Hi.
That was a busy week leading up to the Bank Holiday weekend. Not the best week to be a van down and a driver too, but we made it through, assuming tomorrows trips all come together ok. Nasty combination of bright sun and a cold strong wind this week, it always seems to happen just as our beech trees and hedge come into fresh leaf and they get truly battered. At least our turbines have been having a good time, making up for the lack of solar output, ‘every cloud’ and all that. Managed to get the potting started again yesterday with another long session due tomorrow and I may be able to talk Caroline into another go on Saturday. With stock levels falling, we need to restock asap, but with labour costs now so high and margins so fine, weekend overtime is a luxury we can’t really afford anymore, so it’s down to us again to sneak a few more through the potting machine and get a bit extra on the ground growing away.
Each week I think we are catching up with the waiting module stock in the prop tunnels, but then each week sees more deliveries and we are swamped again! It shouldn’t really be much of a surprise, it’s the same every year and after 42 years at it, you think I would learn. That reminds me, thanks to mum and my sister-in-law for reminding us about the 42nd anniversary, nothing like a good prod to make yourself feel ancient! I celebrated by going dancing with lots of other ladies and Caroline went to see Southampton play Ipswich with her brother. A lovely night out for all.
Big tick this week with our solar cable now repaired. It was a bigger job than expected, with the cable cutting, jointing and resealing taking most of two days and then the resin filled casing taking at least another couple of days to fully harden before we can rebury the repaired section. Thankfully, all tests were passed and the power switched on, so it is actually generating already, despite the open trenching. The next task was to get the SSE back in to replace the downgraded fuses in our mains supply box and upgrade the fuse size in the transformer on the other side of the field, so if it happens again we just blow the fuse here and not in the transformer. Phoned them up at about 3.30 today, they were here by 5.45 and all done within the hour. Power had to go off while they made the changes, but no major nursery disruption so that was a big bonus. With the electrician on site, we managed to get him to help us set the mist propagation to work properly. He installed the controlling solenoid a while ago but the water supply needed sorting out before it would operate correctly and when we completed that part, the computer wouldn’t talk to the solenoid. It was soon working perfectly, but we couldn’t have done it without him.
Only 3 weeks until we take delivery of our first EV delivery van, so lots of planning to accommodate a very different type of vehicle. We are having to put in another charging point, in fact we will put in two as I suspect we will need another fairly soon. The grant available for charger installation has just increased to £500 per charger which will help cover some of the cost. We also must get all the drivers to apply for a DVLA drivers card so they can use the tachograph that comes in a 4 tonne van. We may only have to use it for a matter of weeks before the law changes and makes the tacho unnecessary, but no one seems to know for sure when the change will come, so best to be prepared. We will have to get an EV based fuel/charge card set up for off-site refuelling and the appropriate app installed for finding suitable charging stations. Then it will just be a matter of building the drivers confidence in using an all-electric van. A combination of coping with range anxiety and finding handy/quick charging stations will be the key to stress reduced deliveries, so watch out when you see it delivering to your site and be kind to the driver, who may be experiencing something new and not altogether enjoying it!
To find our Instagram content, I am told you can try our user name @thehairypotplantcompany or use the link below; https://www.instagram.com/thehairypotplantcompany?igsh=MXhhMGxhcjgzNGYydA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Availability list.
The cold nights are holding things back slightly, plenty of stock just not a huge amount in bud at the moment. Camassia Maybelle is the best one, usually multi-stemmed and slightly more compact than others. Erysimum Bowles Mauve are still flowering and follow-on batches of a couple of other varieties are also ready to go, but with bud only just beginning to appear. Fresh batch of the pretty Leucanthemum Western Star Leo Yellow is ready with first buds showing on compact plants. The Phlox subulata varieties are nice and compact with colour showing, but not many left. And finally, many Hosta’s have put in an appearance. Always a precursor to Spring proper, they are up and away. Our Garden Pinks (Dianthus) are coming ready with bud appearing fast. The Scent First series are more compact and earlier to flower. Herb sales seem to be booming this spring; it must be all that healthy home cooking we are being encouraged to do. Lots of stock is coming through nicely now, although it will still be 2 or 3 weeks before the more tender herbs like Basil make their springtime appearance. We only have a tiny amount of heated production space, so we are limited on production timings of these more tender subjects.
Best wishes from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.
