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Seeds of Italy

As our regular Garden Centre customers know we have an extremely wide range of vegetable and flower seeds available from the Shop and this year we have introduced a new range which is already proving very popular - these are Seeds of Italy, marketed as Franchi. Franchi is the oldest family run seed company in the world. Giovanni Franchi the current Mr. Franchi's great, great, great, great, great grandfather, started selling seed from his horse drawn cart at the local market piazza the same year that Mozart wrote his first mass!

Anyone who has travelled extensively in Italy, especially the rural regions, will know that the Italians are passionate about their food and a high proportion grow at least some of their own so that they are eating the very best fresh produce. Although one thinks of Italy as a sun drenched country two thirds of Italy is alpine, with the Alps and Dolomites in the North and the Apennines running down the spine. The result is that some of the varieties are very hardy.

Seeds of Italy do have an extensive catalogue and from this we have selected a collection of some of the best flavours so you can crop these from your own garden. If you do go to the trouble of growing your own vegetables to ensure that you are eating really fresh foods which will then have the highest possible vitamin content, it makes sense to also have varieties which will give you the best flavour as well. With this in mind we have decided to offer Franchi seeds, as we know the quality of the varieties. All packs have generous seed quantities and are aimed at the allotment holder, small grower, gourmet and professional.

Aubergine Violetta Lunga 2 (Melanzana)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Aubergine Violetta Lunga 2 (Melanzana).

The rustic Italian Aubergine producing a good crop of long tasty aubergines. Sow indoors from February to May to crop from July to October. Approx. 660 seeds.

£1.49


Basil Aromatic Violet (Red) (Basilico)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Basil Aromatic Violet (Red) (Basilico).

Mid-early vigorous plant with bright violet, intensely perfumed leaves. Easy to grow and ideal for containers. Sweeter tasting than regular basil with a slight clove undertone. Approx. 3200 seeds.

£1.49


Basil Bolloso Napoletano (Basilico)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Basil Bolloso Napoletano (Basilico).

Large basil with blistered leaves. This variety is only found in Naples and is highly prized for its flavour.
Serving suggestion: Wrap the large leaves around mozzarella balls and drizzle with olive oil or around slices of prosciutto di parma and shave with parmesan reggian. Approx. 4000 seeds.

£1.49


Basil Italian Classic (Basilico)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Basil Italian Classic (Basilico).

This classic green-leaved Genova basil has many culinary uses. Grow in a warm sunny position to produce masses of wonderful aromatic leaves for both salad and culinary use. Sow from March to mid July to crop from June to October. It is particularly recommended for use in making Pesto. Approx. 4000 seeds.

£1.49


Beetroot of Chioggia (Bietola da Orto)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Beetroot of Chioggia (Bietola da Orto).

From the Venice region and featured on 'Jamie at Home'. Round, red, root with alternate white and red stripes on the inside. Sow from Mar-end Jun. Approx. 600 seeds.

£1.49


Cabbage Savoy of Mantova (Cavolo Verza)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Cabbage Savoy of Mantova (Cavolo Verza).

Excellent, vigorous, cabbage that resists low temperatures. Thick, dark green leaves. Produces a consistent large-sized cabbage head. Approx. 1800 seeds.

£1.49


Carrot Berlicum 2 (Carota)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Carrot Berlicum 2 (Carota).

Mid-late variety with long, cylindrical, crunchy root. Sow mid Mar-end Jul. Approx. 7200 seeds.

£1.49


Carrot Pariser Market 4 (Carota)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Carrot Pariser Market 4 (Carota).

Small, round, sweet French carrots which will thrive in heavy soils where the long varieties fail. These make a welcome addition to salads when finely sliced or grated or are delicious when cooked. Sow from March to July to harvest from June to October. Approx. 7200 seeds.

£1.49


Cauliflower Romanesco Precoce (Cavolfiore)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Cauliflower Romanesco Precoce (Cavolfiore).

Variety from Rome with very attractive spiralling florets of green. Compact, pointed, heads. Sow from May to July, harvest in December and January. Approx. 1800 seeds.

£1.49


Chard Bionda of Lione 2 (Bietola da Coste)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Chard Bionda of Lione 2 (Bietola da Coste).

'Swiss Chard of Lyon'. Good, strong growing variety of Swiss Chard with large white edible stalks, and light green leaves - two vegetables in one. Sow February to June and harvest May to November. Approx. 500 seeds.

£1.49


Chard, Rhubarb (Bieta da Coste)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Chard, Rhubarb (Bieta da Coste).

Red stalked variety, early, vigorous, productive. Medium-sized with characteristic red stalks which are tender and of medium thickness. Sow Feb-Jul. Approx. 450 seeds.

£1.49


Chicory Rossa of Verona (Cicoria)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Chicory Rossa of Verona (Cicoria).

This variety is very frost hardy - in fact it needs frost to make it turn red. A less commonly grown vegetable but as those who have grown it know, it is well worth it. Sow from May to September to harvest from September to February. Approx. 6000 seeds.

£1.49


Chicory Witloof of Bruxelles (Yellow) (Cicoria)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Chicory Witloof of Bruxelles (Yellow) (Cicoria).

Excellent variety from Belgium (Whiteleaf of Brussels) which produces plump leafy heads known as chicons when blanched. Excellent salad vegetable. Sow May to August to crop July to December. Approx. 6000 seeds.

£1.49


Corn Salad/Lambs' Tongue D'Olanda a Seme Grosso (Vareriana)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Corn Salad/Lambs' Tongue D'Olanda a Seme Grosso (Vareriana).

Easy to grow very hardy salad crop which in mild years you will be able to crop for virtually the whole year. Sow March and April and July to October to crop May and June and September to December. Approx. 2200 seeds.

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Courgette Rugosa Friulana (Zuchetta)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Courgette Rugosa Friulana (Zuchetta).

This courgette variety has one of the best flavours, and is virtually the only variety you will find in local shops and markets in the Veneto region of Italy. Approx. 22 seeds.

£1.49


Endive Pancalieri a Costa Bianca (Indivia Riccia)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Endive Pancalieri a Costa Bianca (Indivia Riccia).

'Endive Golden Heart'. Excellent variety with splaying head of crisp green leaves and golden centre if tied up ten days before harvesting. Excellent pan fried with garlic. Sow June to August to crop August to December. Approx. 4800 seeds.

£1.49


French Bean, Dwarf Bean Purple King (Fagiolo Nano)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page French Bean, Dwarf Bean Purple King (Fagiolo Nano).

A stringless variety of French Bean which produces sweet, tasty purple beans which turn green when cooked (magic beans to children!) Pods reach up to 15cm (9ins) in length. Sow from March to mid-July to crop between May and October. 60g. packet.

£1.49


French Bean, Dwarf Boby Bianco (Fagiolo Nano)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page French Bean, Dwarf Boby Bianco (Fagiolo Nano).

An, excellent, stringless variety of French Bean which produces green beans up to 12cm (5ins) long with white seeds. Good as a hot vegetable or cold sliced and added to salads. Sow between March and July to crop from June to October. 60g. packet.

£1.49


French Bean, Meraviglia of Venezia (Fagiolo Rampicante)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page French Bean, Meraviglia of Venezia (Fagiolo Rampicante).

Wide, meaty yellow French Bean. Stringless. Great hot as a vegetable, but really comes into its own in a bean salad dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar from Modena. Sow Apr-Jul. 40g. packet.

£1.69


Gherkin Piccolo of Parigi (Cetriolino)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Gherkin Piccolo of Parigi (Cetriolino).

'Gherkin of Paris'. This variety produces gherkins which are ideal for pickling in vinegar. Vigorous, producing masses of green gherkins. Sow from March to July to crop from June to October. Approx. 150 seeds.

£1.49


Kale, Black Tuscan, Nero of Toscana Precoce (Cavolo laciniato)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Kale, Black Tuscan, Nero of Toscana Precoce (Cavolo laciniato).

A very elegant kale with very dark green, nearly black leaves which hold their colour well when cooked. Full of flavour and in milder winters will still be harvestable till early spring. Sow from May to July to harvest from September to December. Approx. 1800 seeds.

£1.49


Leek of Delft (Porro)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Leek of Delft (Porro).

A short but thick variety from Holland with superb flavour. Sow from February to April to crop from July to December. Approx. 1520 seeds.

£1.49


Lettuce Rossa of Trento (Lattuga)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Lettuce Rossa of Trento (Lattuga).

Tasty and attractive, round, green lettuce suffused with red from the alpine city of Trento in the north west of Italy. Sow from March to June and harvest June to November. Approx. 5600 seeds.

£1.49


Lettuce St. Anna (Lattuga)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Lettuce St. Anna (Lattuga).

Lettuce St. Anna. Large, tightly-closed, round head. Ample, light green, tender leaves with a consistent texture. Ideal for summer harvest. Approx. 6400 seeds.

£1.49


Mizuna (Cavolo Cinese)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Mizuna (Cavolo Cinese).

Early, vigorous and uniform plant. Leaves are dark green with white borders. Small compact bush. Great in stir-fries or as a salad. Approx. 600 seeds.

£1.49


Onion, Red, Tropea Rossa Tonda (Cipolla)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Onion, Red, Tropea Rossa Tonda (Cipolla).

Red onions are mild and sweet so are good eaten raw in salads. They can also be used for cooking. This variety produces large, round, violet, skinned onions. Sow July to September or March to May to harvest from May to September. Approx. 840 seeds.

£1.49


Pak-Choy (Cavolo Cinese)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Pak-Choy (Cavolo Cinese).

A good, strong growing, variety which produces plants of uniform habit and good dimension. Edible raw or cooked, excellent for stir-frying, good white stems and intense dark green foliage. Sow March to June to harvest from May to September.

£1.49


Parsley Gigante di Napoli (Prezzemolo)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Parsley Gigante di Napoli (Prezzemolo).

Neopolitan giant flat-leafed parsley which has a superb flavour. Hardy variety which often can be used all year round. Sow from March to the end of September to harvest from June to December. Approx. 6600 seeds.

£1.49


Pepper Padron (Peperone)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Pepper Padron (Peperone).

Early-mid pepper. Mid-sized bushy plant with green mid-length, flat, fruits which turn red when ripe. Traditionally pan-fried with olive oil and salt, and served with drinks. Approx. 120 seeds.

£1.49


Pepper Quadrato d'Asti Rosso (Peperone)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Pepper Quadrato d'Asti Rosso (Peperone).

The most highly prized sweet pepper in Italy which ripens to red. Comes from Piemonte. Sow indoors from February to May to harvest from July to October. Approx. 260 seeds.

£1.49


Pumpkin Marina di Chioggia (Zucca)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Pumpkin Marina di Chioggia (Zucca).

Very old, rustic pumpkin from near Venice. Thick, knobbly skin and sweet yellow-orange flesh. Rich in Vitamin A. Approx. 9 seeds.

£1.49


Radish Rosso Gigante (Ravanello)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Radish Rosso Gigante (Ravanello).

Produces very large, uniformly-shaped, good-red coloured radishes. Sow February to June and September to October to harvest from April to August then October and November. Approx. 1800 seeds.

£1.49


Rocket, Cultivated (Rucola)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Rocket, Cultivated (Rucola).

Easy to grow salad leaf which adds an exciting peppery flavour to salads and pizzas. Crops well over a long period. Sow from March to September to crop from May to November. Approx. 6000 seeds.

£1.49


Salad Leaves Mixed (Misticanza di Lattughe)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Salad Leaves Mixed (Misticanza di Lattughe).

'Misticanza' was part of the Roman diet and so goes back over 2000 years. In the 15th century, Borage, mint, Chicory barba di Frate and rocket were also included, but this pack contains 8 different lettuce varieties (reds, cutting, green, heads) and 6 Radicchio and Chicorys reflecting more modern tastes. Approx. 6000 seeds.

£1.49


Spinach America (Spinacio)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Spinach America (Spinacio).

This variety is very slow to bolt. It was named after US/Italian immigrants. Deep green leaves with that unmistakable spinach flavour and punched with goodness. Sow in spring from February to May or from August to October to crop April to June or October to December. Approx. 1300 seeds.

£1.49


Sprouting Turnip-Top Novantina (Cima de Rapa)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Sprouting Turnip-Top Novantina (Cima de Rapa).

A less known crop which deserves to be more widely grown as it adds a new interesting dimension to your meals. This seed produces a slower growing plant which is packed with flavour. Must be harvested immediately it is ready. Sow from May to July to harvest from August to October. Approx. 4800 seeds.

£1.49


Squash Butternut Rugosa (Zucca)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Squash Butternut Rugosa (Zucca).

Mid-late, vigorous, plant producing elongated, slightly ribbed fruits. Very sweet, firm yellow-orange flesh. Approx. 25 seeds.

£1.49


Squash Tromba D'Albenga (Zucchetta)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Squash Tromba D'Albenga (Zucchetta).

Interesting looking, curved, courgette with a bulbous end. This squash is from near Milan, in the cool north of Italy. Good, meaty, flavour. Sow from mid March to August and crop from June untill October. Approx. 25 seeds.

£1.49


Tomato Costoluto Fiorentino (Pomodoro)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Tomato Costoluto Fiorentino (Pomodoro).

Vigorous variety producing many egg-shaped tomatoes which are excellent for cooking, for making sauces and preserving. Sow February to May to crop July to December. Approx. 375 seeds.

£1.49


Tomato St Pierre (Pomodoro)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Tomato St Pierre (Pomodoro).

French salad tomato. Round, good sized, determinate (bush variety) renowned for its super flavour. 75-80 days to maturity. Approx. 100 seeds.

£1.49


Wild Rocket (Rucola Selvatica)Seeds of ItalyGo to Top of Page Wild Rocket (Rucola Selvatica).

Very intense flavoured variety, a must for a tasty salad. Serrated, narrow, dark green leaves. Sow March to May and August to September to crop from May to November. Approx. 6000 seeds.

£1.49


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