Prepared by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Office of Public Affairs Tommy Irvin, Commissioner. Call Consumer Q's hotline at 1-800282-5852.

Safety Alert/Recall: A New Jersey company is voluntarily recalling 4.2ounce boxes of Lipton Noodle Soup Chicken Noodle with diced white chicken meat, because the soup contains a milk protein that is not listed on the label, Georgia Commissioner Tommy Irvin said.

People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk risk serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume these products.

"All of the recalled soup was produced in the same plant, which is identified on the label by the establishment number P-18569 inside the USDA mark of inspection," Commissioner Irvin said. "The boxes of Lipton chicken noodle soup were shipped from Englewood Cliffs, N.J. to retail establishments nationwide and to military bases in the U.S."

Each label also includes one of the following best if used by dates: APR 27 07, APR 28 07, APR 29 07, MAY 02 07, MAY 03 07, MAY 04 07, or MAY 05 07. Each shipping case bears the code 4100000332. Each box bears the code 413320.

Commissioner Irvin recommended that anyone who has a milk allergy should check for the identification of the recalled soup on any packages of the soup they may have purchased. "Anyone who has concerns about these products may return them to the place of purchase for a refund," said Commissioner Irvin.

Consumers with questions about the recall should call the Lipton Chicken Noodle Soup toll-free hotline at 866-839-7008.

Q: How do I keep aphids off my roses?

A: Aphids are tiny insects about 1/ 16 to 1/8 inches long, usually light green, red or black. They come in the spring and damage tender new growth. A hard spray of water from the hose will help remove aphid infestations. Aphids reproduce quickly and this may need to be repeated every couple days for a couple weeks. Aphids have a mutually beneficial relationship with ants, so ants need to be controlled if aphids are to be controlled. Ladybugs are a natural predator of aphids and can be used to control aphids. If ladybugs are purchased, water the area well and release the ladybugs around sunset to discourage them from leaving.

Q: What should I look for when buying Vidalia onions?

A: A fresh Vidalia onion has a light golden-brown bulb and white interior. Its shape is rounded on the bottom and somewhat flat on the top or stem end. Look for firm onions that are not decayed or blemished. There should be no sprouts attached and the skins should be dry. The real key to enjoying your Vidalia onions is storing them properly at home. They should be kept cool, dry and separate. You can place them on a screen or wire rack as long as they don't touch one another. The storage method most people use is the legs of pantyhose. The onions are placed individually in the legs and a knot is tied between each onion to keep them separate.

Q: What do I need to know about strawberries to make sure they grow? A:

Planning

Plants bear in their second season

Plan to set your new plants out in early spring, just as the trees in your area leaf out.

For best yields, start a new bed of plants each year and take out beds that have fruited.

Preparation

Select a site that offers full sun and good drainage and air circulation.

Apply aged manure and a complete fertilizer such as 5-10-10 (1 pound per 50-foot row) before planting in the spring.

Planting

Space your rows 4 feet apart.

Trim the roots of the new plants to no more than 6 inches long. Soak the roots in water for about an hour before planting.

Set the plants 18 inches apart in the rows.

Dig holes in the ground deep enough so the roots are covered but the crown isn't buried. Pack the soil against the roots and add about 1/2 pint of water mixed with a diluted soluble fertilizer.

Care

First year, spring: Keep the bed free of weeds. Pick off blossoms to prevent fruiting and encourage production of healthy daughter plants.

Late spring: 5 to 6 weeks after planting, train daughter plants to take root in a 9-by-9-inch spaced row system.

Late spring and summer: Sidedress with ammonium nitrate (1/2 pound per 100-foot row), 5-10-10 (1 1/2 pounds per 100-foot row), or manure tea (1/2 to 1 pint per plant). Sidedress again one month later.

Late fall: After a few freezes, mulch with 5 to 6 inches of straw or 4 to 5 inches of pine needles.

Second year, late spring: Remove the mulch gradually in the spring, but protect blossoms from late frost with covers of mulch, if needed. Provide 1 inch of water per week while the fruit is developing, through harvest.

Cover the patch with tobacco cloth or strawberry netting to keep birds out.

Summer: After harvest, till the plants under, plant a cover crop, and prepare the bed for new plants next spring.

Harvesting

The berries will ripen about one month after the plants bloom. Expect 2 to 3 weeks of harvesting for each variety.

Pick the plants clean every 2 or 3 days. Avoid the green-tipped berries; they're not fully ripe.

When harvesting, don't leave berry remnants on the plants. They encourage plant rot.