Hairy prep

Morning all,

Sun came out today and it looks like we might dry out a bit for a few days. It almost felt like spring for a few hours,

We did manage to tick off a couple of the winter jobs, some came back again and I've added some more for good measure. Label store is re-labelled and cleaned ready for the new seasons label stock which I thought was due in today, but didn't. There are a few old labels left to over-stick with the new plant passport details but not the monster numbers of last year. The plumber had a good go at the 32 leaks in the new loos and then came back for a few that didn't quite seal. Still 3 or 4 that are misbehaving so another visit next week should see us water tight. I must say the block itself in palatial in comparison to anything we have offered before, warm and light, spacious, easy clean, well fitted out (although still got a couple of fans to fit) with paper towels, mirrors, coat hooks, shelves for the spare rolls and air freshener, somewhere to park your gloves, hot water, soap and sanitiser, it's becoming a struggle to get people out of them! Having 8 independent units is a vast improvement in privacy and throughput of people, as well as being more covid secure, so everyone seems very pleased. Just a few hiccups initially with people thinking they were locked in and calling for help on the walkie talkies, the handles are a bit stiff and need a bit of positive input to open, so we are getting better at it now.

We had our first Brexit import cancellation this week. A tiny order for two UV lights for my printing plate etching kit was delayed a couple of weeks then cancelled because the company could no longer get the package from Holland to the UK. A frustrating delay which meant new plate production has been stopped for three weeks. Reordered elsewhere now, fingers crossed for better luck this time. We have a big module order for the lab pricking out and my herb seedlings coming over very soon, there are emails flying all over the place to try and make sure all is ready, but we are still in the dark as to whether we have done enough. The duty deferment account application we started in September to pay the tax due on imported materials is still ongoing and apparently in the final stages of approval, let's hope it all falls into place in time.

My new 12 tonne die-cutter press didn't get here, so chasing that up, the December delivery of the lab store looks like being early February and the last of the drain digging got delayed in the wet conditions. Patience, it will happen eventually. Good job it's a quiet time of year, plenty of R and R before the spring rush!

I attended, online, the BPOA spring conference on Wednesday which was a first for me. It was well worth the time, I learnt a bit which is always good, but best of all it helped me recognise how much we are just a tiny part of a generally wonderful industry. Hearing the experiences of different growers during that first lockdown, how they coped and what they learnt was very touching and they certainly earned my respect for their hard work and creativeness, seeding their hopes for survival. The stories of staff, family and friends volunteering to muck in and help out brought back so many memories for me of that mad time. Scary but inspiring, we learnt a lot about ourselves, our friends and our communities and I do hope we can all hang onto some of that positive glow when this is all over. I think it was the involvement and support of the local communities that was the most surprising and cause for rejoicing. So often the things close to home are the things worth truly treasuring.

Prices and catalogue for 2021

I have managed to cobble together a skeleton catalogue with all the latest hairy pot updates and full lists of the varieties being grow in 2021. The prices will rise by about 2.5% (5p) which I am hoping will cover some of the cost increases we have seen. With a bit of luck a smoother sales season and increasing sales volumes will cover the rest. The previous Flipbook version is no longer working since the demise in December of Adobe Flash Player, but if I can master the software we will try a different approach at some point. I know it's not the most professional presentation in the world, but I hope it gets the main message across. Work pressures, an ageing marketing department (me) and all the other excitement going on at the moment has put this project on the back burner. There is too much going on in the world to worry unduly about it, we are still standing, ready to move forward, and that is enough for the moment.

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. The niger are budding up now.

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 only in limited numbers.

A few of the early bulbs are up but a bit too early for buds just yet, but a definite sign of the approaching spring. Having said that we do have a few snowdrops with some colour showing.

We have a good range of the evergreen Bergenia's in stock.

I have two Scabiosa in bud, looking strong, although I'm not sure they will actually colour up until warmer conditions prevail. 

Take care out there, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries