Alterations in global temperatures and disruption of regional weather patterns pose a major threat to food security – with growers and gardeners increasingly looking for food crops that can withstand the unpredictable climate.

But heritage varieties, such as those preserved by the Heritage Seed Library – and offered up each December in its annual Seed List - provide a diverse range of heirloom vegetable plants, many of which are better suited to the UK’s warmer and wetter climate.

Diversity equals resilience

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that globally 75 percent of crop diversity was lost between 1900 and 2000.

And in a recent study in sub-Saharan Africa - where farmers and growers are bearing the brunt of climate change - they’re focusing on crop diversification and planting ‘forgotten food crops’.

But our own food supply is not immune to climate challenges. We're encouraging growers to choose heritage, heirloom, rare and landrace varieties, which are adapted to specific growing conditions and more resilient to the changing climate.

Adaptable heritage and heirloom varieties

At our Heritage Seed Library, we maintain genetic diversity within vegetable crops with an 800-strong National Collection of Heritage Vegetables, which are helping to increase resilience to current and future food pressures.

“Over decades, sometimes many generations, individuals and communities have carefully selected and bred vegetable plants locally for their special characteristics, saving the seed from plants that grow well where they live,” says Catrina Fenton, head of the Heritage Seed Library based at our charity headquarters in Ryton, near Coventry.

“Plants have a simple way of adapting to different challenges, called genetic diversity. And the more diversity we can find and reintroduce into our food systems - through growing and eating old varieties of vegetables at home - the greater our resilience to future pressures in a changing environment.”

What’s more, plant-based foods such as vegetables, beans and peas generally use less energy, land and water, and have lower greenhouse gas intensities than animal-based foods.

About the Heritage Seed Library

The Heritage Seed Library (HSL) maintains the National Collection of Heritage Vegetables and conserves vegetable varieties that are not widely available. All of its seed – approximately 800 open-pollinated varieties - is made available for members to grow and enjoy, with a selection of around 150 shared in the annual List each year for people to grow.

The collection consists of mainly European varieties, including:

Rare landrace varieties, which are adapted to specific growing conditions.
Heirloom varieties that have been saved over many generations.
Varieties that have been dropped from popular seed catalogues and are no longer available to buy.
To support seed conservation at the library, you can become a member, and receive six free packets of precious heritage seeds each year.

Three climate resilient seeds to try

More than 800 rare heritage varieties, which might otherwise have been lost, are now secured in the Heritage Seed Library. Many of these varieties not only taste and look great but have special characteristics that can withstand climatic challenges.

Climbing French bean ‘Greasy’. This variety can tolerate hot, dry summers, and produces pods later than other French beans, with white flowers into the last weeks of August. The name ‘Greasy’ comes from the way the seeds are rich in oil, so they yield a sheen on top of the water when cooking. The pods contain up to eight beans in each pod and can be eaten fresh when small. However, they’re at their best when used as a dried bean when their rich, smoky peanut-like flavour can be fully appreciated.
Kale ‘Ragged Jack'. A very hardy little kale, this can produce leaves even in the depths of winter - helping to extend the season. Its frilly grey-green leaves have a lovely purple tinge.
Pea ‘Robinson'. Growers have reported this pea has some resilience to powdery mildew, which can thrive in warm and humid conditions. It produces vigorous plants (>2m) with long, slim, slightly curved pods over a long season. Extraordinarily sweet, retaining its flavour even when frozen. Seed Guardian Adam Alexander says: “They’re the finest pea I grow.”

Become a member – and support the Library’s conservation work - and you can request six free packets of seed each year from the list. Go to gardenorganic.org.uk/join.