Hairy propagating

Hi

Looking forward to some better spring weather at some point. It's pretty miserable out there at the moment, rain wind and damn cold down here, but maybe a bit better by Sunday before another wet patch. Story of my life at the moment but we won't go there. Late next week looks much more promising, sun and warmth, just in time for Mothers Day, I'll believe it when I see it.

I suspect it's all going to kick off a bit early this year with Easter coming up fast at the end of the month and all that joyous 4 day week juggling to contend with. Best not to think about it, what will be will be. I often wonder what it's like on the other side of the fence for the bulk of the population, who can treat it as a relaxing fun time with the family. One day.

Super exciting time this week with the arrival of new bins as we change waste contractors. Nice colour but slightly surprised to find someone else's rubbish in one of them when I unlocked it. Best bit is that we can recycled a wider range of stuff and the price is a fraction of the previous contract.

Sales were a little quieter this week although still ok considering the weather, but it did leave me time to consider some more possibly exciting purchases. I'm always getting in trouble for spending before collating, but one needs to speculate to accumulate and all that. I have been having a bit of a crisis of confidence about maintaining supply to some sites where we have been told that unless all young plant modules planted into our peat-free potting composts, no matter how tiny, are peat- free themselves, we will not be permitted to supply. With only about 18 months notice of the deadline coming into effect, only two of our 7 main module suppliers say they will be able to supply anything in a peat-free module and one of those 2 is us! With the average volume of compost in the pot currently being about 0.8% we felt this was already quite an achievement especially as we have been using peat-free potting composts for over 11 years while others have been dragging their feet and also considering all the other sustainable stuff we have been incorporating into our products and business. Anyway rather than arguing the toss I have been trying to find an upside to this crisis and a plan seems to be forming as to how we might scrape our way out of it. Basically it means bringing much more propagating 'in-house', setting up new prop facilities, mechanising seed sowing, rooted cutting production and installing reusable prop trays and washing kit. There are a lot of ifs and buts at the moment which make it a risky investment and it may affect the variety range we can offer, depending on what plant material we can source, time will tell. Besides at 65 what else am I going to spend our money on?

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. Primula grand. Rosea are showing their bold colour on multiple short stems. Brunnera macrophyla (perennial forget-me-not) are showing their first few blue buds, plenty to come. 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. Bold white flowers of Ipheon Alberto Castillo will be out shortly as the first buds appear this week.

Cyclamen coum White are still showing great 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 and Muscari latifolium now in bud, it's all go.

Allium christophii is showing and the excellent newcomer Allium Ostara is now up too. 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.