Hairy replacements

 

Hi,

Definitely spring in the air now. Balmy temperatures and not too much rain so far. Hoping we don't pay for this later, but not really much we can do about it, so best to just make the most of it. It has helped us hugely, making the preparation and tidying of the overwintered stock so much easier and comfortable. Usually these tasks at this time of year can make any brass monkey cross their legs in anticipation of numb or painful appendages.

Touch wood we have all the vans back on the road again. The Fiat returned from its warranty work (3rd time in a month) with updated software which so far seems to have cured it, although I would feel more confident if they had replaced something that was broken. The old Peugeot appeared to have a slow leak on the air suspension but reported back to be a false alarm, however it did breakdown while in the garage with a sensor failure! All well now, fingers crossed.

Started on a bit of potting this week, making the most of the warm weather. 

Plenty of young plants have started arriving, so despite my resistance, the season is really getting under way. As each week slips by thoughts of clearing another winter job fade as I panic that we are already getting behind with all the other main season preparations. I always aim to get a big batch of price labels printed so I am not distracted when things get manic, but that idea again has not found the time to materialise. Seed sowing into our peat free modules is also underway again as the new season beckons. I am trying to delegate more of this work to free up the weekends a bit, but as we get to the end of the second sowing week, only 2 out of 60 trays has been completed so that looks like my weekend sorted!

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.

Empty Wooden Box Use in display appeal

Just a quick early season reminder that we really need our wooden trays back as soon as they are emptied. We know the trays look lovely and are jolly handy to have around, but the whole sustainability thing falls apart if our empty boxes are incorporated into your displays. Each box costs £10 to make/replace so it doesn't take many to disappear into a display stack for it to mount up to a very expensive additional cost and a potential embarrassing shortage of trays for us at peak times. We appreciate any help you can give us, thanks.

Availability list.

Sown from self collected seed from our wood on top of the hill our wild Primula vulgaris are showing their first flowers. They are followed close behind by the Primula grand. Rosea which are now opening their very first violet-pink little flowers. Pulsatilla in all three colours now shooting through and producing fat bud straight away.

The bronzed green ferny leaves of Polemonium Heaven Scent are expanding nicely, making an attractive show. Flower buds follow very quickly so a great plant for early spring sales.

Cyclamen coum are still showing good flower and bud. These will usually flower from October through until well into Spring, with a tasteful sprinkling of flowers rather than being drowned in them.

H. 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. Both forms of the petticoat daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium consp. and White Petticoat) already showing well and producing nice fat flower buds. cilla mischtschenkoana is showing great colour with a pale blue splash of light. Don't miss out they won't be around for long.

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 Purple Rain has made an appearance and looks full of promise. It emerges a few weeks before the ever popular Purple Sensation but is just as attractive. Allium christophii is 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.

Ever popular Fritillaria meleagris (Snakes head Lilly) has pushed through and are already coming into bud. Plenty in stock, get them while you can. Erysimum's are already looking perky with bud showing on many.

Pulmonaria are putting on a real spurt of fresh growth and buds are well on show. The first couple of varieties are sold out already, but Opal and Majeste are still looking great.

Best wishes from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.