Italian Heirloom Vegetables

 

 

 

Just a quick look into the backyard of your Italian neighbour will demonstrate the importance they place on vegetables. Italy has great regional diversity in food and culture, and this has meant that different varieties of vegetable have been developed in the different regions, and the name of the variety often reflects their origin. Zucchinis called "romanesco", "nero di Milano" and "Genovese" and radicchio called "rossa di Trento" and "rossa di Verona" for example.

The term "heirloom" was originally intended to describe a vegetable variety that was passed down over the generations, but this definition has been weakened to now mean any non-hybrid seed. Many Italian vegetable varieties are true heirlooms with the best example I know of is a melon "Zatta" that is available as seed today, and was described by name and in illustrations in the early 1600's.

 

Over the last 50 years, Italian vegetables have gradually been introduced into the Australian market, initially to satisfy the demand of migrants from countries around the Mediterranean Sea, but with increasing acceptance by the broader population. It seems obvious that with Australia's Mediterranean climate, that we should be growing Mediterranean vegetables. Vegetables that I did not know in my youth that are now commonplace in the market include rocket, fennel, cavolo nero, capsicums, eggplant and radicchio.

 

I sell seed from my website, theitaliangardener.com.au and in selected shops, and grow vegetables at home. Some of my best customers are small holders who grow for farmers markets where they place value on growing varieties that are not available in supermarkets. Franchi Sementi, the company I import from, is a sixth generation family owned business that commenced in the business in 1783, 5 years before Captain Phillip raised the Union Jack in Botany Bay.