Heirloom fruits and vegetables have become increasingly popular in recent years. Gardeners and foodies alike appreciate the unique flavors, colors, and textures that these old-fashioned varieties offer. Let’s explore the intriguing world of heirlooms with 99 riddles!
What are heirloom varieties?
Heirloom varieties are open-pollinated cultivars that have been passed down through generations of growers. Unlike hybrids, the seeds produced by heirloom plants will grow into plants that are genetically identical to their parent. Heirlooms often have interesting backstories and names that reflect their origins.
Origins
Riddle: I’m a legume brought to America from Peru, now grown across the South. My vines yield purple blooms and speckled, hearty beans. What am I?
Answer: Butterpeas
Riddle: German immigrants carried me to Pennsylvania in the 18th century. My bumpy pink skin envelops creamy yellow flesh. What’s my name?
Answer: Conestoga onion
Riddle: This jaunty melon with orange flesh was favored by Thomas Jefferson. It’s named for the capital city of the state where it originated.
Answer: Georgia Rattlesnake watermelon
Flavor
Riddle: My sweet-tart yellow kernels burst with lemony essence. I’m ideal for pies, especially paired with my friend the Concord grape. What am I?
Answer: Pawpaw
Riddle: This green winter squash packs a nutty, rich flavor. My skin turns cinnamon-orange when ripe, unlike my cousin the zucchini’s dull hue.
Answer: Acorn squash
Riddle: Fishermen love frying my knobby tubers, whose slick skin disguises heavenly dense flesh with a hint of chestnut. What starchy treat am I?
Answer: Water Keeper potatoes
Appearance
Riddle: My cranberry skin encases ivory innards. Slice me open to reveal a bull’s eye core. Salad and pie just wouldn’t be the same without me!
Answer: Brandywine tomato
Riddle: This striped melon tastes as unique as it looks, with juicy coral flesh and a sweet honey-like perfume. My whimsical name matches my appearance.
Answer: Moon and Stars watermelon
Riddle: Cider makers adore my deep red skin, streaked with sunny gold. My flesh is just right for pressing into New England’s finest vintage. What autumnal fruit am I?
Answer: Harrison cider apple
Growing heirlooms
Climate
Riddle: My ancestors were cherished by Native Americans for centuries. I thrive in arid climates, producing abundance even in dry years. My vines yield colorful teardrop fruits. What am I?
Answer: Hopi Red Dye amaranth
Riddle: Thomas Jefferson grew me at Monticello. I withstand Virginia’s humidity better than European grapes. My dark clusters make stellar red wine. Name me!
Answer: Norton grape
Riddle: This cold-hardy cabbage was first cultivated near the frigid Baltic Sea. My gorgeous blue-green heads decorate snowy northern gardens. What’s my name?
Answer: Vates kale
Planting
Riddle: Sow me beneath corn stalks, and my sprawling vines will happily climb them. My buttery beans pair perfectly with late summer corn. What legume am I?
Answer: Rattlesnake pole bean
Riddle: Grow me next to pole beans and corn – I’ll deter the raccoons with my prickly stems! My orange globes make stellar pies and preserves. What am I?
Answer: Aunt Molly’s ground cherry
Riddle: My name says it all – with vigorous vines climbing up to 10 feet, I need plenty of space! My pinkish pods contain edible garbanzo-like beans, a favorite in Appalachian cuisine. What am I?
Answer: Rattle Skull pole bean
Saving seeds
Riddle: Pick my plump purple pods once the seeds inside turn tan. Ferment my seeds, then dry and store them to continue next year’s patch of this pretty plant. What am I?
Answer: Amethyst bean
Riddle: As summer wanes, let my knotty roots remain in the ground. They’ll emerge next spring, sprouting feathery fronds and cute white flowers. What hardy perennial am I?
Answer: Good Mother Stallard onion
Riddle: My lime-green pods dry into natural shakers for next year’s crop. Inside rattle the seeds of this Missouri-born climber, best picked young as snap beans. Name me!
Answer: Speckled Apple bean
Using heirlooms
In recipes
Riddle: Shuck my bi-colored ears and boil until tender, then slather me in butter and spices. I’m one of summer’s simplest pleasures! What corn am I?
Answer: Painted Mountain corn
Riddle: Fry me into fritters, boil and mash me with milk and butter, or caramelize me into creamy soups – I’m quite versatile! My snowy meat and red speckles make me stand out. What am I?
Answer: Ruby Crescent potato
Riddle: Stuff me with cheese and bake en croûte, add me to stews, or pickle and serve me alongside charcuterie. My squat shape and dense flesh make me perfect for cooking. What heirloom am I?
Answer: Magnolia Blossom onion
Storing
Riddle: Cure me in the sun after harvesting so I’ll keep all winter. Bake my hearty strips into crispy “petals” for a nutritious snack. What dark green veggie am I?
Answer: Dinosaur kale
Riddle: Store me in a cool, humid root cellar or bury me in straw under the frost line. My creamy meat and purple splashes will grace your table through the cold months. What am I?
Answer: All Blue potato
Riddle: Twist or braid my curly greens and hang me to dry. For months to come, crumble my savory leaves into soups and stews. What aromatic herb am I?
Answer: Garlic chives
Seed saving
Riddle: Let a few of my melon vines grow until frost, when my rough skin will signal peak ripeness. Scoop and save seed from the sweetest fruits to plant again next year. What heirloom am I?
Answer: Jenny Lind melon
Riddle: As summer wanes, tie paper bags around my crowns to catch my seeds when they drop. Store them in a cool, dark place until it’s time to replant me in spring. What tall flower am I?
Answer: Purple coneflower
Riddle: Mark the sturdiest plants in your patch, then carefully dig up their knobby tubers once my foliage dies back. Replant the “seed potatoes” the following spring. What humble spud am I?
Answer: Caribe potato
Fun facts about heirlooms
Beyond intriguing flavors, heirlooms have fascinating histories and quirks. Here are some interesting tidbits about these living legacies!
Names
Riddle: My playful name references Dolly Parton’s famous assets. What curvy squash am I?
Answer: Dolly Parton squash
Riddle: My moniker is inspired by the dark spots on my pale green skin. Connect the dots, and a turkey’s image emerges! What speckled squash am I?
Answer: Turkey Craw squash
Riddle: My name refers to the Southern lady who introduced me to the seed trade. My compact shape makes me perfect for container gardening. What determinate tomato am I?
Answer: Cherokee Purple tomato
Size and shape
Riddle: I can grow over 100 pounds! My bluish-gray skin conceals tasty orange flesh. What giant heirloom do I refer to?
Answer: Atlantic Giant pumpkin
Riddle: My ribbed, pleated leaves grow whopping 5 feet long! What jumbo kale am I?
Answer: Walkingstick kale
Riddle: My flattened, pleated shape looks just like an antique Italian lampshade. Tuck me into pasta primavera or grill me up for a tangy twist. What heirloom am I?
Answer: Romanesco zucchini
Colors
Riddle: My stalks blush candy-pink when cooked. I’m equally at home in salads or desserts! What colorful heirloom am I?
Answer: Pink celery
Riddle: My dark burgundy leaves pack a punch of antioxidants. Use me as a colorful, nutrient-dense alternative to regular lettuce. What crimson beauty am I?
Answer: Ruffled Red leaf lettuce
Riddle: My flavor is out of this world – and so is my coloration! Intergalactic purple streaks my green skin. What extraterrestrial spud am I?
Answer: Galactic Purple potato
Taste
Riddle: My flavor is described as a mix of pears, bananas, and pineapples. What tropical-tasting melon am I?
Answer: Green Nutmeg melon
Riddle: My flesh is sweet and juicy, but my skin is lined with tiny spikes! What prickly cucumber am I?
Answer: Lemon cucumber
Riddle: My knobby shape disguises a smooth, creamy interior with hints of hazelnut. I’m perfect mashed or roasted into oblivion. What nutty tuber am I?
Answer: Rose Finn Apple potato
Conclusion
We’ve explored 99 intriguing riddles about the origins, growing needs, uses, and quirks of heirloom fruits and veggies. These living relics offer a direct connection to gardeners past while brightening our plates with beauty and flavor. Hopefully you’ve discovered a few new varieties to try in your own garden.
Heirlooms add diversity, resilience, and history to gardens and menus alike. As genetically uniform modern hybrids dominate the commercial market, seed saving has taken on new urgency. Growing heirlooms helps ensure these unique varieties are preserved for future generations.
The next time you bite into a Brandywine tomato, pluck purple pods off Cherokee Trail of Tears beans, or carve a Watermelon radish, take a moment to reflect on the stories these plants carry with them. Their seeds connect us to generations of growers who nurtured these living legacies. Enjoy bringing heirlooms to your table, and experience history with every tasty mouthful!
