Accetturese

We grow our own from seed. I do love swede in an irish stew, or diced with carrots.
We also grow parsnips and turnips since you cannot buy them here. Suttons seeds deliver to Italy at a reasonable price.

Geordieborn

I would certainly grow them if we were still there, friends have tried parsnips with mixed success. We also grew carrots which were great one year and a total failure the next. Experimentation is fun, but eating of the produce is the superb bit. A friend has sent me pictures yesterday of leeks and chard to die for, I'm so jealous !

Margaret M

I have tried growing parsnips here, but the flavour wasn't as good - I think it may be due to the lack of deep frosts.

brian12

Hi,was it you I discussed the unavailability of coriander?No matter,I was in Lidl UK yesterday and a big bunch of it had grown in Italy label stuck on it,lol.

Margaret M

That would be about right. Still can't find coriander here though. Could have been me, I have raised the subject before.

HADENOUGHPIZZA

Esselunga has an advert for Quality Street chocolates on offer from 17 dec

SanNico

@Margaret, the Asian spice shop in Brindisi often has fresh coriander. I used to get all of my spices there, tea bags too. Quite a few of us grew our own as well, I found seeds in the big discount store on the new retail park opposite the hospital. It seemed to grow well on the west side of the house. I also planted some in direct sunlight, it went from perfect to seed in few days.

Geordieborn

Coriander prefers the cold, I would look at planting late in the year. The best we ever had was planted late summer/autumn and after coming back from England in January to 10cm of snow over it we had thick lush coriander, but only for a few months.

Margaret M

Is that the one near the station - I don't get down to Brindisi that often though. I did plant seeds once, but went to seed very quickly. May try again if I can get some seeds when I am down there.

SanNico

Yes, almost opposite the Vodafone shop. He's a nice guy and seems to stock quite a few ex-pat treats.

brian12

We had an Indian grocer 3 miles up the road but he closed this year.Handy for gram flour we use for onion bajhis.

Margaret M

Amazingly Famila had so this morning, so stocked up with some to freeze. Now just have to track down fresh sage until the tiny plant in the garden grows.

Geordieborn

The sage plant will take no time at all to grow, your problem will be keeping it under control! We brought back a rooting for our daughter here in the UK and when we came back took a cutting from that for ourselves. Not quite up to the aroma of that in Italy, but grows just as vigorously

Pica

When it goes to seed-which it does very quickly just save theseeds and grow again the following year.

Margaret M

I'll have to freeze as much as I can before it goes to see then - I love coriander.