Morning all,Ok, let's get straight down to it. I am so sorry to all those desperate for more plants, but we have a very reduced range and numbers available are not high. Sales are over 100% up on 2019 (which was our best year to date) and consequently the plant supply has been hit really hard. We have taken on more staff, ordered lots of plants compost and pots, but this surge has just about overwhelmed us. So far this year we have increased potting by 100% too, as we could see a busy season ahead of us, but there is going to be a lull between the overwintered crops and the spring potted ones where we may even stop producing a full availability list and just offer a mixed selection. With a very short list sent out, everyone will pick what is there and then we run out of those all too quickly, whereas if I do our own selection we can utilise a few smaller batches that are too small in number to list and therefore eek out the stock a bit further. That is the likely scenario for the perennials after the coming week, meanwhile the herbs are beginning to make a slow return as they come into growth and the rabbit damage recedes. Rabbits are still an issue, just not quite as bad. Our new marksman is back next week for another night-time raid so hopefully a couple more might be removed from site. Now there are so few other plants left, the damage they have done is even more prominent. The sooner we chuck the dead stock away the sooner the memory will fade, I can't wait, but will have too.
If you would like a few herbs we can put together a selection but we don't have a huge range so if you order more than 15 varieties you are likely to get a few repeats. We should have mostly popular varieties coming on parsley, coriander, thyme etc so the selection should be good and should expand as the weeks progress and the weather warms. We have masses potted and more to come, just waiting for that elusive growth spurt and rabbit elimination.
Two new things coming on line in the coming week. Firstly the herb labels are changing over to coloured card-based picture labels rather than our wooden sticks and secondly the header boards, for those that us them, will change from sticky backed plastic on waterproofed card to the same B500 card material the labels are made from. The headers boards are dependent on being able to operate our new 20 tonne press and die cutter successfully, which has yet to happen. If it doesn't go well there may be a pause on board supply and I may have a little cry, but fingers crossed my testing on Sunday is fruitful and all goes smoothly as it always does!
Talking of things going smoothly, none of our new box delivery arrived last week, so we are still very reliant on other boxes being returned asap please. We had a nice lot back last week which were instantly reused and sent out again, but we are starting the coming week with about a day's worth to fill and then we are reliant on returns again. Hoping to have the new stock start to arrive on Wednesday or Thursday, but we have to print, construct and treat them before we can use them.
On the good news side we did take delivery of the next container load of coir pots which just escaped the blocked canal and the next one is being despatched shortly when hopefully the backlog of vessels will have cleared. So we have pots, lots of peat free compost pre-ordered and loads of plants to pot, we just need some time.
Looks like a bit of a cold blast coming which might curb demand a bit. There haven't been many years when I look at the forecast hoping for some cold wet stuff during peak season, but this year is so different.
Still waiting for the new van, this week the drop down trolley ramp for the rear frame was delivered to the manufacturer and it was 3 inches short to fit! Can they see me coming?
Tadpoles have hatched and the dawn chorus is really impressive at the moment. Spring is a lovely time, take a deep breath, pause, then get stuck into to that potting!
Urgent Box return appeal
Please do send back any empty wooden trays you may have accumulated, we are REALLY desperate for them at the moment, otherwise we won't have anything to send the plants out in. I have another batch on order to bulk things up a bit, but at close to £10 a box this year, by the time we have printed and constructed them ourselves, it is not a cheap option to simply increase stock levels. I know they are an investment and over many years of multiple use they are still great value, but they only earn their keep if they are in proper repetitive use. Thanks.
Availability list highlights
It's all damp and hairy and no one will touch it, please don't buy any more for a bit !
At the risk of repeating myself; If you would like a few herbs we can put together a selection but we don't have a huge range so if you order more than 15 varieties you are likely to get a few repeats. We should have mostly popular varieties coming on parsley, coriander, thyme etc so the selection should be good and should expand as the weeks progress and the weather warms. We have masses potted and more to come, just waiting for that elusive growth spurt and rabbit elimination.
Take care out there, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries
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