Topic: Franchi seeds, anyone familiar with them

[Jeannine]

After my latest seed sort out and looking for stuff to plant late I have found a few packets of Franchis stuff.

I can't be doing with symbols on packets I like to read words, so they have been pushed to the back of the box.

I have a few caulis that say sow March to July, they are Italian seeds,I looked on the site, will is still be March to July here. I have never planted a cauli in July before,there is some regular broccoli too.

Talking of reading words, I wish T&M would use months like sow in April etc instead of Spring or late winter or whatever, I can never remember when one starts and the other finishes. I really dislike T&M for that.

 Help with the Franchis would be appreciated.

 XX Jeannine

[Plum]

The ones I have used have been very good, broad beans 100% germination, good germination with several french beans, lots of lettuce seeds in mixture and again very reliable germination

[asbean]

Jeannine - I've been using Franchi seeds for a while now, you do get used to the symbols, they do this because they sell to lots of countries over a wide range of climates. They are actually quite easy to follow.  I agree about the seasons, where does late winter end and early spring begin?  I'm not too sure about the Franchi sowing dates either, and go by instinct - what I've read in books/internet, other seed instructions for the same crop, prevailing weather conditions and experience.  If you need a hand with the italian, give a shout.  xx asbean

[Emagggie]

First time with Franchi seeds for me this year. Tomato germination excellent and theirs were the only carrots to germinate so a thumbs up from me. ;)

[delboy]

Have used them for the bulk of my seeds this year.
You get more seeds for your money and they have a really nice catalogue to supplement their online system.

[Jill]

Would agree with delboy and others on the thumbs up.  Our local wholefood aka organic store sells Franchi seeds and I've used them for several years now and you do get significantly more seeds than the average UK packet.

[amphibian]

Franchi seeds are th best I have used, germination is second to none and the packets tend to have lots of seeds in for your money.

[Trixiebelle]

I like Franchi seeds and I drool at their website!

Check out the artisan soap collection - they're GORGEOUS!

http://www.seedsofitaly.com/

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

Franchi Seeds are  will be our first choice from now on, for all of the above reasons. Only thing I would say is that for a lot of their seeds, the name just translates into Chichory from Treviso, Celeriac from Veneto etc. They sound more special in Italian. If T&M started selling "Sprout from Barnsley", I don't think we'd all rush to buy it. Not meant as a criticism, they're great. i particularly like the way they're not afraid to show pictures of tomatoes on the packets, with GREEN bits on

[Suzanne]

Have used Franchii seeds for a number of years as I can buy them from Ryton. As everyone says the germination is very good. Also lots of seeds - so the packets of Romaine lettuce I bought in 2004 are still in use and germination still strong.
This year I am growing one of the summer cauli varieties. As it is an Italian variety I am hoping it stands the hot summers we have been having recently and doesn't bolt.

Thinking about it that may explain the sudden cold snap we are having - as soon as I counter one problem another generally crops up.......ho hum!

[Trixiebelle]

If T&M started selling "Sprout from Barnsley", I don't think we'd all rush to buy it.

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

But what about 'Sprout From Stratford - The Bard's 1st Choice'

[Jeannine]

OOH, I rather fancy,Parsnipities from Ull  myself,very up market.

Re  tomatoes with green bits on.It is really odd you should mention that as only this morning I was thinking about all the newbies who may be growing for the first time and are going to expecting  their homegrown to look perfect.

Most of my heirlooms have green bits, odd rings  at the blossom end and other funny looking bits and some really weird shapes too.
Nothing is perfect.... well maybe the taste. XX Jeannine

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

If T&M started selling "Sprout from Barnsley", I don't think we'd all rush to buy it.

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

But what about 'Sprout From Stratford - The Bard's 1st Choice'

Stop that at Once, Trixiebelle! You know where that sort of thing leads to

[norfolklass]

Re  tomatoes with green bits on.It is really odd you should mention that as only this morning I was thinking about all the newbies who may be growing for the first time and are going to expecting  their homegrown to look perfect.

you mean my parsnips won't all be 12" long and as straight as a ruler and my beetroot won't all be exactly the same circumference :o :o :o ;D

[Trixiebelle]

Stop that at Once, Trixiebelle! You know where that sort of thing leads to

Red Bull to a Flag  ;D

Chestnuts from Chipping Sodbury  ;D

[theothermarg]

i live just down the road from chipping sodbury!! it is were the posher houses start i shall have to ask after their chestnuts next time i pop up to their more expensive shops ( they are getting excited about getting a upmarket supermarket who,s name escapes me at the moment so they will not have to slum at tesco,s
marg ;D ;D










!

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

having said how great Franchi is, their radish "firecandle" doesn't look a bit like the packet - it's a funny shade of pink and not a bit smooth

Trixiebelle - i was thinking more along the lines of Shakespeare's  Veg

[Jeannine]

Here we go again, get the popcorn folks XX Jeannine

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

theothermarge - you must be in Yate (I think) Where about are the lotties in Yate? I can't picture them at all. Lived in Yate for a bit while looking for a house, and then moved to ChucklePerch, i mean Pucklechurch, where Stephen Fry was sent to prison as a lad

RT

[Jeannine]

A Tale of Two Titty Fruit..oh no that is Dickens.



and by the way if anyone doubts this one, I have the seeds, they are aubergines.

 XX Jeannine