Hectic and Hairy

Morning all,

Ok, I know I say we have been really busy most weeks, but that was quite a week. All the usual challenges of getting enough drivers and vans operational at the right time to get the orders out, but this time the volume of stock needing to be processed and delivered was huge. We have just had our busiest week ever, even capping the mega weeks when all the garden centres reopened after the covid lockdown and not just by a whisker, we were over 18% higher in numbers of pots sent out. We had been a bit behind on just about everything with the rather cool damp spring we have had so far, but this has shot us back much closer where we had hoped to be in the master plan. The master plan is not written anywhere, it only exists in my head and changes daily, so please don't ask me what it is!

Stock levels have been hit fairly hard, although having just had a walk round to check and I still managed to find a fair range despite the clearout. The volumes left are smaller so please don't go mad on ordering quantities, we will have more coming back online as we go over the next few months so there is no need to panic. In fact a slight lull in ordering volumes should give us time to do something else other than dispatch all through the week!

Big thanks to our drivers in particular this week, some of whom came in for extra days, set aside injuries and also managed to overcome some very disrupted journeys due to road works, accidents and high traffic volumes. Also there were heroic feats of engineering by Eddie and his team at our local workshop pulling out all the stops to get the repaired gearbox, new clutch and flywheel, back into our Fiat, plus a full service, by the end of Wednesday. This gave us just enough van space to get most orders out before the weekend, although we did miss out on a couple of longer distance late ones, which is always a bit frustrating, Never mind we did our best and that's about all we can do.

Got into a bit of trouble by pinching all the microprop lab staff for nearly the entire week to bolster numbers in despatch, so although the sales figures look good there is a bit of catching up to do in there!

Potting team in again tomorrow, but I know I have to pop out to the garage as it's Caroline's birthday on Sunday so must find a moment for that. Her treat for the day is to go and watch Southampton in their last premiership game for a while, not the best celebration for such a big day but hey ho, perhaps the games next season will be more competitive and entertaining. It would be nice to be in with a chance of winning something.

Hosted a whistle-stop nursery tour on Wednesday illustrating our peat-free growing experiences to some nursery folk from Northern Ireland, doing research. It was a quick one as we were so busy, but managed to answer their main queries and I think I surprised them with the amount of other sustainable stuff we were doing alongside the peat -free results. Sometimes I forget how far away we have strayed from 'normality' although many may say I have been on that trip a very long time.

Electrician and plumber coming in next week to finish off (in theory) the last bits of our rainwater harvesting installation, just in time for the rains to stop, but this is a long-term thing so I mustn't get too wound up about the time taken to get these things done. Another solar installer visiting at the same time, to try and tie down a more accurate costing and sort out the planning details. We need to get a move on and get these tilting panels installed. The payback time will now be longer because wholesale energy prices are falling back quite quickly, but we are going to need more electricity over the next few years for charging vehicles, lighting and heating so need the infrastructure in place to cover at least some of the demand and keep costs under some control.

Availability list highlights.

Not a lot with bud or flower due to the fact that it has moved on before the buds get a chance to appear. The warmer weather will bring a few on and quite a few may well have some bud even if I don't mention it in the list.

The first batches of the hardy Osteospermum Tresco Purple have a nice flush of bud although they will sell through fairly quickly and the second batch may well be a week or two later.

Batches of all varieties both perennials and herbs are selling through very quickly, so the weekly list will change a lot from week to week. Always best to try and use the most recent list for your order otherwise there maybe a few shortages. If your weekly list doesn't come through just ask and I will try and send it again. The initial sending is via MailChimp but I know some computer systems will sometimes decide I'm junk and cut us off. If this happens I can't reinstate you myself onto MailChimp but I can send you a link so you can reinstate yourself.

Phlox paniculata are upright and strong and starting to produce bud. A great overwintered crop in a good range of colours. A batch of super strong Sedum Autumn Joy, a great one for the pollinators later in the summer.

Best wishes from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.