The Gardening Blog

Planting vegetable seeds is a solution that is becoming more and more popular in the latest years: in fact, it allows to have fresh vegetables and greens of which the cultivation techniques are shared and at the same time, making our own garden or window sill more beautiful.

The bulb is similar to the onion, and the plant too, the umbrella inflorescences and taste are very similar. But the shallot is not an onion. It is without a doubt less common, more delicate and finer than onions, with which it shares a family, that of Liliaceae or - according to its current classification - the Amaryllidaceae.

Red, pink and sometimes white poppy flowers, are seen everywhere for a few weeks in mid-spring. They are light, and move swaying at the slightest breeze and their color makes you think of the sun’s light and heat during nice days. They don’t need a lot of humidity, they can be found in an open field but they grow well - spontaneously - even on neglected and uncultivated grounds, along the side of the street and even near train tracks.

The common idea is that the fruit is sweet while vegetables are not. Because of this, some cannot stand the flavor of pumpkin because it is considered weird compared to the type of food, while naturally it is just that that makes these vegetables so special and constitute part of why people enjoy them. In fact, their high sugar level and their particular consistency make it a perfect ingredient for side dishes and savory dishes but also for sweet recipes. Pumpkin seeds can also be used as a snack to much on, you can offer them as food to guinea pigs and birds, or even use them as decoration for some DIY projects.

Cultivated since the 1500, the Foeniculum vulgare or wild fennel is a spontaneous plant, very similar to the variety that is cultivated, by botanical affinity - they are both Umbelliferae - and taste, but of which different parts are consumed.

The purple cauliflower is a large vegetable, typically found in winter, resulted from the cross between broccoli cabbage, common cauliflower and a selection of fine Violetto di Sicilia cauliflower. The characteristic that distinguishes it, is precisely the purple color that derives from anthocyanins of which this variant of cauliflower is rich.

Turfs are an excellent solution to make outdoor areas more pleasant, welcoming and aesthetically pleasing: there are several herbaceous species used for these purposes that differ from each other in heigh, strength and color. Generally we opt for plants that belong to the Gramineae: they are the most widespread species and have been used for years, as they quickly produce a compact, long-lasting, resistant and easily walkable turf.

Known since ancient times, this aromatic plant with a fragile appearance and similar to parsley is very easy to grow and - if sown at the right time and with the right climate - it grows abundantly without any problems. Besides its leaves, even coriander seeds can be used in the kitchen. It belongs to the same family as fennel, dill and parsley, aromatic umbellifers with which it share a high percentage of essential oil contents.

If Hamlet was not set in Denmark (where it is too cold and the light is not enough to grow it), maybe Shakespeare would have made Ophelia cite even the ears, amongst the essences that stimulate memories. When we think of a relaxing fragrance, pleasant for everyone, delicate but persistent without being annoying and that is often associated with memory and memories, is this the plant that comes to mind. From the seeds of lavender we create delicate infusions used to reconcile relaxation and sleep; dried flowers are picked to exploit their aroma in pot-purri with other essences or alone in perfumed bags that grandmothers use to hide in between laundry, to perfume it and keep the moths away, and that refer to a less hectic past.

Garlic is a bulb belonging to the Lilaceae family: its scientific name is Allium latin word that means hot and burning. This plant is used mainly in the kitchen to flavor many dishes, however, it has also a therapeutic use as it has many beneficial properties,recognised even in modern medicine.