The roots are sweet and full-flavoured. Excellent for soups, stews and roasting. In a good year, one row of Flakkee will keep you in carrots well into January.

🌱 Sowing information
Sow directly from March to July in well‑prepared soil. Carrots do not transplant well, so sow thinly in 1 cm‑deep drills spaced 25–30 cm apart. Cover lightly with fine soil and water gently. For staggered harvests, repeat sowings every 3–4 weeks through spring and early summer.

☀️ Light exposure
Prefers full sun for strong, even growth. Partial shade is tolerated but may reduce sweetness and root size.

💧 Water needs
Keep soil evenly moist, especially during germination and early growth. Avoid waterlogging in heavy soils; raised beds or ridges can help drainage while still supporting straight, smooth roots.

🌡️ Germination temperature & time
Seeds germinate at soil temperatures from 7–20 °C, taking 10–21 days to emerge. Early sowings benefit from fleece or cloches to warm the soil.

📏 Plant spacing & final size
Thin seedlings to 6–8 cm apart once they reach 2–3 cm tall. Roots can grow very large, often exceeding 25 cm in length, with a broad shoulder and cylindrical form.

🌼 Harvesting notes
Harvest from late summer into autumn. Lift carefully with a fork to avoid snapping. This variety stores well in cool, dry conditions, making it excellent for winter use.

Bullet Technical Data

🌱 Sowing depth: 1 cm in fine, stone‑free soil
📅 Ideal planting months for Ireland: March–July
☀️ Light requirements: Full sun; partial shade tolerated
🌡️ Germination time: 10–21 days at 7–20 °C
📏 Plant height: Foliage 25–35 cm tall; roots up to 25–30 cm long

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Excellent fresh, grated, roasted or used in a soffritto as the base for Italian sauces. Sow from March to July for harvests from summer into autumn. One of the most dependable carrot varieties for Irish gardens.

🌱 Sowing
Sow direct from March–July in a deep, fine, stone‑free seedbed. Sow thinly in 1 cm‑deep drills spaced 20–30 cm apart. Water gently. For continuous crops, sow every 3–4 weeks.
☀️ Light
Prefers full sun for strong, sweet, even root growth. Light partial shade is tolerated but slows growth.
💧 Water
Keep soil evenly moist, especially during germination and early growth. Avoid waterlogging; raised beds help on heavy soils.
🌡️ Germination
Germinates in 10–21 days at 7–20 °C. Early sowings benefit from fleece; later sowings germinate faster.
📏 Spacing
Thin seedlings to 5–7 cm apart. Roots typically reach 18–20 cm long with a blunt end when well spaced.
🌼 Harvest
Harvest from midsummer when roots are firm, smooth and fully coloured. Lift carefully. Later sowings often taste sweeter after cool nights.

Bullet Technical Data
🌱 Sowing depth: 1 cm
📅 Sow: March–July
☀️ Light: Full sun; partial shade tolerated
🌡️ Germination: 10–21 days at 7–20 °C
📏 Height: Foliage 20–30 cm; roots 18–20 cm
🪴 Spacing: 5–7 cm plants; 20–30 cm rows
⏳ Maturity: 70–110 days
🧪 Seeds: approx. 6000 per packet

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Here is the thing most people do not know: it tastes better after a frost. The cold converts starches to sugars, and the leaves turn sweeter and more tender. Which makes it perfect for Irish winters.

Plants reach 60 to 90cm tall and keep producing leaves for months. Pick from the bottom up, and the plant keeps growing new leaves at the top.

🌱 Sowing information
Sow May to July in modules or trays, about 1 to 1.5cm deep. Transplant when seedlings are 15 to 20cm tall. Can also be sown directly where it is to grow, thinning to final spacing once seedlings are established.

☀️ Light exposure
Full sun for the best flavour, though cavolo nero tolerates partial shade better than most brassicas. An open position with good air circulation helps prevent fungal problems.

💧 Water needs
Keep soil evenly moist, especially during dry spells. Kale is tougher than most vegetables once established, but consistent watering produces more tender, less bitter leaves. Feed occasionally with a general purpose fertiliser.

🌡️ Germination temperature and time
Seeds germinate in 7 to 12 days at 10 to 20°C. Cavolo nero is straightforward to germinate and not fussy about temperature. Sow from May onwards in Ireland for autumn and winter harvests.

📏 Plant spacing and final size
Space plants 45 to 50cm apart. They grow 60 to 90cm tall with an upright habit. The lower leaves spread about 40cm wide. No support needed unless very exposed to wind.

🌼 Harvesting notes
Harvest autumn through winter, picking individual leaves from the bottom up as needed. The plant keeps producing new leaves at the top. Flavour improves markedly after the first frosts. A single plant can produce leaves for 6 months or more.

🍽️ In the kitchen
Ribollita (Tuscan bread soup), sautéed with garlic and chilli, stirred into bean stews, or massaged raw with olive oil and lemon for a winter salad. Remove the central rib before cooking.

📖 Not sure what to cook with your harvest? Our recipe guide “Welly to Belly: The Italian Vegetable Garden” is full of simple Italian recipes for exactly what you are growing. Get your copy and start cooking with what you grow.

Technical Data
🌱 Sowing depth: 1 to 1.5cm
📅 Sow: May to July. Harvest: autumn through winter
☀️ Light: Full sun to partial shade
🌡️ Germination: 7 to 12 days at 10 to 20°C
📏 Height: 60 to 90cm. Space: 45 to 50cm
🪴 Cold hardy: yes, improves after frost
⏳ Days to first harvest: approx. 60 to 75 days from transplant
🧪 Approx. seed quantity: 8g per packet

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

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This is the endive you braise with garlic and olive oil, stuff into a pizza di scarola, or chop raw into a salad with anchovy and capers. Hardy and reliable in Irish autumn and winter gardens. A genuine Italian kitchen essential.

Bullet Technical Data
🌱 Sowing depth: About 1 cm deep in moist, fine soil or compost​
📅 Ideal planting months for Ireland: Sow from June–end of August for autumn–winter harvests​
☀️ Light requirements: Full sun to light partial shade​
🌡️ Germination time: Approximately 7–14 days at 15–20 °C​
📏 Plant height: Around 25–35 cm with broad, full heads​
🪴 Spacing: 20–30 cm between plants, 30–40 cm between rows​
⏳ Days to maturity: Roughly 70–100 days from sowing, depending on sowing date and conditions​
🧪 Approximate seeds quantity: about 4800 seeds per packet​.​

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