The Old Salem Horticulture Program is committed to sustainability through growing heirloom plants and saving the seed. The Horticulture Staff researches and plans the gardens, planting and maintaining only those varieties believed to have been grown in Salem, or the area, before 1850.

The vegetables, flowers, fruits, grains and herbs grown in Old Salem are heirlooms -- those open-pollinated, antique varieties that may be scarce and hard to find. Seed is saved for future use and is also shared with the non-profit seed banking organization Seed Savers Exchange, which works to preserve genetic and cultural diversity. 

Traditionally seed saving was part of every growing season; however, today in America only about 8% of vegetable varieties from 1903 are still available. 

[View/Download

"Preserving History through Seed Saving"

for more information about Old Salem's Program - PDF]

At upper left, late summer cockscomb (Celosia cristata) flowers are dried and then handled to release the tiny seed, which is carefully separated from the chaff and stored. The brilliant red blooms resemble the comb on a rooster and are aptly named. Cockscomb grows with perennial sunflower in the ca. 1825 Leinbach Garden on Salt Street.

At left, a handful of 'Painted Lady' (Phaseolus coccineus) seeds are the beans from a past year's crop that have been stored in airtight containers in a cool, dark place for future planting. 'Painted Lady' runner beans are trellised in the Triebel Lot Garden and present a colorful summer display at the corner of Salt Street and Academy Street.

Heirloom seeds are for sale in Old Salem

Excellent resource for Seed Savers:

Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners

by Suzanne Ashworth

order your copy now!

Seed to Seed and a wide selection of

garden books

are also available at:

The Garden Shop at

T. Bagge Merchant

626 S. Main Street

Winston-Salem, NC

336.721.7387

 Hours:

Mon.-Sat. 10 am-5 pm

 Sun. 1-5 pm