Hairy production

Morning all,

Back to a better time this week with slightly fewer distractions than the previous couple of weeks. Still so busy there are few moments to spare. As soon as sales dip even if only slightly, we are desperate to get space cleared and the potting machine going again. The backlog of young plants at this time of year adds quite a lot of pressure to the workload, we know that the quicker we get things potted the fewer losses we get and the bigger the plants are when we get to the winter. As each week goes by the more young plants arrive and it will be like this for several more weeks to come. Quite a few of the smallest plants we will pop into our big plug trays, to keep them growing and produce a bigger stronger plant by the time they are potted later on, which does spread the load a bit. I'm glad to say that we appear not to have overdone the production numbers as badly as we did last year (I hesitate to admit that should read 'I' and not 'we'). This time last summer we ended up giving away a large number of plants to the local surgeries, vaccination centres and hospitals, which was amvery positive thing to be involved in, but it didn't do the nursery business or productivity many favours, other than clearing some space without getting too depressed. We won't know for a few weeks yet how much I may have overdone things this time, but it looks ok at the moment, we are able clear tunnels as we go through each week, just about keeping ahead of the potting team. We are as usual fairly dependant on the weather and how the consumers are feeling in these economically challenging times. Hopefully a small occasional treat of a plant for the garden will keep things positive for those who can still afford it. Historically smaller plant sales have usually faired very well in times of recession so I am not too downhearted at the situation, we just need to be very careful on our purchasing and cost control.

Had a bit of a shock (electric!) this week when I found out that my brother in law is getting nearly double the rate paid for his exported electricity than we are and to rub salt into the wound he is with the same energy company as us. I phoned the company up to find why this might be and it turned out that it was because he was solar powered and we are wind. The low wind speeds last year (and this one) have meant they have had to buy-in expensive power to cover their shortfall and so they are not paying the wind generators as much, in order to rebalance the books. While I understand the idea, it doesn't seem quite right that our electricity is worth less than 9p/unit when the wholesale rate is well over 20p and the solar customers are being paid over 15p. He was a bit embarrassed by the company strategy and reckoned it would come back up in a year or two but now we have to make a decision as to whether we wait or jump ship for a better offer.

Night off tonight and being taken out to the pub for a meal and just remembered I still haven't replenished the trouser department. It's either the Rupert bear look again or DJ. I know DJ might seem over the top but I can remember, not so long ago, going to Zizzi's in full DJ kit on my way to a ball at the Guildhall. My nephew gave me a lift into town and I repaid him by buying his supper. He joined in the spirit by wearing his DJ too, we caused quite a stir!

Availability list highlights

Plenty of lovely looking stock, don't hold back, get some bud and colour on those benches. Erigeron karvenskianus Stallone are back on the list, plenty of bud again and raring to go. First summer buds of Crocosmia are just poking through the leaves. A couple of weeks away from colour yet but looking good. Time flies and already we have our first dwarf Chrysanthemums in bud. Lots more to come.

Ever popular summer flowering perennial Salvias are doing their thing, The Lips series are growing in popularity and are lovely and bushy. Then all the ever popular nemerosa types are great too. Bud and colour on show for most. Fresh crops of Dianthus in a good range of colours, bushy, lots of bud and well scented once the flowers open.

Large white daisy flowers of our Leucathemum range are ready to shine. All are compact varieties. Summer flowering hardy Fuchsia looking good with buds on show for most. The tiny white flowered Hawkshead is always popular as are the garden favourite Mrs Popple. Nice short plants of Achillea Moonshine and Terracotta in bud and looking strong. Batches of the Dreameria series of Armeria are bulking up on flower numbers. Selected for their very long flowering period and large flower size they promise to be a great new garden addition.

Summer must be on its way with the appearance of the Oxalis. Both forms are now in flower with lots of follow on bud. Summer favourite the hardy Osteospermum Tresco Purple looks strong and bushy and swelling buds are visible, Gaura looking fab with lots of buds, as have the Rhodanthemum, both good selling summer favourites. Penstemons are coming online now with buds now showing on the Garnet. Fresh batches again of Digitalis and Delphinium but catch them quick before they get too big.

Have fun, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries