Perfect weather for us, bright and cheery but cool enough to crack on at full pace on the tunnel clearance and potting. Hopefully it is good for you too, the tills must still be ringing judging by the level of orders last week. Having had a slightly quieter week previously and a better week on potting, we reverted back to manic sales and not enough potting! Had to have a team in again this morning to try and catch up a bit, but at the moment with next year's crops arriving at the same time as the late summer crops, it feels like we are under pressure again. Definitely not grumbling though, we are very lucky to be so busy and be given the chance to work our way out of all the earlier difficulties. As each week goes by things look a little easier although the battle to support the microprop lab out is proving a bit of a dampener. It is such a shame because the lab was performing it's best ever for the rolling year up to the end of December. At least that does give us the incentive that once back on track, it should regain that position, it just might take a year or two.
The continuing high sales levels are brilliant in the long term, but it is constantly putting availability and stock levels under pressure which I sometimes find difficult to cope with on a week by week and day to day basis. I can't help feeling guilty when we run out of stuff or the availability list looks a bit depleted so do forgive me if I sound a bit stressed if you contact me during the week. We don't like to let anyone down, but we will continue to work through very bewildering times and do the best we can to keep everyone happy.
Stopped early at eight last night so I could make time for an emergency home haircut, things were getting out of hand. No excuse really, I always get a home cut, it helps Caroline justify the mortgage she puts out for her trips for a tidy up. Luckily she had a cut immediately before the lockdown so got away with the first period, although various new bits of retaining kit have made an appearance in recent weeks trying to hold things back. We haven't yet embraced the new freedoms on what we
could now get up, to so no appointment in the diary yet, but I'm sure it won't be long. Greg has his first cut booked for this afternoon, for someone who loves a sharp and very regular cut I think he has resorted to borrowing some of Caroline's bands to keep things in check. There is a definite element of a continental footballers style at the moment, so we look forward to seeing the new creation later. I think that is the highlight of the upcoming weekend, lots of label printing and seed sowing and Caroline has a load of microprop modules to prepare for delivery on Monday morning. Making hay while the sun shines and all that.
After all that hot weather we thought the farm harvest might have got started early, but it seems not. The cooler wetter weather has slowed things up quite a bit but hopefully to the benefit of the yield for most crops. It had been looking a bit thin earlier with the weather being so erratic. Too wet in the winter and early spring to sow crops, then after very late drilling a really long hot and very dry spell, a quick splash of rain then back to hot and dry, it didn't look good. Hopefully the recent change will have come just in time for the later maturing crops and not spoil the early ones. A lot of fingers crossed!
Availability list highlights
A massive run again on herbs last week after I managed to produce a list last weekend. I have done one again for this week but with herb sales last week reaching close to the whole of July last year, stocks are again under pressure. There is more stock on the way just not quite ready, so please don't be tempted to overdo your buying, there will be new stock as each week passes.
Main current highlights on the flowering stock front are;
Osteospermum Tresco Purple are on the list again in bud, as well as just a few plants of the other varieties. Hopefully enough TP for several more weeks!
The Salvia Hot Lips and Amythyst Lips are back in numbers now. Loads of buds are appearing now, after my extra trimming to get super bushy plants. Summer flowering Gaura are coming along nicely with buds on show and colour very close.
The fab compact Rudbeckia Little Goldstar have just started to produce their flower stems, with tight bud appearing. A little while before colour shows but the promise is there.
Fresh Helleborous foetidus and argutifolius too are now on the list, ready to plant out now for a flower show this winter. Other Helleborous to follow shortly.
Nice neat and fresh new crops of Achillea Moonshine and Little Moonshine are in bud and looking good. Ajuga's are looking smart, especially Burgundy Glow.
Take care out there, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.
No comments:
Post a Comment