Hairy tours

Hi,

Luckily we missed the storm on Wednesday, having prepared for a good blow we actually had quite a nice day. I'm not complaining, I'm sure there will be more squally autumnal weather to come over the next few weeks.

We had a slight panic on Monday as we started checking all hatches where battened down for later in the week, when it became evident that one of the tunnel sides was unzipping itself along its entire length. Usually it would be plastic fatigue causing so much daylight to be evident, but this time it was a completely rotted wooden side rail which just split apart. Back on the phone for another wood delivery, we were on the case pretty quickly. By the end of Tuesday Jack had detached the side netting and removed the old battening and replaced the rails one at a time. This meant he could reattached the aluminium grip strip, which was still holding the main plastic cover, as he went along, retaining the sheet tension and avoiding a complete recover. it worked a treat and all is now secure again. We double checked the rest of the nursery and found a few other suspect rails which we also replaced, but luckily none quite as bad as that first one.

Forklift is back on its feet again after a new water pump bearing was replaced. It's only when you are without a bit of kit that you realise how much you need it. It must be way over 20 years old now, but we don't put many hours on it and look after it carefully, so it is still going strong. Famous last words.

Thursday evening saw a big group from one of the local villages come round on a nursery tour. It was a bit late in the year for an evening visit as it gets dark so early, and to throw an extra spanner in the works it started raining almost the instant they arrived. My usual approach is to walk the nursery which prompts me into remembering most of the key points I like to waffle on about. The rain however forced a change in presentation plans, resulting in a brief tunnel visit for some 'show and tell' and a huddle round the potting machine for a full on working demo. Luckily it was all set up for the next morning's work so we were able to demonstrate the finer workings and get a few trays potted at the same time. The final shift was in despatch where I went through the complete despatch process, workstation set up, box construction, label making as well as our general sustainable approach to commercial nursery life. I did warn them all at the start that there wouldn't be much they would learn about plants, which I suspect was what they were expecting, but they all seemed quite excited by the end if a little anxious to get away for their supper as time had quickly passed! Hardly anyone yawned which is usually my guide to a successful tour. Glad I don't do too much of that sort of thing though, the adrenalin rush and comedown afterwards I find is really tiring. Still a good thing to do I know.

Availability list.

Plenty of fast growing stock at the moment with some lines only available for just a few weeks before they get too big and have to wait for the main spring sales period after we have completed their overwinter manicure (cut back and mulched). Cylamen coum pink and white forms are already on the list and showing the occasional bud. These will usually flower from October through until well into Spring, with a tasteful sprinkling of flowers rather than being drowned in them.

The Asters are beginning to show some colour now as buds swell and open. Tiarella are looking healthy with plenty of flower. We have plenty of Sedum Autumn Joy in bud this year for that classic autumn show and pollinator jamboree. We cut it back early to make it flower on a more manageable short stem, so beware it will be taller in the garden next year. There are some buds on a few of the Anemones.

Masses of colour on the new batch of Erodium Bishops Form which should flower for quite a while yet. Foliage colour looking smart on Ajuga and Heuchera always popular autumn lines. The ever-giving Erigeron karv. Stallone is available again this week and should be around for ages as this is our big overwintering batch we are into now. If the weather is with us we often still have colour up to Christmas.

A slightly odd collection to see in bud and flower are the Phlox paniculata and subulata ranges but there they are. The paniculata range is shorter than 'normal' as they are this summers potting so haven't yet reached full size but they are strong growing and giving a hint of next year's potential show. There are already a few flowers on the Helleborus niger varieties so Santa can't be far away! A new variety of H. orientalis for us is Halcyon Early Dark Red and it has surprised us by showing a few buds already. 

Wooden box collections

If you have any of our wooden boxes ready to return and aren't expecting to order anytime soon, then please do drop us an email and let us know. A rough idea of numbers might be handy but not essential. We will get to you as soon as we have a vehicle with space in your area. Thanks

Take care out there,  from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.