I had a strong impression to buy heirloom seeds this past year even before reading anything here or elsewhere for that matter about them. I believe that impression, that prompting, came from God. And so I now have plenty of varieties of heirloom seeds - enough seeds for probably 2 years - and have started buying extras for other family members as little gifts.
I have had mixed success in sprouting my own heirloom seeds but confident I will have more success next time around because have a little more experience. I had wondered if some seeds that did not germinate were faulty, but I reckon I probably planted some a tad too deep. Have been fortunate enough to find a local store that sells heirloom seedlings and so I got my garden started on these, and they have been successful. I did not have any great success growing beans or peppers. The plants were stunted and didn't produce enough to feed a family. I doubt the problem was the plants but the gardener
Grew heirloom hailstone radishes which looked pretty in the garden but were so hot no one would eat them. Just one gave one of my children terrific heartburn. They mostly went to compost.
Only one heirloom freckles lettuce seeds sprouted - in a pot about ten feet from where I had planted the seeds
and grew nicely.
Kang kong, an Asian green, success. Will grow a larger amount next time. Success growing Malabar climbing spinach but didn't like the taste - prefer real spinach - tastes like what I imagine a succulent would taste like. Won't grow it again.
I've yet to learn to save seeds - that's next on the list for this year.