Hairy Electric

Hi

Are we in for a bit of a cold shock after several days of very pleasant temperatures? A bit damp at times, but hats have been discarded here on some days. I don't think it's going to be too bad, just back to average for a while. Fingers crossed it doesn't blunt sales too much. Growth on many lines is definitely spring-like and making us all feel that those longer warmer days are close by when ones sap rises and buds swell. Exciting times.

Potting is already well underway with a batch of summer flowering corms and bulbs currently being juggled through the potting machine. It's all a bit cosy in there with quite a big team needed to count the bulbs into each pot and get them the right way up, but it won't take too long. We will soon be back to good old module potting which only needs three bodies on the machine rather than six or seven and we can get some efficiency back into the system.

I was a bit premature last week heralding all vans back on the road, with one Fiat going back to the dealership for more warrantee work on Wednesday. It's fourth trip back for apparently the same fault, hopefully this time they might find something physically wrong with it rather than just running computer stuff through its engine management system! It's been away for three days now so it feels like they might be looking deeper into it this time. To be fair they were very embarrassed by its return.

Our ongoing solar project is making good progress at last with a planning application now being prepared. The scheme is not huge but designed to even out and top up our wind turbine supply and make better use of our 33Kw export capacity which is currently well underutilised. We are putting in a small battery store just to eliminate a bit more imported power that we might use overnight and also trying to make the panels more efficient. We are doing this by installing tilting frames to follow the lower winter sun and bifacial solar panels which can collect light from both sides, so collecting some bounced or diffused light and creating more power from the same sized panel. All sounds good, just need to get it on the ground and generating. One hiccup with the whole money saving aspect is the change to much higher standing charges rather than just being charged

per unit. A sly move by the electric companies but something that will become a key factor in choosing our next contract supplier.

Ordering replacement labels

There is now a new spreadsheet/form available for anyone to use to order any replacement pot labels you may need. Being made of biodegradable card coated with vegetable starch they don't last forever, unlike plastic, so you may need to replace a few if stock has been around for a while. We are happy to replace any missing labels free of charge if you just let us know what you need. Just fill in the sheet and email it to derek@kirtonfarm.co.uk and we will put them together.

Availability list.

Both Anemone blanda White and the Blue Shades have shot up all of a sudden, with buds well on show too. A great seller. Sown from self collected seed from our wood on top of the hill, our wild Primula vulgaris are in flower. They are followed close behind by the Primula grand. Rosea which are showing bold colour. Primula denticulata have fat buds now, in all three colours. Limited numbers but looking good. Pulsatilla in all three colours now shooting through and producing fat bud straight away.

The bronzed green ferny leaves of Polemonium Heaven Scent look well and flower buds are now appearing. Ever popular Fritillaria meleagris (Snakes head Lilly) has pushed through and are already coming into bud. Plenty in stock, get them while you can. Cyclamen coum White are still showing good flower and bud. These will usually keep going until well into Spring.

Helleborus orientalis are producing a few buds, but numbers are dwindling on some varieties as sales bowl along. Many of the spring bulbs are in action now with many of the small Narcissus we grow in early bud and colour. Both forms of the petticoat daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium consp. and White Petticoat) already showing well. Muscarii Blue Magic now in tight bud, it's all go.

It's a short crop but Erythronium Pagoda is now up with buds appearing. It's a rapid grower and won't hang around long. Allium christophii is showing and the excellent newcomer Allium Ostara is now up too. We are not having much success with ordinary snowdrops, but the giant version (Leucojum) that sold out in a week last year are now shooting. We planted a lot more this year so should be plenty to go round.

Erysimum's are already looking perky with bud showing on most. Pulmonaria are putting on a real spurt of fresh growth and buds are well on show. The first couple of varieties have sold out already but Opal and Majeste are still looking great.

Best wishes from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.