Introduction to growing vegetables in Italy and vegetable planting calendar in Italy – Italy, a European country with a prolonged Mediterranean seaside, has left a powerful mark on Western culture and cooking. Its capital, Rome, is accommodation to the Vatican as well as landmark art and ancient ruins.
Gardening has always been a frequent tradition in Italy. Italy has a different climate, just like North America. Southern Italy has an oceanic climate, warm and sunny. Northern Italy has a four-season climate.
A Guide To Growing Vegetables In Italy, Vegetable Planting Calendar, Season, and Gardening in Italy
Five tips for choosing vegetables:
- Select what you and your family like to eat
If no one likes Brussels sprouts, don’t bother vegetable planting them. But if your love green Beans, put more attempt towards growing big plants of Beans.
- Be down-to-earth about how many vegetables your family will eat
Be attentive not to overplant, as you will only extend yourself thin by trying to take care of a lot of plants. Of course, you could always give overabundance vegetables away to friends, family, or the local soup kitchen.
- Consider the obtainability of vegetables at your grocery store
Maybe you want to grow tomatillos, as a replacement for cabbage or carrots, which are readily obtainable. Also, particular vegetables are so far superior when native, it’s almost a shame not to observe them we are thinking of vegetable garden lettuce and tomatoes. Also, native herbs are far low coast than grocery store herbs.
- Be prepared to take care of your vegetable plants around the growing season
Going on a summer vacation? Remember that tomatoes and zucchinis are growing more overwhelming in the middle of summer. If you are one part of the summer, you require someone to look after them or they will tolerate it. Or, you could just grow cool-season plants like lettuce, kale, peas, and root vegetables during the cooler months of late spring and early fall.
- Use high-quality seeds
Seed packets are low coast than individual vegetable plants, but if seeds don’t sprout, your money and time are wasted. A few extra cents spent in spring for that year’s seeds will pay off in higher yields at the harvest period.
Basic Requirements to Start a Vegetable Garden in Italy
- Suitable sunlight
Most vegetable plants need full sun, which means a minimum of six to eight hours every day of direct sunlight. Leaf plants that don’t keep fruit, such as Lettuce, Arugula, and Spinach, can thrive on four hours of direct sunlight a day.
- Suitable soil
Once you have selected the location for your vegetable garden, then check out the well-drained soil. The well-drained soil will be the foundation and as such will be the most important substance. Plants take their nutrients from the well-drained soil they are growing in and if it isn’t adequate to go throughout then the plants will weaken. Soil may look like a handful of dirt when you choose it up but it is teeming with the micro-organisms and very small insects that each adds to its makeup to design favorable conditions for growing vegetable plants.
- Seed
With position out of the way, think about what you want to grow. Seeds and plants are obtainable in this location and everywhere. It is worth favoring developed brands over cheaper supermarket own-brand with several varieties as they are tried and tested. Vegetable seedlings offer the ideal head begin in the vegetable garden; these are raised in perfect conditions to about four weeks old and then sold ready to be put directly in the garden ground or a container. With a seedling, the more difficult exposure of growing your own is already done so these are ideal for the beginner.
- Plant your garden
You need to plant vegetables in the early morning or late afternoon to keep away from the midday sun. Kindly remove the plants from their containers, being attentive not to break roots. Plant them so that the roots are quite covered. Pat down around the well-drained soil to eliminate any air pockets that may be in the soil. Then transplant seedlings in the same process when they have reached at least two inches in height.
- Watering
Vegetables contain a high percentage of water, which means proper watering is important especially when the vegetable plants are very young. Select your garden in a region you can easily and consistent water. This will help decrease transplant shock and supply plants with essential nutrients for healthy growth. While your vegetable plants are becoming developed, retain the soil moist but not soggy. Once the vegetable plants double in size, generally reduce watering to twice a week.
- Harvesting
Harvesting vegetables at the right time of maturity make sure the best taste and quality. Several vegetables should be picked around the summer to maintain plant productivity. The time, frequency, and procedure of harvesting differ depending on the species. Vegetables, such as quality sweet corn, have a very small harvest time. Others, such as several of the root plants, can remain in the garden for many weeks with little effect on their taste. Some vegetables, like summer squash, have to be harvested almost regularly. Other vegetable plants, includes tomatoes, can be harvested every week.
Planting Seasons in Italy
The Seasons in Italian formally spring starts from March, April, and May in Italy. Summer is from June to August. Autumn is from September, October, and November, and the winter season is from December to February.
- Italy spring season During March to May
- Italy summer season During June to August
- Italy Autumn During September to November
- Italy Winter During December to February
Spring: Spring in Italy happen during March, April, and May. It’s a beautiful season when flowers are in bloom and appear after the winter months.
Summer: Italian summers are divine, unconcerned of which region you are in. summer season during June, July, and August show off the Mediterranean climate with sunny days and sultry nights.
Autumn: September, October, and November bring cooler temperatures to several parts of Italy.
Winter: December, January, and February are Italy’s winter months. Depending on the region, the climate can be cool, cold, or teeth-chatteringcold, so it’s a very good idea to look into zonal differences before packing your bags.
Which Seeds Should be Started Indoors?
Not all vegetables should be started indoors. Most are improved off being started directly in the garden ground or direct-sown. The vegetable plants that should be started indoors are those that are certainly vulnerable to cold temperatures or that have a very long growing season and require a head begin. These include being disposed of vegetables such as Tomatoes, Peppers, and Eggplant, as well as plants with a long growing season, such as Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.
Most other vegetable plants do best when sown directly into the garden’s well-drained soil. Root plants, such as Carrots, Radishes, and Beets, are especially well-suited to being started directly in the garden since they do not like having their roots divide after planting. The same is true for Squash and Watermelon, though care must be taken to vegetable plant them when the soil is warm adequate.
When should you Transplant Seedlings?
When seedlings have grown too wide for their seed trays or starter, then it is container time to transplant. If it’s not yet warm adequate to plant outdoors, transplant the seedlings to wider plastic or peat pots indoors and continue care. If outdoor conditions tolerate, begin hardening off your seedlings roughly one week before your last frost date, then transplant them into the garden ground.
Vegetable Planting for a Fall Harvest
Planting in late summer for a fall harvest has several benefits soil is already warm, temperatures are cooler, fewer pests. However, the challenge is getting your plants harvested before the winter frosts start. When we calculate fall planting dates which are really in the summer, we must account for many components, such as the time to harvest once the plant is grown up and whether a plant is tender or hardy when it comes to frost. The days to maturity of a plant and the length of your growing season also components into whether you begin seeds early indoors or directly sow seeds into the ground outside.
Warm-weather vegetables such as Beans, Sweet corn, Squashes, Pumpkins, Cucumbers, and Cantaloupe are all sown directly into the garden ground.
Tender heat-loving plants like Tomatoes, Peppers, and Eggplants take a long period to grown-up and have a long harvesting time, so we normally don’t plant a second round of these plants for fall, as they won’t ripen in the period. In regions with soft winters, this may not be the case. These plants are normally started indoors early in the season and transplanted.
Root vegetables such as Beets and Carrots do not transplant well, so begin seeds directly in the well-drained soil outside.
Peas are also best seeded into the garden ground do not transplant.
Cole plants such as Cabbage, Cauliflower, and Kale could be direct-seeded, but because of the heat of mid-and late summer, it’s improved to begin them indoors and then transplant them into the garden ground.
To be disposed to direct-sow leafy greens includes Spinach, Lettuce, and Swiss chard though some gardeners will also sow indoors. It depends on your climate conditions.
Consider that Garlic is not included in our planting chart. It’s a popular fall plant, but the dates vary largely based on location and it’s best to gauge garlic planting dates with a well-drained soil thermometer. When the well-drained soil temperature is 15.6°C at a depth of 4 inches, then plant your garlic.
Italian Vegetable Garden Plant List and Herbs List
- Cima di Rapa
Cima di Rapa is associated with Broccoli; it is fastly to supply harvest and hardy adequate to withstand off-season climates.
How to Grow: Cima di Rapa needs full sun, drainage, daily watering, and some staking to grow into an abundant and healthy plant. As it can be grown in a very small space, it is very easy to grow in containers.
- Lettuce
Lettuce is a very easy-to-grow annual vegetable. Considered a spring and fall plant, lettuce thrives when average temperatures are between 16 to 21°C. Several varieties reach grown-up in as little as 30 days, and some can even be harvested much very earlier as microgreens.Â
How to Grow: Growing this leafy green is very easy in containers. Full to part sunlight, rich well-drained soil, cool weather, and a moderately moist growing medium.
- Bell Pepper
In case if you miss this: Growing Vegetables In Australia.
How to Grow: Bell peppers are not difficult to grow in containers and require a sunny, warm location to flourish.
- Italian Basil
How to Grow: Growing basil in containers is very easy, you can even plant it in a very small container like other herbs, locate it in a warm and sunny space.
- Allium Porrum
How to Grow: To grow, select a container that is 8 to 10 inches deep down and place the place it in a position that receives at least 6 hours of direct sun.
- Cauliflower
How to Grow: Surprisingly growing cauliflowers in the container is fun and very easy.
- Red Onions
How to Grow: For growing onions in pots, select a pot that is at least 10 inches deep down, and as large as possible. Maintain 3 inches of spacing; retain the planter in full sun.
- Rosemary
How to Grow: Grow rosemary in a 10 to 12 inches deep container, place it in a space that receives ample sunlight and water slightly.
- Italian Chicory (Radicchio)
How to Grow: Radicchio is fast-growing and hardy and grows very well in cool temperatures. In climates with soft winters, winter is the best period to grow this.
- Eggplant
How to Grow: This tropical vegetable need warm temperatures and daily watering. Like tomatoes and peppers, growing eggplant is very easy in pots.
- Plum or Roma Tomatoes
How to Grow: San Marzano is the most popular Italian plum tomato variety, growing these is the same as other tomatoes.
- Thyme
How to Grow: Like other Mediterranean herbs, thyme requires warmth, you can also grow it indoors close to a sunny window.
- Squash Flowers
How to Grow: The best portion is you can harvest these beautiful flowers if you are growing zucchini. Pick up male flowers as they don’t supply the fruits.
- Fennel
How to Grow: Both of them grow the same, plant them in a minimum 8 to 10 inches container and retain the plants in full sun.
- Artichoke
This suitable thistle is a common major of Italian gardens, where they are grown to grace borders or add life to dull garden ground.
How to Grow: Growing artichokes is most suitable in zones with soft winters and warm temperatures like California. Select a really wide container for each plant a container that is 36 to 40 inches large and half deep at least is needed.
- Broccoli
How to Grow: You can grow one broccoli plant in an 8 to 10 inches size pot. Use well-drained soil and water in a way that soil remains moderately moist during the growing time.
- Beans
How to Grow: Both of them can be grown in pots, especially the Borlotti beans also known as Cranberry beans. Retain the plants in full sun, provide support.
- Oregano
How to Grow: Oregano grows well in pots, even indoors, if the right quantity of sunlight and warmth is obtainable. Retain this pungent herb in full to part sun and water slightly.
- Parsley
How to Grow: Probably one of the very easiest herbs you can grow. Grow parsley in a small but large container, place this herb in a position that receives full to part sun, and retain the soil slightly moistly.
- Marjoram
How to Grow: Considered as a tropical herb, growing marjoram is no different than its other Mediterranean cousins. You can also grow it on a windowsill a small 6 inches container is adequate for one plant.
What Are The Vegetables That Grow Well In Italy?
The 11 Easiest Italian Vegetables to Grow Are Listed Below:
1. Arugula
You may also check this: Greenhouse Gardening For Beginners.
How to grow: Scatter seeds in a well-prepared ground 30-60 seeds per square foot. Keep moist until seedlings appear which should be 3 to 8 days, depending on temperature. Start harvesting when they are 3 to 4 inches tall by pulling unique plants, decreasing out your planting. As they get a bit wider, you can just cut a total section about ½ inches above the well-drained soil line with a sharp knife. Taste becomes sharper as the plants grown-up and the temperature increases.
2. Basil
How to grow: Basil is a warm-weather plant, so direct seed a few weeks after your last frost date. Space plants about 12 aside, and retain them well watered. Pinch off any flower stalks to retain the leaves growing. Or grow it the way they do in Liguria scatter seed nearly and when the plants are about 6 inches tall, pull the entire plant. Our seed packets contain plenty of seeds, so you can grow them to be disposed of young plants this way all summer long.
Basil will grow well in pots, so you can use 8 pots or bigger if your garden space is confined. Be sure it gets direct sunlight.
3. Beans
How to grow: Direct seed after the well-drained soil has warmed up to 16°C. Plant seeds 1 deep down, place a seed every 2, with rows spaced 12 to 14 aside. Keep well watered until seeds sprout, about 5 to 8 days. Pick frequent to support more pods to set.
4. Cucumbers
How to grow: Cucumbers are heat lovers and should not be begun until two or three weeks after your last frost date and when the well-drained soil temperature has warmed up to at least 16°C. Plant five to six seeds in a hill or actually a 12 circle and then to three. Space hills 3 feet aside and rows 5 to 6 feet aside. Retain well watered. Choose cucumbers when small. Do not tolerate them to get wide and established seeds, since this will stop or slow continued production. If you grow cucumbers on the ground, look carefully since it is very easy to miss one.
5. Leaf Chicory
How to grow: Plant seeds in shallow wrinkles, spacing them about an inch aside. Cover moderately and water well. The seed will sprout in about a week. You can begin to pull seedlings for salads when they are about 2 inches high. When they are about 6 inches high, cut total plants with a knife.
6. Misticanza (Baby salad mix)
How to grow: Direct seed in shallow winkles, spacing seeds about an inch aside. Harvest as soon as it’s very big adequate to make a nice salad.
7. Radish
How to grow: Plant seed 1/2 inch deep and about 1 inch aside. Retain well watered so they grow fastly. Dry soil and heat ruin their taste and surface. Several varieties are ready in just 21 days.
8. Beets
How to grow: Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep about 1 inch aside. Retain well-watered. Thin to 4 inches aside, and use the decreases in a salad. As the growing roots begin to grow above the soil, hill them up to prevent the tops from getting corky. Harvest when the roots are about golf-ball sized or a little larger for the very best flavor.
9. Head Lettuce
How to grow: Plant seeds about an inch aside. Thin to about 12 inches aside, and eat the decrease.
10. Squash Blossoms
How to grow: Sow after the last frost. You need to plant 1 foot aside in the row. Space rows 3 feet aside Plant 2 to 3 seeds per hole, and then thin to 1 plant after sprout. Choose the flowers every day if you do not want the plant to set fruit, and pick early in the morning before they have fully opened to beat the insects that also like squash blossoms.
11. Green Onions
At the green onion stage growth, when the plants have supplied foliage but aren’t flowering just yet, harvest every second or third plant by removing the other plants, bulb and all, from the well-drained soil. The remaining onions are given an adequate room in the ground to establish into full size before they’re ready for harvest where the bulbs can be used in cooking.
Vegetable Harvesting Calendar, Chart, Vegetables Planting Calendar, Planting Season, Herbs Chart in Italy
| Vegetables | Planting Season | Harvesting |
| Potatoes | June to August | 80 to 100 days |
| Cavolo nero | September to November | 25 to 30 days |
| Beet greens | March to May | 50 to 65 days |
| Salad | June to August | 30 to 60 days |
| Cucumber | June to August | 55 to 65 days |
| Carrot | June to August | 70 to 80 days |
| Cabbage | December to February | 90 to 120 days |
| Spinach | March to May | 45 to 50 days |
| Tomato | June to August | 90 to 140 days |
| Kale | December to February | 70 to 95 days |
| Lettuce | December to February | 30 to 70 days |
| Onions | September to November | 80 to 150 days |
| Zucchini | June to August | 50 to 60 days |
| Celeriac | September to November | 90 to 120 days |
| Celery | June to August | 85 to 120 days |
| Savoy cabbage | September to November | 70 to 110 days |
| Green Beans | June to August | 50 to 55 days |
| Brussel Sprouts | September to November | 60 to 90 days |
| Radish | April to June | 22 to 70 days |
| Broccoli | September to November | 50 to 60 days |
| Cauliflower | December to February | 50 to 100 days |
| Leeks | March to May | 100 to 120 days |
| Asparagus | March to May | 50 to 60 days |
| Arugula | December to February | 40 days |
| Fennel | December to February | 65 days |
| Parsely | March to May | 70 to 90 days |
| Peas | June to August | 60 to 70 days |
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