I've had a tantalising catalogue from www.seedsofitaly.com For those
growing their own veg and herbs it has some delicious looking things in it.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
(new website online)

On Jan 4, 11:00*am, Sacha wrote:
I've had a tantalising catalogue fromwww.seedsofitaly.com* For those
growing their own veg and herbs it has some delicious looking things in it.

On 4/1/09 11:08, in article
,
" wrote:

On Jan 4, 11:00*am, Sacha wrote:
I've had a tantalising catalogue fromwww.seedsofitaly.com* For those
growing their own veg and herbs it has some delicious looking things in it.

They are brilliant - I got the Divinnel beans one year, amongst other
things, and got a fantastic crop. Also the gourds are so beautiful -
one would get them all! Happy New Year Sacha )

Happy 2009 and good growing for everyone. I think the tomatoes in that
catalogue are melting in my mouth already!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
(new website online)

On Sun, 04 Jan 2009 11:28:59 +0000, Sacha
wrote:

They are brilliant - I got the Divinnel beans one year, amongst other
things, and got a fantastic crop. Also the gourds are so beautiful -
one would get them all! Happy New Year Sacha )

Happy 2009 and good growing for everyone. I think the tomatoes in that
catalogue are melting in my mouth already!

That has made my day! Happy new year to you both!

In message , Sacha
writes
I've had a tantalising catalogue from www.seedsofitaly.com For those
growing their own veg and herbs it has some delicious looking things in it.

I buy Italian seeds for much of my veg now. Not only do they seem to
provide a better percentage of germination but, in my experience, they
also give a lot more seeds per packet. And the cropping is excellent.
French beans, celeriac, tomatoes, red onions (esp. San Marzano and
Costoluto Fiorentino) and a couple of others have proved superb. The
tomatoes which, when used to make a sauce, provide a wonderful flavour ;
I was told by an Italian friend in Le Marche that one must never cut
toms when adding to sauce, but rather squash them by hand. Boy, does
that improve the flavour!!

I normally buy seeds during my regular visits to Italy - they are
cheaper there than the same seeds bought in the UK [which appeals to my
Scottish nature :-))..] but one has to be careful not to buy ones which
require climatic conditions which the UK cannot guarantee. It's worth a
little research before travelling. Funnily enough, I also acquire
certain seeds in Italy for my small wildflower meadow .... and they
seems to do well too.

Viva sementi d'Italia!!
--
Gopher .... I know my place!

On 4/1/09 11:52, in article , "Gopher"
wrote:

In message , Sacha
writes
I've had a tantalising catalogue from www.seedsofitaly.com For those
growing their own veg and herbs it has some delicious looking things in it.

I buy Italian seeds for much of my veg now. Not only do they seem to
provide a better percentage of germination but, in my experience, they
also give a lot more seeds per packet. And the cropping is excellent.
French beans, celeriac, tomatoes, red onions (esp. San Marzano and
Costoluto Fiorentino) and a couple of others have proved superb. The
tomatoes which, when used to make a sauce, provide a wonderful flavour ;
I was told by an Italian friend in Le Marche that one must never cut
toms when adding to sauce, but rather squash them by hand. Boy, does
that improve the flavour!!

I normally buy seeds during my regular visits to Italy - they are
cheaper there than the same seeds bought in the UK [which appeals to my
Scottish nature :-))..] but one has to be careful not to buy ones which
require climatic conditions which the UK cannot guarantee. It's worth a
little research before travelling. Funnily enough, I also acquire
certain seeds in Italy for my small wildflower meadow .... and they
seems to do well too.

Viva sementi d'Italia!!

Interesting to read this. The sale of veg seeds has overtaken the sale of
ornamentals seeds for a couple of years now. Certainly, we all know
Italians take food flavours very seriously and I wonder if the warmer
climate helps seeds to ripen better, perhaps?
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
(new website online)

On Jan 4, 11:52*am, Gopher wrote:
I was told by an Italian friend in Le Marche that one must never cut
toms when adding to sauce, but rather squash them by hand. Boy, does
that improve the flavour!!

Very Zen that ;o) But it's true - with the added 'emotions' that one
transmit via the squashing of the fruits, that good feeling when
cooking, it all adds up and turn a simple dish into a fantastic tasty
one. When I'm low, I cook - it helps me pick up and I think of the
food I mix, the herbs I pick. Roll on spring ...!

On Jan 4, 12:15*pm, Martin wrote:
Judging from the appearances of Italian house gardens and the results achieved
by Italians with allotments, they are neither *most enthusiastic nor
knowledgeable gardeners.

Petrus de Crescentius (also sometimes known as Pietro de Crescentiis
or Pietro De’crescenzi) had over 10 books translated in many languages
in the 15th century, the most important texts on agriculture, husbandy
and horticulture. The Italians had the first wall gardens, much more
elaborate than those of England Medieval monasteries, most of the land
was owned by the church there and they grew absolutely everything that
could be grown. During the crusades, the knigths brought back lots of
plants, seeds and ideas to England. (Don't get me started I'm writing
a dissertation atm ... ;o)

Sacha wrote:
I've had a tantalising catalogue from www.seedsofitaly.com For those
growing their own veg and herbs it has some delicious looking things
in it.
Mmmm, looks very interesting. I know I must order seeds soon, but from
where? The choice is mind numbing!
--
Pete C
London UK

On 4/1/09 21:32, in article , "Pete C"
wrote:



Sacha wrote:
I've had a tantalising catalogue from www.seedsofitaly.com For those
growing their own veg and herbs it has some delicious looking things
in it.
Mmmm, looks very interesting. I know I must order seeds soon, but from
where? The choice is mind numbing!

Well, I'm going to order some from these people for ourselves.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
(new website online)

On 4/1/09 23:27, in article ,
"Martin" wrote:

On Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:02:28 +0000, Sacha wrote:

On 4/1/09 21:32, in article , "Pete C"
wrote:



Sacha wrote:
I've had a tantalising catalogue from www.seedsofitaly.com For those
growing their own veg and herbs it has some delicious looking things
in it.
Mmmm, looks very interesting. I know I must order seeds soon, but from
where? The choice is mind numbing!

Well, I'm going to order some from these people for ourselves.

Are they really an Italian company? They have no contact address in Italy.

http://www.franchisementi.it/


"By the time of the mutiny on the bounty in 1789, Giovanni Franchi was
already 6 years into his business of selling seeds around the market squares
of Parma from his horse drawn cart, and the company is still in the same
family 226 years later with Giampiero Franchi at the helm.
Franchi are the oldest family run seed company in the world and are much
more than just seeds in a packet * they are a story of tradition,
experience, quality, passion and excellence handed down over 7 generations
that continues today alongside state-of-the-art technological solutions.
Franchi themselves have sole responsibility for maintaining 70 important
varieties and most of our veg seed is commissioned, not bought in. The
farmer is given original Franchi stock seeds, is regularly visited and must
meet strict standards. An incredible 90% of our vegetable seeds are still
produced in Italy (many in their home regions still) and our seed is tested
rigorously, which is why our catalogue comes out in January."
http://www.seedsofitaly.com/


--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
(new website online)

On 5/1/09 00:20, in article ,
"Martin" wrote:

On Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:12:53 +0000, Sacha wrote:

On 4/1/09 23:27, in article ,
"Martin" wrote:

On Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:02:28 +0000, Sacha wrote:

On 4/1/09 21:32, in article , "Pete C"
wrote:



Sacha wrote:
I've had a tantalising catalogue from www.seedsofitaly.com For those
growing their own veg and herbs it has some delicious looking things
in it.
Mmmm, looks very interesting. I know I must order seeds soon, but from
where? The choice is mind numbing!

Well, I'm going to order some from these people for ourselves.

Are they really an Italian company? They have no contact address in Italy.

http://www.franchisementi.it/


"By the time of the mutiny on the bounty in 1789, Giovanni Franchi was
already 6 years into his business of selling seeds around the market squares
of Parma from his horse drawn cart, and the company is still in the same
family 226 years later with Giampiero Franchi at the helm.
Franchi are the oldest family run seed company in the world and are much
more than just seeds in a packet * they are a story of tradition,
experience, quality, passion and excellence handed down over 7 generations
that continues today alongside state-of-the-art technological solutions.
Franchi themselves have sole responsibility for maintaining 70 important
varieties and most of our veg seed is commissioned, not bought in. The
farmer is given original Franchi stock seeds, is regularly visited and must
meet strict standards. An incredible 90% of our vegetable seeds are still
produced in Italy (many in their home regions still) and our seed is tested
rigorously, which is why our catalogue comes out in January."
http://www.seedsofitaly.com/

I read that too. I take it they don't sell their stuff in Italy anymore or
market using a different company name?

snip

In Italy they're Franchi, their original name. I believe we bought some of
their seeds when we were in Florence a few years ago. AFAIK, they're a very
large, well-known firm. Probably Seeds of Italy is considered more likely
to appeal to a UK market because we associate Italy with good produce grown
in sunny conditions.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
(new website online)

In message , Martin
writes
On Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:02:28 +0000, Sacha wrote:

On 4/1/09 21:32, in article , "Pete C"
wrote:



Sacha wrote:
I've had a tantalising catalogue from www.seedsofitaly.com For those
growing their own veg and herbs it has some delicious looking things
in it.
Mmmm, looks very interesting. I know I must order seeds soon, but from
where? The choice is mind numbing!

Well, I'm going to order some from these people for ourselves.

Are they really an Italian company? They have no contact address in Italy.

As someone with such a strong connection to Italy I am surprised you
have never heard of Franchi as seed producers. They are the Suttons of
Italy

--
Gopher .... I know my place!

In message , Martin
writes
On Mon, 5 Jan 2009 08:40:36 +0000, Gopher wrote:

In message , Martin
writes
On Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:02:28 +0000, Sacha wrote:

On 4/1/09 21:32, in article , "Pete C"
wrote:



Sacha wrote:
I've had a tantalising catalogue from www.seedsofitaly.com For those
growing their own veg and herbs it has some delicious looking things
in it.
Mmmm, looks very interesting. I know I must order seeds soon, but from
where? The choice is mind numbing!

Well, I'm going to order some from these people for ourselves.

Are they really an Italian company? They have no contact address in Italy.

As someone with such a strong connection to Italy I am surprised you
have never heard of Franchi as seed producers. They are the Suttons of
Italy

Suttons are French nowadays. )

So? ..... :-]]

--
Gopher .... I know my place!

In message , Martin
writes
On Mon, 5 Jan 2009 10:13:22 +0000, Gopher wrote:

In message , Martin
writes
On Mon, 5 Jan 2009 08:40:36 +0000, Gopher wrote:

In message , Martin
writes
On Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:02:28 +0000, Sacha
wrote:

On 4/1/09 21:32, in article , "Pete C"
wrote:



Sacha wrote:
I've had a tantalising catalogue from www.seedsofitaly.com For those
growing their own veg and herbs it has some delicious looking things
in it.
Mmmm, looks very interesting. I know I must order seeds soon, but from
where? The choice is mind numbing!

Well, I'm going to order some from these people for ourselves.

Are they really an Italian company? They have no contact address in Italy.

As someone with such a strong connection to Italy I am surprised you
have never heard of Franchi as seed producers. They are the Suttons of
Italy

Suttons are French nowadays. )

So? ..... :-]]

So rotten/excellent analogy? )

My connection with Italy was work, not gardening.

Mine too - mainly in Rimini, Milan Rome and Sardinia .... aaaahhhh
Sardinia! Felice anno nuovo :-))

--
Gopher .... I know my place!