Picture every color of the rainbow, with herbs cavorting gayly with veggies, and edible flowers brightening the space, and you have an Italian garden. When starting a vegetable garden, an Italian theme is a great place to start. Italy is known to have some of the most sumptuous cuisine in the world, and Italian cooks know the key to good food is good produce.

The country has a rich, and diverse soil, combined with microclimates that allow certain food crops to flourish and taste incredible. Varieties that are prized in Italian cookery have been food staples for centuries and contribute to the unique flavors and textures found in the country’s cuisine.