Hairy breaks

 Hi Everyone,

That was a hectic couple of weeks at this end. Electricians fixing up all the new heating and lighting kit in despatch and the potting tunnel, among lots of other site activity, digging trenches, mending machines and some unexpected extras. Two weeks ago activity was intensified as Caroline and I prepared to go on our annual holiday to sunny Cornwall. Getting everything lined up for a break always takes longer than expected and this time was no different. It didn't help that three more tunnels split their covers as the temperature fell away and I had to order some replacements. Packing for the break itself got a bit rushed in the end and despite copious lists we still managed to forget most of the food for the couple of eat-in meals planned early in the break. Not a problem really as not only did Cornwall have plenty of veg on offer, but we were home by Wednesday anyway, after the lockdown announcement caught us out. A bit of a disappointment after such a hectic year, we were looking forward to a change of scene and pace, but we still packed in plenty of treats over the few days we were there, so it really does feel like we have had a break. Assuming things relax in December we are going to try again, fingers crossed. 

Coming back so quickly I thought everything would be pretty much the same, but as usual everyone seems to get on better when I'm not here and lots of jobs have either been finished or are well under way. The lovely weather helped I think. Several orders got delivered and we picked up most of the remainder of our wooden boxes, the electricians have all but finished, two tunnels were recovered with the third ready to roll. The upgrading of the Frankenstein tunnel (don't ask) to an all slab floor is nearly complete and its side curtain vent and netting removed, re-timbered and replaced. Anyone visiting the nursery will be pleased to hear that we have put up new tunnel location signs on all the tunnels, inside and out, so you (and we) can find the plants more easily. Over time the signs gradually disappear and it's only when you are standing in a tunnel and think, 'where am I?', which is happening a lot now, that you realise you can't tell. One tunnel looks like another from the inside. All in all a very productive week.

Still lots of winter projects to do though, and next week looks promising with a mild dryish few days coming up. Excitingly (it doesn't take much) I fitted the connecting pipe this morning between the existing twin skinned prop tunnel and the new twin skin cover on the frost protected tunnel. The little fan we have should in theory have enough puff to inflate both, providing there are not too many leaks round the edges, time will tell. We can stick up a few leaks easily enough but just need to be careful not to do too good a job in case a cover goes pop! Hoping to make a start on remaking all the herb printing plates with the new UK plant passport details on it, replacing all the new plates I made last year for the new EU scheme! Once made I can gt started on printing a good stock of labels ready for the spring rush. It's all go.

Natural Energy are coming in to do our annual wind turbine service this week if it's not too windy. We've had a good year on output so far, the best yet, although there is still time for a lull in the weather to knock it back, you just never know. December and January are on average the windiest months so it doesn't take many still days to upset the average and fall behind. As we add more electric equipment on the site I keep thinking consumption will go up but we are currently on our lowest annual usage since starting accurate recording in 2008 (over 40% lower than then). The new despatch heaters will definitely increase consumption in 2021, but it will be cheap energy as we are producing most of it ourselves and the improvement in working conditions should be well worth it.

Wooden box returns

We have visited most of you now and collecting up our wooden boxes as this crazy season slows up for the autumn and winter. The barn is full of cleaned, repaired and mostly dried trays all ready for 2021 sales to get going again. If you still have boxes needing collection please do drop me a line and we will try and get to you. We may not pick up every last box by the end of autumn, just as long as we have most of them.

Availability list highlights

A nice range of Helleborous are now on the list, ready to plant out now for a flower show this winter. We have sold out of a couple of lines already but still have some great niger and orientalis on the list with some bud showing on the niger already. Ajuga's are still looking great, bold fresh foliage.

We have a nice range of the evergreen Bergenia's in stock. Watch out for the more unusual Dumbo which as it matures produces really big fleshy and rather hairy leaves, but this is a actually deciduous variety. As the time moves on we are well into Aster season. Only a few varieties left now.

The ever popular Erigeron Stallone with bud on show and the odd open flower. They will often still be in colour at Christmas. Attractive foliage colour on our range of Heuchera. Young and fresh. Those were the days.

We have the longer flowering little Cyclamen coum available now as well. Only a few ready at the moment but they will flower all winter and into the spring. Only available this year in a mixed colour range and again in limited numbers.

Take care out there, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries