2011 Seed Planting Instructions

Artichoke (Violetta)
Rich violet/purple, delicate taste, medium sized. Start 2-3 seeds in a pot in early spring and cut to one. Carefully transplant qt 2-3 foot intervals. May get choke the first year but more likely in 2-3 years.

Basil (Genovese)
Classic basil from Genoa used for sauces, pesto and just about everything else. Intense aroma and flavor. Big plant. Smooth dark green leaves. Prefers full sun. Space plants at 8-12 inches. Direct seed or transplant. Sow seeds when the soil has warmed up-general rule is after the frost date. Plant 5-6 seeds in a circular cluster, cover lightly. For transplants put 5-6 seeds in a 4” pot six weeks before setting out. Cover lightly. Can thin to one plant or plant the entire bunch.
70-75 days.

Beans (La Victoire)
Intense green bush French type. Productive 6-7” long thin beans. Very crisp and great bean taste. Very productive. Prefers well drained soil. Direct seed after last frost date when soil is above 60 degrees. Untreated seeds will rot in cold soil. Plant 1 seed every 2”, 1” deep. Space rows 16-36” apart. Pick regularly to encourage continued production. Succession plant every 2 weeks for continuous harvest.
50-55 days

Beans (Meraviglia Venezia)
Pole type Yellow Roma bean. Pretty color, nice flavor, use trellis or tripods. Trellis Plan: drop 1 seed 1-2” deep every 2” aster soil has warmed up. For poles:5-6 seeds around base of each pole. Pick often to encourage new pod set.

Beans (Supermarconi)
Pole type Roma bean. Black seeds. Large bean with no strings and great taste. Will grow to 10” and remain crisp and tender. This is without a doubt the most popular flat Roma type bean in Italy. Direct seed after the last frost date when soil temp is above 60 degrees.. Untreated seeds rot in cold soil. If using 3 or 4 pole tepees, 5-6 seeds around each pole, 1” deep. If using a trellis or strings, one seed every 5”. Pick regularly so the plant will keep producing. Long harvest season. 65 days
Beets (Chioggia)
Round red beet with alternating white/red stripes inside. Incredibly sweet. Plant after last frost date. 1 seed per inch, rows 10-12 inches apart. Thin to one every 3-6 inches. Make succession plantings for continuous supply. Harvest when 2” or more. 45-55 days

Carrot (Misticanza)
Mix of red, white, yellow and orange carrots. Sow ½-1” apart. Keep soil moist; may take 2 weeks to germinate. Thin 3-4 week plants to 2” apart. Keep well weeded until plants get large and choke out weeds. 65-80 days
Cucumber (Beth Alpha)
Mid-East type. Excellent all round cuke. Very early and productive over a long season. Thin skin, with a wonderful taste and no bitter ends. Pick these when 5” or so for better taste and texture. Keep picking to encourage fruit set. Direct seed or plant in pots and transplant when soil warms up. For transplants: 3-4 seeds per pot, 4-5 weeks before set out date. For direct seed, 1 seed every 2”, ½ inch deep. Thin to 8”. Do not sow until soil temp is 70 degrees. Grow on trellis for best quality. Make a second sowing 6-7 weeks later.

Cucumber (Viridis)
European type Cuke.
Very long 12-14” and slim. Dark green skin. Sweet, crispy and no bitterness. Productive. Grow on trellis for long straight fruit. Direct seed after last frost date, 2-3 seeds every 6 inches, thin to one or use 3-4 week transplants.
65-75 days

 

Eggplant (Prosperosa)
Large round purple/white fruit. Beautiful and tastes as good as it looks. Start transplants 10 weeks before setting out. Eggplants need heat to germinate. Set out 2 weeks after last frost @16' apart. Black plastic mulch increases rate of growth.
80-90 days

Leek (Gigante d'Inverno (Giant Winter Leek)
Large giant, blue green upper leaf, white bottoms with bit of a bulb. Very cold resistant.
Start transplants 10-12 weeks before setout. Start in flat, 1 inch apart. Transplant in6-8 furrows in early spring 3-4” apart, rows 12-18”. Fill in furrows as plant grows. Hill after furrows are filled. 118 days

Lettuce (misticanza- Mesclun Mix)
14 lettuce varieties for a classic salad. Includes dark and light green, some red. Some are frilly and some smooth, some crisp and some soft. Begin sowing seeds5 weeks before last frost date. Prepare a smooth seed bed. Broadcast sow trying to get seeds 1” apart. Tamp down or cover lightly. Water well at least daily. Plants emerge in 5-10 days. Harvest when 4-5 inches for best flavor. Either cut or pull whole plant or pick outer leaves. For best flavor, turn under when more than 7”. Make succession plantings every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest.

Melon (Charentais)
You should wait until the weather warms up a bit before planting your Charentais seeds. Charentais melons are planted in a group - typically called a “hill.” This doesn't mean that you have to raise the soil, but you should mound it 1-2 inches higher than grade to ensure good drainage. This “hill” method also means planting several seeds in one spot. So drop in two or three seeds 1 inch deep, then cover them with soil, followed by a nice layer of mulch to hold in moisture and keep down weeds. Most of the melons will only grow to the size of a softball, or about 2 pounds. Look at the color of the rind to determine if yours are ripe. They'll take on a yellowish hue at maturity.
70-90 days

Pepper (Friggitello)
5”long frying pepper. From Naples. Very thin skin. Brilliant cherry red when ripe. Mid season. For frying, no need to peel skin. Very productive. Heavy foliage cover protects from sun scald. Plants prefer full fun.
Start plants inside 8-10 weeks before set out. Sow ¼” deep in flat; 2-3 seeds per inch. Soil needs to be 80 degrees for seeds to germinate in 7 days. Use heating pad if possible. When 1st true leaves appear, transplant into individual pots. Hard off a week before setting out by withholding water and gradually bringing them outside in a sheltered location. Transplant to 12-18” apart in rows 24-36” apart. Black row covers increase production.

Pepper (Galio d'Asti)
Asti peppers are the most famous in Italy. Classic large, square yellow pepper. Thin skin, thick flesh. Beautiful and very sweet. Start plants inside 8-10 weeks before set out date. Sow ¼ “ deep in flats 2-3 seeds per inch. Soil needs to be 80 degrees to germinate quickly. Use heating pad if possible. Once plants emerge, grow at 70 degrees. When first true leaves appear, transplant into individual containers. Harden off a week before setting outside by withholding water and gradually bringing outside in a sheltered area. Transplant 12-18” apart after the soil is warm and weather settled.
80-85 days

Pepper (Cuadrato d'Asti)
Asti peppers are the most famous in Italy. Classic large, square red pepper. Thin skin, thick flesh. Beautiful and very sweet. Start plants inside 8-10 weeks before set out date. Sow ¼ “ deep in flats 2-3 seeds per inch. Soil needs to be 80 degrees to germinate quickly. Use heating pad if possible. Once plants emerge, grow at 70 degrees. When first true leaves appear, transplant into individual containers. Harden off a week before setting outside by withholding water and gradually bringing outside in a sheltered area. Transplant 12-18” apart after the soil is warm and weather settled.
80-85 days

 

 

Radish (Misticanza)
Formula mix of different colored round radish; red, white, yellow and purple. Very pretty and has excellent taste. Direct seed in early spring and again in fall 1-2 seeds per inch and thin to one every 2-3 inches. Make small plantings every week for a continuous harvest.
25 days
 
Tomato (Cuuor di Bue (Oxheart)
Indeterminate. Popular all over Italy. Pink skin, dark red flesh. Excellent taste for fresh eating or makes good sauce. Good sized fruit, mostly heart shaped but some round. Early and heavy producer. Sow ¼” deep in flats.2-3 seeds per inch. Soil needs to be 75-85 degrees for seeds to germinate quickly (5-7 days). Use heating pad if possible. Once plants emerge, grow at 60-70 degrees. When true leaves appear, transplant to individual containers. Bury stem . Harden off a week before putting outside by withholding water and gradually bringing them outside in a sheltered location. Transplant after last frost date. Space 24” if using cages, 14-16” if pruning and staking.

Tomato (Lilliput Red Cherry)
Sweet crisp productive. Very heavy crops of small round cherry tomatoes. Resists cracking. Determinate. Can be grown in pots. Early, like most cherry tomatoes. Sow ¼” deep in flats.2-3 seeds per inch. Soil needs to be 75-85 degrees for seeds to germinate quickly (5-7 days). Use heating pad if possible. Once plants emerge, grow at 60-70 degrees. When true leaves appear, transplant to individual containers. Bury stem . Harden off a week before putting outside by withholding water and gradually bringing them outside in a sheltered location. Transplant after last frost date. Space 24” if using cages, 14-16” if pruning and staking.

Tomato (Red Pear)
French Special selection. Indeterminate. Old North Italian variety specially selected by Franchi Sementi. Pear shaped like a comice pear. Red ski, deep red flesh and fruit often have heavy ribbing. Huge 8-18 ounce fruit. Very heavy producer of excellent tasting dense beefsteak type tomato. Very early for such a large fruit. Sow ¼” deep in flats.2-3 seeds per inch. Soil needs to be 75-85 degrees for seeds to germinate quickly (5-7 days). Use heating pad if possible. Once plants emerge, grow at 60-70 degrees. When true leaves appear, transplant to individual containers. Bury stem . Harden off a week before putting outside by withholding water and gradually bringing them outside in a sheltered location. Transplant after last frost date. Space 24” if using cages, 14-16” if pruning and staking.
70 days

Tomato (Pantano)
North Italian Heirloom. Indeterminate.
12 oz sweet juicy red fruit. Huge plant; very productive. Excellent taste. Stake or cage.
Start transplants 7 weeks before set out date. Space 18” if pruning and staking or 24 inches if caging or if leaving to sprawl. Standout in 2003 trials.
75 days

Watermelon (Asahi Miyaki F1)
Said to be the sweetest of watermelons. Round, 7-8 pound sweet crimson flesh. 4-5 seeds in a hill, spaced at 6 feet. Thin to 2-3 after soil has warmed up well.
75-80 days

Zucchini (San Pasquale)
Dark green with light green stripes and small ribs. Plant is a small bush (not a runner) and is very early. Tasty fruit, excellent production. Space plants 3-4 feet apart. Direct seed when soil has warmed up or use transplants.