The Vilmorin family established their seed business in Paris in 1746. Over the following century and a half, they accumulated unparalleled knowledge of vegetable cultivation, carefully documenting the characteristics and requirements of hundreds of varieties.
The Vegetable Garden
The Vegetable Garden (originally Les Plantes Potagères) is perhaps the most comprehensive vegetable reference ever written. The English translation, published in 1885, runs to over 800 pages and covers vegetables from artichokes to zucchini, including many varieties that have since been lost to commercial cultivation.
Why It Matters
Many heirloom vegetables we grow today trace their documentation to this book. The detailed descriptions and beautiful engravings provide a window into the incredible diversity that once existed in our food system—and can exist again.
