Gardenig in Italy. Tips & Guides

Ah, garlic. I have a complicated relationship with this fragrant bulb, often called the “stinking rose.”Back when I was a child, I had seve

Want to Create a Pasta Garden on Your Small Balcony? Here’s everything you need to know and more for a fresh supply all-year-round!

If you're planning to host a dinner party soon but need a bit of a refresher on how to throw the best get-together possible, you won't want to miss out on these expert tips. Below, entertaining pros share their guidance for creating beautiful tablescapes, deciding upon a drink menu, and much more.

Let’s explore the origins of these flavorful nuts and discover the fascinating history behind them. From the ancient pine forests of the Mediterranean to the modern-day harvests in Asia and North America, let’s uncover the story of “Where do Pine Nuts Come From?“

Seedy Stuff & Tasty Tomatoes I recently went to a talk by Paulo Arrigo who runs Seeds of Italy the British offshoot of Franchi Seeds, a company that has been growing and selling seeds in Italy since 1783. It was a fascinating talk on many levels; I hadn’t realised that (as in everything else) the Chinese now dominate the seed production market and much of the seed sold in the UK is of Chinese origin (often via Holland) and not always of good quality.

I do love seeing plants growing in their natural habitat, especially when they grow nowhere else. I remember standing in a field in South Africa – actually the Tienie Versveld Wildflower Reserve just outside Darling in the Western Cape – while a botanist pointed out flowers that were unique to those few acres. There are a number of w

In an effort to find out why the EU is banning the sale of packets of mixed varieties of vegetable seeds, I had a word with Paolo Arrigo from Seeds of Italy. He tells me that the ban is having an impact throughout Europe, not just the UK, and seed companies are totally mystified as to why it has been introduced. Apparently the o

Artichoke varieties are divided into two categories–Globe andElongated. Both have similar growing needs with identical flavor and texture. The globe or round variety is often used for stuffing while the elongated is served as a side dish. Here are different Types of Artichokes that come under both the varieties!

A United Nations of Tomatoes Picking this lovely selection of tomatoes from the greenhouse it occurred to me that  the days are long gone when we just grew British varieties like Ailsa Craig and Moneymaker – here we have American Brandywine, Italian Costoluto de Fiorentino and Russian Black Krim – they all have superb flavour and will look wonderful combined in a salad.

These herbs and vegetables are the most important part of any Italian cookbook! Pick your favorite ones from the list of our Edible Italian Garden!

You must be familiar with dark green florets of broccoli on thick lime green stems. But do you know there are several varieties available that are skinnier, leafier, purple, white, spirally-pointed, and lime green? Sounds exciting? Time to discover some of the best Types of Broccolis! 

Trulli Marvellous Nigel Dunnett’s Blue Water Garden is an interesting working of an old idea – the harvesting and use of water to create a green oasis in the driest of places.  The building is based on the trulli of the Puglia region of southern Italy, the water rills echo the paradise gardens of ancient Persia and the planting was inspired by the dry meadows of south eastern Europe.  It felt very different to many of the other gardens – fresher, crisper and with more vibrant colour contrasts.  With the warm weather I’m sure the orange martagon lilies will be looking better and better as the week progresses.  The roof of the trulli has been made without any mortar – a real work of art.

The curly yellow climbing beans called Anellino giallo (I’m not being pretentious, they are Italian and don’t have an English name) have done very well this year, cropping heavily and climbing to great heights.  As a result we haven’t kept up with picking and eating them as fast as we should and, since  the pods have reached the inedible stage, I thought I might treat them like borlotti, shell them and eat them fresh. What a surprise to discover that the beans are a beautiful royal blue.  I was pretty sure they wouldn’t remain that colour when cooked and sure enough after 40 minutes with a shallot and bay leaf, they were an interesting shade of pewter grey. I mixed them with

I am never happier than when I’m amongst flowers growing in their natural habitat – especially when it involves mountains – so for the last week I was very happy indeed. The Abruzzo National Park is in the Apennine Mounta

The island garden of Ilnacullin, designed by Harold Peto has been on my visit wish list for a very long time. To reach it, it’s a ten minute putter in a tiny ferry across the sheltered waters of Bantry Bay to the 37 acre island. The weather was

Stunning climbers loaded with glorious, starry flowers and a heady fragrance, jasmine vines (Jasminum spp.) are also easy to propagate, so you can quickly enjoy more of the exact same plants that already do well in your garden.We link to vendors to

I like to use the analogy of cooks vs. bakers when providing advice on annual artichoke culture. The fact is that artichoke culture isn’t exactly easy, at least in the north where few, if any of us have been able to grow artichokes as they can in California, but things have changed given new methods and new varieties. It’s going to take some time to catch on, but expect your local farmer’s markets and farm stands to start featuring artichokes as more and more local growers are discovering the potential given new methods.

Dive into a world of exquisite flavors with our selection of the Best Tomatoes for Sauce. From the renowned San Marzano with its sweet and rich taste to the meaty Roma tomatoes perfect for thick and flavorful sauces, these varieties will elevate your culinary creations to new levels of deliciousness.

Well, many veggies are flowers, and these edible parts of the plants can be eaten raw or cooked. Check out the list of Flowers that are Vegetables, some of which may surprise you. 

Growing mint is super easy, and if you’ve planted this aromatic herb, use it to make mint ice cream. Pick a handful of fresh mint leaves and tear them into small pieces and use as directed here.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the Best White Sunflower Varieties and explore their characteristics and uses.

Lemons are popular for their tangy and refreshing sour flavor, and are known for enhancing the taste of any cuisine! It is used in both culinary and non-culinary purposes all over the world. It is a key ingredient in various dishes and beverages. For uninterrupted supply, you can grow lemons in pots as well! Know more about different types of lemons with pictures in the below article.

Companion planting is an efficient way to boost the growth, health, and taste of the plants by growing them side by side. Planting delicious herbs together can also help in keeping your herb garden smelling incredible and give you a steady supply of herbs at home. Let’s have a look at the best Herbs You Should Grow Side by Side.

Even if you don’t have a backyard to start a full-fledged garden, you can start a small “urban garden” by growing vegetables and herbs on your patio or balcony with a few simple supplies. A few pots, some potting soil, and plant seedlings or seeds are really all you need.

We all want a little privacy when we sit to chill out with our family and friends. If you too want to do the same without spending too much money, then we have some amazing Cheap Ways to Block Neighbor’s Views in Gardens & Backyards!

Container herb gardens are among the easiest and most rewarding of garden projects.A must-have for cooks, herbs

The Aster genus of flowering plants is one of many in the large Asteraceae family that includes chrysanthemums and daisies.The blooms have a compo

Growing ‘San Marzano’ tomatoes at home in the US is a tasty reminder that sometimes it’s just fine – good, in fact – to be second best.We are never going to be able to duplicate the growing conditions exa

The first botanical garden was founded in Padua, Italy. It’s a World Heritage Site now and still used for Scientific Research. Learn more about it here.

Now that the climbing beans have all finished there are newly emerging gaps on the allotment. So this weekend two rows of Wild Rocket, a row of Italian flat-leaf parsley and a further row of coriander were sown. The seeds of the latter came from a clump of coriander that had gone to flower and was found in amongst the lettuces. The seeds were still green rather than dry brown so I will report back on whether they germinate.

If you’re a basil lover, you’ll love to grow these best Types of Basil. All of them are edible and perfect for growing in containers!

There are a few plants out there that don’t have broad popularity and I just can’t understand why. Number one on that list is lovage.What’s not to love about lovage?The entire plant is edible,

Fragrant, fast-growing, and a delight in the kitchen, ‘Genovese’ basil is an easily cultivated and rewarding herb for the gardener and cook alike!It’s the traditional Italian herb used to create the very bes

Broccoli has a bad reputation as a vegetable that kids don’t like. If prepared correctly it doesn’t need to be that way.  Growing your own broccoli is a great way to encourage the whole family to give this nutritious powerhouse a fair chance. A treasure trove of varying nutrients, broccoli has its roots in Italy. It descended from wild cabbage during ancient Roman times. Brought to the New World by Italian settlers, it holds quite a celebrity status today among the various health foods.

There are certain distinctive flavors that define regional cuisine for me.I can’t even imagine my favori

Upon seeing the title of this article, you may be thinking, “What is Mexican oregano? Is it different from “regular” oregano?”We’re so glad you asked. To start, for pur