The Italian Gardener

The objective of this section is to provide advice on what and when different varieties are suitable for planting in your region. You will be aware that there are local conditions that affect your climate such as frost in valleys, strong winds and aspect with respect to the sun and this should be taken into consideration. Similarly, within the same group of vegetables, lettuce for example, there are some that tolerate heat or cold better than others and you should make you choices accordingly.

As the Franchi seed is packaged for the northern hemisphere, the planting guides need to be adjusted for the southern hemisphere by adding 6 months to the month in Roman numerals on the packet. The graphics across the top of the back of the packet indicate, from left to right:

• Three climatic zones, cool to cold in blue which is roughly equivalent to Temperate and Cool Temperate zone in Australia, Dry Temperate (Mediterranean) shown in red, and roughly equivalent to the zone in Australia from the SW of Western Australia, anticlockwise to Brisbane, and the Subtropical and Tropical shown in yellow. The colours are used in the planting guides as an indication of what to do when.
• The next graphic indicates that the seed can be planted to raise seedlings that are then transplanted into the garden or larger container.
• The third indicates that the seed can also be planted directly into the garden or container where it is to grow.
• The fourth indicates the minimum soil temperature and sowing depth in light, friable soil for successful germination.
• The fifth indicates the thinning of plants along and across rows with appropriate spacing.
• The sixth indicates transplanting of seedlings using the same spacing indicated in graphic five.
• And finally the indicated timing of harvest

Down the left hand side of the packet is indicated a more general planting guide with sowing in the left column and harvest in the right.   

It must be emphasised that this information is very broad brush and the best indication of when to plant is often what has worked in the past for you or your gardening friends.