Fall in Italy Collection
Italy has the highest vegetable consumption in Europe, and the widest variety of vegetable types. Winter specialties--the only crops that don't require irrigation in the Italian climate--actually predate more recent crops like tomatoes. Many of these ancient green vegetables are treasured parts of rustic regional cuisine, and many have been highlighted by the Slow Food movement. Most can also be grown in the cool weather of early spring. Dependng on your climate, these may be eaten in fall or grown through the winter. (All are hardy all winter in zone 9. Most in zone 8, and some as cold as zone 5.) Six packets, chosen from among spinach, kale, cima di rapa, radicchio, escarole, rucola, beet, fennel, chicory, and puntarelle. Six assorted packets in a decorative envelope, along with 2 pages of recipes.