The Italian Gardener

The Italian Gardener Pty Ltd is the Australian distributor of Italian vegetable and herb seed from Franchi Sementi SpA of Bergamo, in northern Italy. Our Mission is to provide you with quality seed so that you can have an exciting Italian vegetable growing experience.

The attractive Franchi packets contain a very generous quantity of seed, typically five to ten times that provided by most other companies. The internal foil packaging on the majority of seed and long use-by date ensures excellent value for money, as the seed will last for several seasons if stored under cool, dark and dry conditions. All seed is tested for germination and purity and is unconditionally guaranteed to meet or exceed the stated specifications.

Most packets have an English language description of the variety and this is supplimented by a label with a brief description and cultural information in English. The pictorial planting guide can be used by adding 6 months to the month indicated by Roman numerals. For example a planting time indicated on the packet as as month "II" would be the eighth month, August in the southern hemisphere.

Growing from seed is easy, very rewarding and economical and the only way to access the broad range of exciting vegetables not available as seedlings. For children, it is an exciting way to learn about and appreciate the wonders of nature.

With Franchi seed, now you can grow a wonderful range of vegetables, your own Italian ingredients, and share in the enjoyment and benefits attributed to the Mediterranean diet. The simple and straight forward approach of Italian cooking is popular world-wide as noted in the River Café Cook Book Green (Ebury Press) "good food is about fresh, seasonal ingredients, organic whenever possible, used thoughtfully. It is something the Italians have always known".

Seed can be purchased from the Italian Gardener via our secure internet site with payment by credit card (Visa or Master Card), faxing an order, or mailing it with payment by cheque, postal order or credit card. Seed can also be purchased from selected merchants. Organic seed and seed in bulk is also available.

Please email me if you have any questions regarding our products and I would be pleased to receive comments on your gardening and cooking experiences.

Vegetable varieties are grouped in Categories in the left hand panel of the Home page or search for them by their English or Italian names using the Seach Engine.

Cooking suggestions are provided so that your home-grown ingredients can be turned into Italian or other dishes that will make the most of the freshness and flavour of your vegetables and herbs. A recipes and cookbooks section of the website will be developed as time permits. 

The range of seed held in stock has been selected from the huge range available from Franchi Sementi and will be added to with time, but and if there is something in particular that you would like to grow, please let me know by email so that it can be considered for inclusion. We would welcome comments on your growing and cooking experiences with Franchi vegetables so that we can pass on information that may be of use to other growers.

Packet seed can be purchased online using your Credit Card (Visa or Mastercard), by Electronic Funds Transfer to The Italian Gardener bank account, or by cheque or money order. make your selection at the checkout.  A wide range of seed in bulk is also available on request.

If a variety is out of stock this will be shown on the website, together with its estimated restocking time. If ordered, your credit card will be charged when your order is processed and the item put on back order for post-free delivery as soon as it is available

General Inquiries

The Italian Gardener Pty Ltd, PO Box 48, Fullarton, South Australia, 5063

ABN 46 113 070205 

Email: info@theitaliangardener.com.au     

Internet:  http://www.theitaliangardener.com.au

Phone:  0407 833 930