Georgia gardens are seeing a delightful comeback of heirloom vegetables that were once nearly forgotten. I’ve grown a few myself, and there’s something special about their flavor and history.
From colorful tomatoes to unique beans, these plants add character to any garden. Let’s take a look at heirloom vegetables making a charming return to Georgia yards.
1. Cherokee Purple Tomato
Handed down from Native American tribes, these dusky purple beauties thrive in Georgia’s warm climate. Their rich, sweet flavor outshines grocery store varieties by miles.
Many Georgia gardeners swear these tomatoes taste like summer itself, with complex sweetness and a hint of smoke. Seeds saved from year to year adapt to local conditions, making them increasingly suited to your particular patch.
2. Georgia Rattlesnake Watermelon
Named for its striped rind resembling a diamondback, this sweet melon has quenched southern thirsts since the 1800s. Its crisp, ruby flesh delivers exceptional sweetness perfect for hot Georgia afternoons.
Farmers across the state proudly display these elongated fruits at summer markets. The vines need plenty of space but reward patient gardeners with 30-pound fruits that feature fewer seeds than modern varieties.
3. White Half-Runner Bean
Country gardens throughout Georgia have grown these versatile beans for generations. Their semi-climbing habit makes them perfect for small spaces while producing tender pods all summer long.
Many Georgia families pass down these seeds as treasured heirlooms. The beans can be enjoyed fresh as snap beans or left to mature for shelling, offering two harvests from a single planting.
4. Collard Greens
Winter gardens across Georgia wouldn’t be complete without these nutritional powerhouses. Old-time varieties like Georgia Southern and Morris Heading offer sweeter flavor after frost touches their leaves.
Generations of Georgia families have relied on these hardy greens to provide vitamins through cold months. Unlike store-bought versions, heirloom collards develop complex flavors that shine in traditional southern cooking.
5. Mortgage Lifter Tomato
Legend claims a West Virginia radiator repairman bred this massive tomato and sold enough plants to pay off his mortgage. Georgia gardeners love them for their meaty texture and low acid content.
The pink-red fruits often weigh over a pound each in Georgia’s fertile soil. Their sweet flavor makes them perfect for sandwiches, and the plants continue producing throughout the long southern growing season.
6. Bradford Watermelon
Once thought extinct, this legendary sweet melon has returned to southern gardens. Its crimson flesh practically dissolves in your mouth, making it worth the effort to track down rare seeds.
Georgia’s climate provides ideal growing conditions for this historic variety. The thin rind meant it couldn’t be shipped commercially, which nearly caused its disappearance until preservation efforts brought it back from the brink.
7. Candy Roaster Squash
Appalachian heritage comes alive with these uniquely shaped winter squashes in shades of pink, blue, and orange. Their sweet flesh tastes like a cross between butternut squash and sweet potatoes.
North Georgia mountain families have preserved these seeds for generations. When cured properly, they store throughout winter, providing nutritious meals long after the garden has gone dormant.
8. Alabama Blue Collards
Despite the name, Georgia gardeners treasure these blue-tinged greens for their cold hardiness and distinctive flavor. The leaves develop a beautiful purple-blue hue after frost, making them ornamental as well as edible.
Many southern Georgia families maintain their own seed strains. Unlike modern hybrids, these collards grow taller and more tree-like with age, continuing to produce leaves even as temperatures drop.
9. Seminole Pumpkin
Native Americans cultivated these resilient small pumpkins throughout the Southeast long before European settlement. Their natural resistance to pests makes them ideal for Georgia’s organic gardens.
The golden-orange flesh has remarkable sweetness perfect for pies and breads. Georgia gardeners appreciate how the vines scramble over fences or up trees, saving precious garden space while producing abundant harvests.
10. Fish Pepper
Brought north during the Great Migration, these striking peppers feature variegated leaves and striped fruits that ripen from cream to red. Their medium heat made them perfect for seafood dishes in African American communities.
Georgia gardeners treasure both their ornamental value and culinary versatility. The beautiful cream-streaked fruits dry easily for winter use, preserving their distinctive flavor that bridges the gap between hot and sweet peppers.
11. Georgia Jet Sweet Potato
Developed specifically for southern growing conditions, these copper-skinned beauties mature faster than other varieties. Their vibrant orange flesh delivers exceptional sweetness even in Georgia’s challenging clay soils.
Homesteaders across the state value their reliable production and excellent storage quality. A single slip can produce up to eight pounds of sweet potatoes, making them a space-efficient choice for small Georgia gardens.
12. Trucker’s Favorite Corn
Long before modern sweet corn dominated markets, this multipurpose variety graced Georgia dinner tables. The sturdy stalks produce large ears with white and purple kernels perfect for roasting, grinding, or creaming.
Many Georgia farm families have maintained their own seed lines for generations. The corn’s natural resistance to southern diseases makes it reliable even without chemical interventions.
13. Purple Hull Peas
No southern garden feels complete without these distinctive legumes with their purple-tinged pods. The creamy peas inside cook quickly and develop rich flavor that store-bought varieties simply can’t match.
Generations of Georgia families have gathered for shelling parties to process the summer harvest. Their nitrogen-fixing roots improve soil for future crops, making them valuable rotation plants in sustainable Georgia gardens.