Gardening and DIY: Plant potatoes for Christmas - and there's still time for broccoli!

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This week's tip comes from organic gardening enthusiasts Robin and Simon Barclay who live at Tawharanui.

There is still time to plant new potatoes so they'll be ready for Christmas! Buy seed potatoes such as Cliff's Kidney from your garden centre, plant the potatoes about 15cm deep in a trench and mound the soil on top. When the potatoes start to flower, get digging. Boil them up and enjoy with a knob of butter and a few mint leaves.

Are you a fan of broccoli, cauliflower and cabbages? There's still time to get your seeds and seedlings in the ground. These traditionally-winter crops can be enjoyed throughout summer (if you can fight the caterpillars!) Cover seedlings with fine netting to deter butterflies landing or remove caterpillars by hand - good chook food. Plant 50 cm apart.