Hairy visits

Good morning all.

Suddenly summer has stopped and everyone seems to be talking about autumnal weather. The swifts have all left Stockbridge as they do in early August, although the swallows and house martins should be performing for a few weeks more. We could still have weeks of fine weather but mild panic starts to set in here as we try to get everything potted on schedule around all the orders, holidays and tunnel clearing. Looking good so far but I would always like to be a couple of weeks further ahead, but I know deep down after years of vain hope that isn’t going to happen. At least with almost all the incoming little modules growing on in bigger plugs things are still growing strongly.

After 30 years playing at this game you would think there was little else to learn and improve on, but this season seems to be filling up with plenty of leaps and tweeks in production development. There was the introduction of lots of new varieties to produce more impulse sales and the change from the disappointing bio-insecticide MET52 (vine weevil control) to the new application system and program of nematode introductions (now six applications over a season). The innovative new perennial labels are on the way with their long bamboo skewer insertion, increased info and a more coordinated appearance. A new tray insert is being explored and a new acid injection system coming shortly which will revitalise foliage quality and help us reduce fertiliser levels. There are more new plants coming out of the micro-prop lab which look interesting particularly a late summer flowering range of Saxifrages that could add interest to those late impulse sales. There are also some new seed raised hardy cyclamens and Helleborus which are showing great promise. I suspect this year won’t see them produce much of a show as we fine tune timings etc, but watch this space for a few lines appearing on our lists.

The NBIS visit here went really well, the nursery looked great for the time of year and I had plenty of new improvements to show off. Hardly anyone fell asleep and lively discussion produced the usual stimulating results and a lot of laughter. Results for the season overall were disappointing on the plant sales side for virtually all the growers, especially when we looked back at the terrible weather of the previous couple of seasons. Luckily we had all been very conservative on the production side so results were not disastrous but the situation did provoke some further soul searching as to the future of plant production. Sharing all this stuff now comes fairly naturally to the group and although it doesn’t make the financial realities any easier it does act as a very effective therapy session.

Turbine breakdown last week, with an electrical short in the control box. Luckily not much output was lost due to the light winds and it was easily fixed once the right bit and electrician arrived. The college next door have put in a planning application for a single turbine of 75m to be erected. Our 25m turbines are mentioned in comparison as part of the support package so hopefully that will help in some way. I have (not) put in my complaint about the noise, flicker, renewable inefficiencies and how it will reduce the value of the game shooting and house values on our estate. Meanwhile my planning application for a flood lit heated swimming pool waits in the wings. I wish I had the cash to put in a planning application for a nuclear reactor and see how that goes down with the locals. I hope the turbine application sails through, I believe our tiny wind installation is still the biggest in Hampshire and that is a shocking record for such a high consumption area.

Availability

We have a slight lull in flowering stock at the moment after strong summer sales. Fresh stock is growing well and the range should pick up again very soon for an autumn surge!

Asters just beginning to show bud and the first occasional flower, summer is going by so quickly. Ajuga Black Scallop with really very dark tight foliage, a stunner. We have a great range of good looking chunky Agapanthus we are producing for the first time this summer.

Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries