Sow in March Archives - Italian vegetable flower herb seeds Ireland

Ageratum Nano Blu Star Vintage 1928 Flower Seeds Franchi Seeds

Darione — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 13:06:45 +0000

True blue is the rarest colour in any garden. Most flowers labelled “blue” turn out purple or lilac once they open. Ageratum Nano Blu Star is the real thing: soft, genuine blue flowers that hold their colour all summer long. If your Irish garden borders are full of pinks, yellows and whites but missing that cool blue contrast, this is the answer.

At just 20 to 25 cm tall, this compact variety stays neat and tidy from June to September without any trimming or staking. Perfect for edging paths, filling the front of borders, window boxes, patio containers and balcony pots. The fluffy flower heads attract bees and hoverflies throughout the season.

🌱 Sowing: March to May

☀️ Light: Full sun to partial shade

🌡️ Germination: 7 to 14 days

📏 Height: 20 to 25 cm

🌸 Flowering: June to September

🌿 Growing tips for Ireland Start indoors from March. Ageratum is frost tender, so do not transplant outdoors until after the last frost, late May in most of Ireland. Scatter seeds on the surface of moist compost and press gently. Do not cover, as Ageratum needs light to germinate.

One of the few colourful annuals that performs well in partial shade, making it useful for spots in Irish gardens that only get a few hours of direct sun. Space plants about 15 to 20 cm apart. Water regularly in dry spells but avoid waterlogging. Deadhead occasionally to keep the display fresh, though Ageratum is less demanding than most annuals in this regard.

🏺 Part of the Vintage 1928 Range Selected from the Vintage 1928 collection by Franchi Sementi, Italy’s oldest seed house (Est. 1783). Winner of Best Retail Product 2025. Quality and heritage you can trust, grown in Irish gardens.

🇮🇪 BloomySeeds is the Irish stockist of Franchi Sementi seed. Every packet is genuine, traceable and DAFM registered. Free delivery across Ireland on orders over €40.

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Artichoke Green Imperial Star Seeds Heirloom Globe Artichoke

Darione — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 12:01:00 +0000

Green Imperial Star is an heirloom globe artichoke that can produce in its first year from seed. Large silvery-green foliage and generous edible buds. Once established, it comes back year after year, getting more productive with each season.

Steam the buds and eat the tender bases of the leaves dipped in melted butter or vinaigrette. The heart, once you reach it, is the real prize. A stunning architectural plant that doubles as a genuine food crop.

🌱 Growing at a glance
🌱 Sowing: February–May or August–September
☀️ Light: Full sun
💧 Water: Deep, regular watering
🌡️ Germination: 14–21 days
📏 Height: 1.2–1.5 m
🪴 Spacing: 90–100 cm
⏳ Harvest: From the second year onwards

🌿 Growing tips
Start seeds early for stronger plants and protect young growth from frost. After harvesting the main central bud, allow side shoots to develop for smaller secondary artichokes. Mulch well over winter in colder areas.

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Aster Princesse Multicolor Vintage 1928 Flower Seeds Franchi Seeds

Darione — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 13:29:15 +0000

If you grow flowers for cutting in Ireland, Aster Princesse belongs in your garden. The long, sturdy stems and elegant, needle-shaped petals make it one of the best cut flowers you can grow from seed. A single handful in a jar on the kitchen table looks like something from a florist, except you grew it yourself for the price of a seed packet.

The Princesse type is distinct from the more common round asters. Each bloom has long, quilled petals that fan outward in a starburst shape, giving a refined, almost spiky elegance. The multicolour mix produces flowers in purples, pinks, whites, reds and blues from July through September. Strong upright growth to 50 to 70 cm means clean, straight stems for arranging.

🌱 Sowing: March to May

☀️ Light: Full sun

🌡️ Germination: 10 to 14 days

📏 Height: 50 to 70 cm

🌸 Flowering: July to September

🌿 Growing tips for Ireland Start indoors from March in modules or small pots. Transplant outdoors after the last frost, late May in most of Ireland. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot with well drained soil.

Space plants about 25 to 30 cm apart. Feed once a fortnight with a general liquid fertiliser during the growing season. One important tip: do not plant China Asters in the same spot two years running. They are susceptible to aster wilt (Fusarium), a soil-borne disease. Rotate to a different bed each year and you will avoid problems entirely. Deadhead regularly to keep fresh blooms coming through to September.

🇮🇪 BloomySeeds is the Irish stockist of Franchi Sementi seed. Every packet is genuine, traceable and DAFM registered. Free delivery across Ireland on orders over €40.

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Basil Classico Italiano Seeds Classic Genovese Basil by Franchi Seeds

Darione — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 16:28:42 +0000

Basil Classico Italiano is the real Genovese basil. Large tender leaves, intense sweet aroma, and the flavour that makes proper pesto taste the way it should. This is what you smell when you walk through a market in Genova.

Compact, vigorous plants that grow happily on a sunny windowsill, a patio, or a balcone. One pot from seed costs less than two of those plastic supermarket basil packs, and it lasts the whole summer instead of four days.

🌱 Sowing depth: Lightly cover, approximately 0.5 cm deep
📅 Ideal planting months for Ireland: Sow from March–July outdoors in warm, sheltered spots; sow indoors or under cover the rest of the year
☀️ Light requirements: Full sun; bright, warm windowsill or sheltered outdoor position
🌡️ Germination time: About 7–14 days at 18–22 °C
📏 Plant height: Approximately 30–45 cm at maturity
🪴 Spacing: 20–25 cm between plants or clumps
⏳ Days to maturity: Roughly 60–75 days from sowing to first main harvests
🧪 Approximate seeds quantity: about 4000 seeds per packet

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Basil Vintage from Genova Seeds Italian Genovese Basil

Darione — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 16:45:14 +0000

If you have ever made pesto with supermarket basil and thought “this is fine but not quite right”, this is why. Genovese basil has a depth of aroma that the generic stuff cannot touch.

The leaves are large, tender, and intensely fragrant. Pinch off the growing tips regularly and the plant bushes out and keeps producing. One pot on a warm windowsill will give you fresh basil from May to October.

🌱 Sowing information
Sow indoors February to July, surface sow or barely cover. Seeds need light to germinate. Keep warm (18 to 25°C) and moist. Germination takes 7 to 14 days. Can be sown in succession every 3 to 4 weeks for a continuous supply.

☀️ Light exposure
Full sun and shelter from wind. Basil hates cold draughts. A warm windowsill, conservatory or polytunnel is ideal. In Ireland, outdoor growing works from June in a sheltered spot.

💧 Water needs
Water regularly but do not let the soil get waterlogged. Morning watering is best. Avoid wetting the leaves, which can encourage fungal problems. Well drained compost in pots is ideal.

🌡️ Germination temperature and time
Seeds germinate in 7 to 14 days at 18 to 25°C. They need warmth and light. A heated propagator or warm windowsill speeds things up. Do not sow outdoors until soil is reliably warm.

📏 Plant spacing and final size
Grows to 30 to 50cm tall. Space 25 to 30cm apart if planting in a bed, or grow one plant per 15cm pot. Pinch out the growing tip when the plant has 6 to 8 leaves to encourage bushy growth.

🌼 Harvesting notes
Harvest continuously from spring to autumn. Pick or pinch leaves regularly to prevent flowering. Once basil flowers, the leaves lose some of their flavour, so keep pinching.

🍽️ In the kitchen
Pesto alla genovese, caprese, torn over pizza margherita, stirred into pasta at the last second. Never cook it. Always add it fresh, right before serving.

📖 Want to make the most of your herbs? Our recipe guide “Welly to Belly: Italian Herbs at Home” has simple, real Italian recipes for every herb you grow. Get your copy and start cooking with what you grow.

Technical Data
🌱 Sowing depth: surface sow (needs light)
📅 Sow: February to July (indoors or warm spot)
☀️ Light: Full sun, sheltered from wind
🌡️ Germination: 7 to 14 days at 18 to 25°C
📏 Height: 30 to 50cm. Space: 25 to 30cm
🪴 Container friendly: yes, 15cm pot minimum
⏳ Harvest: continuously, spring to autumn
🧪 Approx. seed quantity: 8g per packet

Vintage 1928 variety from Franchi Sementi, est. 1783. Open pollinated, OGM free.

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BeeFriendly Flower Mix Seeds | Colourful Annual & Perennial Blend

Darione — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 16:27:46 +0000

Bee-Friendly Flower Mix is a blend of annuals and perennials selected to attract bees, the pollinators your vegetables and fruit trees depend on. More bees in the garden means better harvests of tomatoes, courgettes, beans and fruit.

Sow a patch near your vegetable beds. The flowers do the work of attracting pollinators while looking beautiful at the same time. One packet covers a generous area.

🌱 Sowing information
Sow from March to June directly outdoors. Rake lightly to cover and keep the soil moist until germination.
☀️ Light exposure
Thrives in full sun; tolerates partial shade.
💧 Water needs
Water regularly during establishment. Once mature, the mix is generally drought‑tolerant.
🌡️ Germination temperature & time
Germinates in 10–20 days under mild temperatures.
📏 Plant spacing & final size
Broadcast sowing. Plants reach 20–90 cm depending on species.

Bullet Technical Data
🌱 Sowing depth: surface to 0.5 cm
📅 Sow: March–June
☀️ Light: full sun / partial shade
🌡️ Germination: 10–20 days
📏 Height: 20–90 cm
🪴 Spacing: broadcast sowing
⏳ Flowering: spring–autumn
🔢 Seeds: 5 g packet

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Beetroot Detroit Seeds Early Sweet Globe by Franchi Seeds

Darione — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 19:37:13 +0000

Beetroot Detroit is an early globe-rooted variety with smooth round roots and deep red, sweet, tender flesh. The most reliable beetroot you can grow in Ireland. Sow from March to July, harvest from June onwards. Almost impossible to get wrong.

Fine texture and juicy consistency. Roast it, boil it, pickle it, or grate it raw into salads. The leaves are edible too, used like spinach. One packet gives you enough roots to last the season.

🌱 Sowing information
Sow from late March to June in fine, stone‑free soil. Make shallow drills 2 cm deep and 30 cm apart; sow seeds 3–5 cm apart, cover lightly and water. For earliest crops, use cloches or fleece. Pre‑soaking seeds can speed germination.
☀️ Light exposure
Prefers full sun but tolerates light partial shade. In Ireland, a bright, well‑drained bed ensures good root shape and colour.
💧 Water needs
Keep soil evenly moist, especially during germination. Avoid drought followed by heavy watering to prevent splitting. Mulching helps retain moisture and suppress weeds.
🌡️ Germination temperature & time
Germinates at 7–10 °C, usually emerging in 7–14 days. Late‑March sowings typically match suitable soil conditions.
📏 Plant spacing & final size
Thin seedlings to 8–10 cm apart, with 25–30 cm between rows. This spacing supports uniform, well‑coloured roots.
🌼 Harvesting notes
Harvest baby beets at golf‑ball size or allow to reach 5–7 cm for fuller roots. Lift gently, twist off leaves to reduce bleeding, and store in a cool, dark place or process promptly.

Bullet Technical Data
• 🌱 Sowing depth: 2 cm
• 📅 Planting months (Ireland): March–end June
• ☀️ Light: Full sun to light partial shade
• 🌡️ Germination: 7–14 days at 7–10 °C
• 📏 Plant height: 25–40 cm foliage; 5–7 cm roots
• 🪴 Spacing: 8–10 cm plants; 25–30 cm rows
• ⏳ Days to maturity: 50–70 days
• 🧪 Seeds per packet: approx. 480

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Bis di Lattughe Seeds Early Cutting Lettuce Mix by Franchi Seeds

Darione — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 22:46:22 +0000

Bis di Lattughe is a heritage cutting-lettuce mix combining two complementary types: lime-green and red leaves with a crisp juicy rib. Cut the leaves when they are 10 to 15cm tall and the plants grow back for a second and third harvest.

One of the fastest salad crops you can grow. Ready in about four weeks from sowing. Sow a short row every two to three weeks and you will never buy a bag of mixed leaves from the supermarket again.

Bullet Technical Data
• 🌱 Sowing depth: 0.5–1 cm
• 📅 Planting months (Ireland): February–September in small batches
• ☀️ Light: Full sun to light partial shade
• 🌡️ Germination: 7–14 days at 10–18 °C
• 📏 Plant height: 10–20 cm at harvest
• 🪴 Spacing: Dense for baby leaves; 10–15 cm for rosettes
• ⏳ Days to maturity: 25–35 days to first cut
• 🧪 Seeds per packet: approx. 4000

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Butterfly Flower Mix Seeds | Colourful Annual Blend

Darione — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 16:37:48 +0000

Butterfly Flower Mix is a colourful annual blend selected specifically to attract butterflies. Varied shades and scents that bring movement and natural beauty to the garden. Sow in spring for flowers from summer into autumn.

These are not just pretty flowers. They serve a purpose. More butterflies in your garden means a healthier, more balanced ecosystem. And watching them is one of the genuine pleasures of having a garden.

🌱 Sowing information
Sow from February to July directly outdoors. Rake lightly to cover and keep the soil moist until germination.
☀️ Light exposure
Thrives in full sun; tolerates partial shade.
💧 Water needs
Water regularly during establishment. Once mature, the mix becomes moderately drought‑tolerant.
🌡️ Germination temperature & time
Germinates in 10–20 days under mild temperatures.
📏 Plant spacing & final size
Broadcast sowing. Plants reach 20–80 cm depending on species.

Bullet Technical Data
🌱 Sowing depth: surface to 0.5 cm
📅 Sow: February–July
☀️ Light: full sun / partial shade
🌡️ Germination: 10–20 days
📏 Height: 20–80 cm
🪴 Spacing: broadcast sowing
⏳ Flowering: May–October
🔢 Seeds: approx. standard packet

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Calendula a Fiore Semplice Arancio Vintage 1928 Flower Seeds Franchi Seeds

Darione — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 14:20:40 +0000

Calendula is one of the most reliable flowers you can grow in Ireland. While other annuals sulk in a cool, wet summer, this tough pot marigold keeps flowering from June right through to October. It handles Irish rain, tolerates cooler temperatures, and self sows so freely that one packet can give you years of bright orange blooms without buying again.

This is the single-flowered form (Fiore Semplice), which means the centre of each bloom is fully open. That matters for two reasons: bees and hoverflies can reach the pollen easily, making it one of the best pollinator flowers for Irish gardens, and the open petals are edible. Scatter them fresh over salads, rice dishes or soups for a splash of colour and a mild, peppery flavour.

Calendula is also one of the most useful companion plants in a vegetable garden. Grow it alongside tomatoes, courgettes and brassicas to attract hoverflies, whose larvae feed on aphids. A practical and beautiful addition to any Irish plot.

🌱 Sowing: March to June (or September for early spring flowers)

☀️ Light: Full sun

🌡️ Germination: 7 to 14 days

📏 Height: 40 to 50 cm

🌸 Flowering: June to October

🌿 Growing tips for Ireland One of the easiest flowers to grow from seed in any part of Ireland. Sow direct outdoors from March, no need for a propagator or windowsill. Calendula handles light frost, so early sowing is safe. For even earlier flowers next year, sow a batch in September and they will overwinter as small plants and bloom from May.

Thin seedlings to about 25 cm apart. Deadhead regularly to keep new flowers coming, or leave some heads to set seed for next year. Calendula thrives in most Irish soils including heavier clay, and is perfectly happy in containers, raised beds and allotments.

🇮🇪 BloomySeeds is the Irish stockist of Franchi Sementi seed. Every packet is genuine, traceable and DAFM registered. Free delivery across Ireland on orders over €40.

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