Focus on: Piccolo
S/S '22
Garden seeds for the horticulturally, culinarily and aesthetically conscious. We shine the spotlight on this season’s perfect little present.
Garden seeds for the horticulturally, culinarily and aesthetically conscious. We shine the spotlight on this season’s perfect little present.
Piccolo was born near Venice in 2012 (for those of you who have forgotten your GCSE Italian piccolo means small) with the intention of offering select seeds for urban gardens. The range includes vegetables, fruits, edible flowers and herbs specially designed for pot growing: compact, dwarf varieties, suitable for small garden spaces.
Piccolo’s 30 seed varieties (we’re going to be selling a our favourite 12) have been selected
after careful research and experimentation. The varieties, rediscovered in old seed catalogues
have been tested for growth in pots; feature compact and dwarf sizes; and are suitable for small
growing spaces, such as a balcony. They range from classic Genovese basil to heirloom
Paris Market carrots: from dwarf Tiny Tim tomatoes to the authentic Italian Gigante d’Italia parsley.
We are nothing if not shallow. Whilst the seeds may be lovely, we are particularly enamoured of the packaging. Designed by London based studio Here Design (FYI they’ve also done some gorgeous work for The Fife Arms), these are pocket sized cardboard packages featuring dot based images (dots suggesting seeds) of the plants on beautiful coloured board, made from sustainable and completely recyclable materials. Each packet contains useful tips for cultivation as well as the history and interesting facts about the plant, its medicinal properties and suggestions for original recipes and cocktails.
Genovese Basil - perhaps the most famous sweet basil variety in the world. Known for its use in pesto.
Gigante d’Italia Parsley - Also known as Sellerina, because its long stalks can also be eaten like celery, parsley is a particularly high yielding variety that is well suited to autumn cultivation due to its resistance to the cold.
Alpine Strawberry Baron Von Solemacher - No-one is quite sure who the name-sake Baron was, but we do know that this dainty alpine variety was first offered by F.C. Heinemann, a German seed merchant, in 1935.
(Coming Soon)
Now all you need to do is choose your seeds, roll up your sleeves and get sowing.
Or else choose your seeds, and give them as a gift to a green-fingered friend (just be sure to be around for the tasting!).