The Italian Gardener

As a result of changed quarantine regulations, tomato seed is now required to pass testing for several viroid dieases to be imported. The cost of this test in Australiais is $3,500 and is prohibitive. My stock of seed is rapidly declining but I am working towards resolving this matter.

A native of America, the tomato (pomodoro) is grown and consumed worldwide and forms a key ingredient in many dishes both raw and cooked. Italian heirloom tomatoes reflect their end use with large salad varieties, and those with plum shaped fruits better suited to making puree (passata) and drying. No other vegetable is as versatile, and it is without doubt one of the most important ingredients in Italian cooking. The range of Franchi seed offers the Australian gardener a wide choice, all selected for flavour not the convenience of early picking and refrigerated transport. The term "determinate" is used to indicate that the plant stops growing when its terminal flower cluster develops. Often called bush tomatoes. "Indeterminate" are those that just keep on growing until they are killed by frost or some other external agent. They are most commonly staked and pruned. Quarantine restrictions prohibit sending tomato seed to Tasmania.

Selection of tomatoes grown at Allsun Farm, Gundaroo