Hairy solar power

Hi

Definitely warmer but still not much sign of the sunshine, a few glimpses to tantalise, but not enough to spark a gardening frenzy just yet. The time will come.

Solar planning nearly went in this week, just dotting the i's and all that. I have got to send a drone up to get a decent aerial shot of the site this weekend, as requested by the local planners. All the rest is done and looking sensible. Although not a huge installation it should be super efficient with adjustable mounts to change the angle of tilt to better follow the track of the sun over the seasons, and bifacial panels which pick up extra refracted light on the reverse side of the panels. This should help even out the output a bit more over the year and generate more power overall, giving us options to install more electrical kit to further reduce our fossil fuel use.

Plans to apply for some grant help for new investments we are looking to make in mechanising the propagation area, took some baby steps forward this week, after several hours on the phone to the RPA (Rural Payments Agency). There was some complication with us having registered the nursery back in 2008, but never having claimed anything to date or been on their website as a user. This meant despite having 5 different code numbers from them at the time of registration we didn't have the right code number and password to actually get online, and it took a number of calls to sort it out. I had one particularly confusing call where the lady on the grant helpline came pretty close to hanging up on what I'm sure she thought was a computer illiterate or just deranged nurseryman, I could hear the frustration building up in her voice. We were both on the right website but on quite different pages, so as she tried to steer me to the right parts I kept saying 'no that's not on my screen'. Eventually she found my page and got lost herself on it, which made me feel a bit better and even she laughed about it in the end. Once I got through to the right department they found all our registration details straight away and all I had to do was remember the answers to my account security questions! I can barely remember my name these days and having applied for this 16 years ago the likelihood of me recalling that information was pretty remote. However so little has happened in my life that the right memorable occasion popped up surprisingly quickly and I even remembered the date. So we can now get online and make our application. The grant window is short and opened last week, so we can't hang around, but at least we should have an answer in a fairly short time, fingers crossed.

The FFF Fiat is still in the garage as they search for the fault that has dogged us for the last 2 months. We are wondering if they are trying to drag it out past the 3 year warrantee period which ends at the end of the month, although they assure us this is not the case. What is slightly worrying is that they are still trying to download computer software updates to put it right and I'm not sure a spanner has yet to be used. I'm sure they know what they are doing, it is certainly way above my pay grade to look under a bonnet these days.

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. Three different spring flowering white Bergenia are now showing colour and looking their best. Brunnera macrophyla (perennial forget-me-not) are really chunky and showing their first blue flower buds, plenty to come.

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. Selling fast don't hang about. Scilla sibirica still coming into bud, a really strong blue colour.

Bold white flowers of Ipheon Alberto Castillo will be out shortly as the first buds appear. Muscarii Blue Magic and Muscari latifolium now in bud and showing excellent colour, it's all go. Allium christophii is shooting through and the excellent newcomer Allium Ostara is now up too. The ever popular Allium Purple Sensation is showing but only just. Ajuga Chocolate Chips is going to be the first Ajuga in flower this year with plenty of tight bud appearing. Pulmonaria are putting on a real spurt of fresh growth with flowers & 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.