential for balancing insect populations for natural pest control. Flowers make the garden a thriving ecosystem.
Fiesta Blend Nasturtium
Why Grow It: These vibrant, easy-to-grow flowers are not only stunning but also edible, with a peppery flavor.
How to Use: Add blossoms to salads, use as a garnish, or pickle the seeds as a substitute for capers.
Calendula
Why Grow It: Known as "pot marigold," this cheerful flower thrives in a variety of conditions and has medicinal properties.
How to Use: Dry the petals for tea, infuse into oils for skincare, or use fresh as a colorful garnish.
California Giants Blend Zinnia
Why Grow It: This vibrant heirloom variety produces large, colorful blooms in a range of hues, adding a cheerful touch to any garden.
How to Use: Cut for long-lasting floral arrangements or use the blossoms to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. They also make a stunning border for vegetable gardens or flower beds.
Mammoth Grey Stripe Sunflower
Why Grow It: Known for their towering height and large seeds, Mammoth Grey Stripe sunflowers are both ornamental and productive. I love watching birds land on the dinner-plate sized head to eat the seeds. I love to eat the seeds.
How to Use: Roast seeds for a crunchy snack or use the vibrant petals to brighten salads. The tall stalks make a stunning natural trellis for climbing plants. Save the spent stalks - they dry into strong poles that can be used to build trellises the following year.
Painted Lady Sweet Peas
Why Grow It: These stunning, fragrant flowers in shades of pink and white are a historical heirloom that thrives in cool climates.
How to Use: Enjoy as an ornamental plant or cut for sweet-smelling floral arrangements
Simple Tips for Growing Organic Heirlooms
Prepare Your Soil: Enrich your garden bed with compost or well-rotted manure to ensure nutrient-rich soil.
Practice Crop Rotation: Avoid planting the same family of crops in the same spot year after year to reduce pests and diseases.
Water Consistently: Most heirlooms prefer deep, consistent watering to thrive.
Support Your Plants: Use stakes, cages, or trellises to keep vining plants like tomatoes and beans off the ground.
Save Your Seeds: Let a few plants go to seed at the end of the season to preserve your favorite varieties for next year.
How to Read a Seed Packet
Understanding how to read a seed packet is essential for successful gardening. Here’s a quick guide to the key information typically included:
Plant Name and Variety: This includes the common name (e.g., Tomato) and the specific variety (e.g., Brandywine).
Days to Maturity: Indicates how long it takes from planting to harvest. Use this to plan your planting schedule.
Planting Depth: How deep to plant the seeds. Following this ensures proper germination.
Spacing Requirements: Details how far apart to plant seeds or seedlings. This helps prevent overcrowding.
Light Requirements: Indicates whether the plant needs full sun, partial shade, or shade.
Hardiness Zone: Shows the USDA zones where the plant will thrive. Ensure compatibility with your local climate.
Special Instructions: Includes any specific care tips, such as trellising or thinning recommendations.
Seed Viability Date: Look for a "packed for" or "sell by" date to ensure seed freshness.
Growing organic heirloom varieties is a journey filled with discovery, connection, and flavor. By selecting these time-tested cultivars for your kitchen garden, you’ll enjoy an abundance of fresh, nutrient-rich produce while celebrating the beauty of nature. Happy gardening!
What heirloom varieties would you add to this list?