Hairy repairs

Hi

Just a very quick note this week, it's all been a bit hectic with a real flurry of orders and still loads of projects to get sorted.

It's my brother in laws birthday today so it's a pub supper with friends tonight and birthday tea on Sunday, so no waist shrinkage this weekend.

The electrician remains on site with still at least another weeks work to do, the more he does the more jobs he creates. A good business wheeze you would think, but I'm pretty sure he is now as eager to move on as we are to see the back of the weekly invoices! Better safe than sorry and all that.

Having thought the acid tank was sorted out we are having the manufacturers back on site to finish its construction. Luckily before we loaded any acid we spotted that the emergency bund lid was not sealed and had come slightly agar from the base while it was being moved into position by the installers. It turns out they forgot to weld the lid to the base. A major error on their part and lucky that we spotted it before getting loaded with acid. Is it just me?

Also had the forklift ram repairers back in this week to remove one of the rams which had been refurbished just a few weeks ago. It had sprung a leak making it unusable. It was out of action for only two days this time, as they did rush in to take it away and redo it. The admin team in their office sent a bill for the call-out which we politely declined! All sorted now, but I am noticing a trend.

Newest van went back to the garage under warranty for yet another sensor replacement, I've lost count of the times it has been back for a new sensor of one type or another. Ok now the paranoia has set up home!

On the bright side we received our little dollop of grant money this week to help towards the cost of the tray filler and seed sowing machinery. It had all gone very quiet after I sent in the final claim and, having always missed out on grants before, I was getting anxious. We were lucky to get our application and claim in when we did, as the next two rounds of grants were all cancelled. At last some reward for my rapid and occasionally random planning decisions.

The machinery has yet to push out any work yet but it is getting closer. I found some time today to do some fine tuning on the seeder which is a pretty complex bit of kit. I have added an extra levelling brush and some guide flaps to direct some of the overspill compost away from the automatic watering bars. The combination of compost and water in the same trough was a recipe for a mess. Tomorrow I am making a canvass chute to direct the overspill into a crate rather than on the floor so tidying up is easier. I'm not sure why these things aren't sorted out in the design of the machine, it's like no one has ever used it in real nursery conditions. Don't get me wrong it's a very clever bit of kit, but wouldn't it be nice if it was really plug and go!

New yellow tag trolleys

CC trolleys have issued another new trolley tag, this time in a rather attractive yellow. Please do make sure the trolleys that are returned have the correct tag as it is a bit hit and miss at the moment. CC have asked that the old flat green tags are removed this time, by which we are assuming this means removal of all the old style tags, except the solid metal CC plate that should be on the end of all trolleys (wrapped and fitted around the end framework}. We are doing our bit by trying to remove all the old tags that are coming in to us at the moment, but not sure we can manage it all on our own. Any help to tidy up the tag situation is greatly appreciated. Let's hope the new tag design is a bit more durable that the last lot.

Prices for 2025

The new price list is out for 2025. There is a small rise of approx 2% which is more or less where inflation is supposedly currently at, although sadly our cost rises are not running at quite that nice low level. Our biggest cost is labour and that increased last year by close to 10% per hour, with a further increase of close to 8% coming into force in April. External transport (carrier) costs are up 6% which illustrates increasing costs in that area, and young plant costs which also use a lot of labour are rising pretty dramatically too. We are hoping that a combination of better weather bringing in higher sales volumes and reducing waste, together with more efficiency in propagation and production after more investment in mechanisation, will help maintain some margin to reinvest again next year.

Availability list.

The spring bulbs are making their early start with several varieties already up and showing. Not a lot of bud just yet. Cyclamen coum Silver Leaved are now producing loads of buds and colour, so looking great.

There are a few trays of Wild Primrose (P. vulgaris) in bud already, with lots more to follow over the next couple of months. In theory a late winter flurry of Erysimum bud and flowers usually gets everyone going on thoughts of spring, but this year they are already budding up! They have happily sat through the frosts we have and are still looking remarkably fresh, green and bushy. The first of many flower-heads are already in tight bud and there is even the odd flash of colour.

from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.