The next exciting step is to choose what to grow! I discovered The Allotment Shop by chance at Chelsea Flower Show last year, they offer a fantastic range of gardening essentials (and extravagances) with a quirky, nostalgic edge. This year they have introduced a special selection of Franchi seeds from Italy. The seed packets themselves are frame-worthy and the choice of vegetables are exciting and like nothing you can buy in UK supermarkets. I discovered the Romanesco Precoce (pictured above) when I was living in Italy and having never seen it before, had no idea what it was and have been calling it Dinosaur Broccoli (it's the scales). It is absolutely delicious and really good with pasta, sausagemeat and chilli. I have been longing for it since I moved back to England, so that will be the first thing to be potted up in the greenhouse!
These wonderfully retro seed packets, produced exclusively by The Allotment Shop, hark back to the wartime days of rationing and combined with this pretty, enamel teapot are fuel to my landgirl fantasies! As well as through their online shop, these chic garden and home products will be touring the country this summer at various gardening shows including The Malvern Show, BBC Gardeners World, Hampton Court and Tatton Park in Manchester. Hmm...next stop is a silk headscarf and a cosy fairisle knit.
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