For the week of:Wednesday  18th July 2007

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING?:
A week of good frosts has killed all the pests and diseases and broken the ground up ready to dig over. It's an exciting time of year with all our new trees coming in and flower buds swelling as the Rhododendrons and Camellias with the promise of spring to come. Seed Potatoes are on the shelf already bagged in 3kg bags or you can pick just a few to start some early. The best early varieties are Swift, Lieseta, or Rocket with them being ready in sixty days. Our supplier of Supertoms informs us their plants are ready from July 23rd so it's not far away. We still have plenty of shelter trees available if you can get the spade in the ground to plant them. Another container load of Ornamentals have arrived, some good specimen trees, Prunus, Varieties, Golden Elms, Whitebeam Sorbus. We've got Polyanthus ready in flower $1.99each or 6 for $10 if you need some colour and Cyclamen for colour inside. Plenty of new Roses in at the moment, be in to collect any that you have ordered. New fruit trees have arrived too and some of last years are out at half price at Lorneville.

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE DOING?:
Get your cloche out and put it in a warm spot in your garden, get the ground warmed and plant some early Lettuce. Prepare the Tunnel house with a load of Compost Time to clean the compost bin out and spread it on the garden and let the frost break it up before digging it in. Dig over any green crops and allow to break down. After the frosts time to prune Roses and fruit trees. Spray with copper and oil to seal the cuts and kill overwintering pests.

THIS WEEKS SPECIAL:
Selected fruit trees half price.

THIS WEEKS PRODUCT:
Superbloom Rose food.
Easy to use, lush foliage, more blooms, healthier roses, long term feeding.
only $16.99

FRUIT OF THE WEEK COMPETITION:
Diacks have a new section to our weekly newsletter. There will be a fruit of the week and you are able to win this tree/bush just by entering your favourite recipe for this fruit. This is open to all across New Zealand and will be couriered free of charge to the lucky winner.

This week’s recipe is for Almond
Last week winner was:

PLANT OF THE WEEK COMPETITION:
Take a look at the plant attached below and if you recognise it e-mail us with your answer. If you are the first to guess correctly you will win!

Last weeks answer: Erica Melanthera
Last weeks winner: Karla and Jamie Mcpherson

SUPERSAVE PET DEPOT:
Nutrience 1.5kg bags only $13.98.
Double feeding bowl dinner set. Only $8.98.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK:

Plum Jam

6 cups plums
1/2 cup of water
8 cups sugar
1 box of fruit pectin

Pit and chop plums. Add water; simmer 5 minutes. Measure prepared fruit in 6 or 8 quart sauce pot. Measure sugar, set aside. Stir pectin into prepared fruit. Bring to a full boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Add sugar; return to a full, rolling boil. Boil hard one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necesary. Carefully ladle into hot jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Adjust caps. Process all jam 10 minutes in a boiling water canner. Remove jars from canner. Let jam cool 12 to 14 hours. Check lids for seal by pressing down on the center of the lid. If the lid springs up, it has not sealed and should be refrigerated or reprocessed immediately for the full length of time, with a new lid. Remove bands, and clean exterior of jars and lids. Store jam in a cool, dry, dark area for up to one year.

JOKE OF THE WEEK:
Q: What is small, red and whispers??
A: A hoarse radish.!