1. eFarmer.us Heirloom Vegetables December 2008 copyright eStudy.us 2008 michael.roberson@eStudy.us

2. eFarmer.us Overview An Heirloom Vegetable is a vegetable of any variety exhibiting the following three characteristics: Age: Introduced before 1951 Open Pollinated: meaning that a particular seed will come back "true to type“ Quality: Nutritional value and Taste

3. eFarmer.us Generally Heirlooms are plants that are in the same condition as when they were discovered. Meaning they have not had any original characteristics taken out and have not been cross bred with other plant types.

4. eFarmer.us Varieties For most crops that are grown today(except specialty man made cross breads), there was an original. The most common types of Heirlooms include: Lima beans, Pole Beans, Corns, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Squash, Tomatoes and Watermelons. This paper will focus on just two types, the Kentucky Wonder, a green bean and the Golden Bantam, a type of corn.

5. eFarmer.us Market Opportunities The opportunity for Heirloom vegetables is bright because: Many varieties Individual Growers Few Large Heirloom Farms

6. eFarmer.us Market Opportunities (contd.) Local Farmers Markets Road side Stands Organic Markets National Small Heirloom Farms World-wide Medium scale Production Facilities

7. eFarmer.us Nutrition Information Kentucky Wonder Calories 15 Dietary fiber 1.6grams Protein 1 gram Carbohydrates 3.5 mg Vitamin A 340 IU Vitamin C 7.5 mg Folic Acid 21 mg Calcium 31.5 mg Iron.4 mg Potassium 94.5 mg Golden Bantam Calories 83.16 Protein 2.56 grams Carbohydrates 19.3 grams Dietary Fiber 2.15 grams Potassium 191.73 mg Vitamin A 167 IU Niacin 1.24 mg Folate 35.73 mcg

8. eFarmer.us Production Characteristics Kentucky Wonder Beans(heirloom) Should be planted after all danger of frost is past in the spring, one inch deep, 4 to 6 inches apart in rows 30 to 36 inches apart; or in hills (four to six seeds per hill) 30 inches apart, with 30 inches between rows. Never soak bean seed before planting, instead water just after planting or plant right before a heavy rain. Harvest when the pods are firm, crisp and fully elongated, but before the seed within the pod has developed significantly. Pick beans after the dew is off the plants, and they are thoroughly dry.

9. eFarmer.us Production Characteristics Kentucky Wonder Beans(heirloom) Be careful not to break the brittle stems or branches. If pods are continually removed before seeds mature the plant continues to produce more beans. Bean mosaic diseases cause plants to turn a yellowish green and produce few or no pods. The leaves on infected plants are a mottled yellow and are usually irregularly shaped Bright yellow or brown spots on the leaves or water-soaked spots on the pods are signs of bacterial bean blight. Bacterial blight is best controlled by planting disease-free seed; avoiding contact with wet bean plants; and removing all bean debris from the garden.

10. eFarmer.us Production Characteristics Golden Bantam(heirloom) Sweet corn requires warm soil for germination, plantings can be made as late as the first week of July. Plant the kernels (seeds) 1/2 inch deep in cool, moist soils and 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep in warm, dry soils. Space the kernels 9 to 12 inches apart in the row. Plant two or more rows of each variety side by side to ensure good pollination and ear development. Allow 30 to 36 inches between rows. All sweet corns should be protected from possible cross- pollination by other types of corn (field, pop or flint).

11. eFarmer.us Production Characteristics Golden Bantam(heirloom) If you plant supersweet or synergistic sweet corn varieties, plan your garden arrangement and planting schedule so as to prevent cross-pollination between these varieties and with any other corn, including nonSh2 sweet corns. Each cornstalk should produce at least one large ear. Under good growing conditions (correct spacing; freedom from weeds, insects and disease; and adequate moisture and fertility), many varieties produce a second ear. This second ear is usually smaller and develops later than the first ear.

12. eFarmer.us Production Characteristics Golden Bantam(heirloom) Sweet corn ears should be picked during the "milk stage" when the kernels are fully formed but not fully mature. This stage occurs about 20 days after the appearance of the first silk strands.

13. eFarmer.us Production Opportunities Capital Requirements: Heirloom vegetables need no more space than their hybrid counterparts. Current land and equipment can be used in the growth of heirlooms.* Labor Requirements: Because heirlooms are older seeds, it is suggested to use minimal to no chemicals so these crops may be slightly more labor intensive with respect to maintenance and care before harvesting. Opportunity Cost (Competitive Crops for Land Resource) Other

14. eFarmer.us Production Opportunities Opportunity Cost: Growing heirlooms can take away from growing a hybridized counterpart that uses slightly less labor during the maintenance and care stage before harvest.

15. eFarmer.us Production Opportunities Cost: to produce Land-based on desired production Seed-heirloom must be started from previously saved seed Labor-hired *min. wage- $6.55 (same as fed. rate) Machinery -(only if large amounts are to be planted and harvested)

16. eFarmer.us Revenue Revenue sources – Corn: approx. $325+/bushel – Kentucky Wonder: approx. n/a Incentives: First movers advantage- being first to offer a specific crop in an area, network opportunities with local restaurants, etc. Specialization- having a superior product to offer by not focusing on other crops

17. eFarmer.us Risk Market Risk: Product chosen may not be in demand after being grown. Production Risk: For corn, soil too dry is bad, for Ky. Wonder pole bean, too much moisture is not good.

18. eFarmer.us Risk Financial Risk ** For the two mentioned heirlooms, financial risk are minimal because no special changes are needed if corn or any type of pole or green bean is already planted, no additional equipment or chemicals are needed. **Based on current and desired production

19. eFarmer.us Basic Summary Market Opportunity: Low availability outside of larger cities with dedicated close knit coops, chance to market to forward thinking chefs. Advantages of Western and Center Kentucky – Climate – Normal endowed resources (Building / Land) adaptable for the new practice – Labor requirements pretty close to standard crop versions

20. eFarmer.us **Note** Due to the very recent increase in interest in heirlooms, little information was available regarding financial returns and pricing for specific heirlooms. For a more accurate idea of financial information, heirlooms can be compared to organics in that they can be marketed for superior taste, flavors and added nutritional value and sold at a premium.

21. eFarmer.us Sources http://www.halcyon.com/tmend/heirloom.htm http://www.uky.edu/Ag/NewCrops/introsheets/heirloom.pdf http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1255.htm http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/veggies/beans1.html http://www.cmegroup.com/trading/commodities/grain-and-oilseed/corn.html www.landrethseeds.com