Hairy celebrations

Hi

Shame the weather has gone quite so cold after such a fabulous weekend, but it is still only mid March. We can't let the plants get too soft too early, or late frosts could be devastating. The heaters in despatch have been given a good test, you can certainly see the results on my daily meter reading! It's a small price to pay for a modicum of comfort in an otherwise pretty draughty area. The heaters, being IR type, are not really heating the air, just those bodies standing directly under them, so it's not too bad and if the sun comes out they turn off pretty early anyway on the overriding thermostat.

The plants are definitely showing signs of more spring vigour now despite the temperatures dropping back, there are quite a few more showing strong growth and a few more buds. The forecast is predicting a slight warming in a couple of days and not too much wet, so on the whole we can't complain.

After last weekend's run of loveliness we were predictably very busy on the despatch front, but we still managed a good dollop of tunnel tidying and potting towards the end of the week, which was great. The tray filling machine was in full swing with a couple of Helleborus crops in need of pricking out before they got too big. If we can keep them growing strongly most should flower next winter if all goes well. We had several more young plant deliveries this week, which is both scary and exciting. I'm never quite sure if I've ordered enough or too much and also wondering where we are going to put it all. There is of course a vague plan behind it all, but I do get tempted a little too often and there is always the odd typo on the order sheets where I accidentally ordered too much or the wrong variety. The Helleborus seedlings that came in this week was twice the size I thought I had ordered, but I am short on a few others so it might work out OK in the end.

Pete the electrician finished on site today, hurrah, just a bit of certification paperwork to finalise in the office and the last bill to deal with, what a marathon that was. Good job the winter budget is more of a guide than a rule. That could be said of a few things this winter. The irrigation continues to frustrate with another new storage tank liner on order, after the previous one was declared un-mendable. We are sharing the cost with the installer, which helps a bit, but still frustrating. That's two liners, one replacement ring of galvanised corrugated steel, three covers and three support pillars and caps. All we thought we needed was one new liner at the beginning of the winter.

We were sure we had the beating of the rainwater recycling system this week, with the successful sealing of the pipe-work leaks around the new sand filter. But it bit back with another filter getting blocked with sand from the sand filter as it settled in, and the sump pump turning off correctly when it emptied the sump, but turning on again as all the water in the large and long pipe drained back down and refilled the sump enough to turn the pump on again. Potentially a constantly repeating event. All is now turned off until a very expensive non-return valve arrives to fit into the pipe-work.

Luckily for me it was my birthday this week, although I decided I would much rather come to work than take the day off. Cake all round at coffee break as usual, and a new shirt and under garments were daytime celebration enough. It was a jive dance night, so I did get to dance the night away which was a lovely way to end the day. I did do something slightly rash and instead of taking cake to dancing (customary birthday practice), I took everyone a hairy pot plant. They went down a treat, attracting a larger than usual attendance and lots of smiles. There's nothing like spreading a little simple joy! 

Availability list.

Polemonium Heaven Scent and Bressingham Purple are both now showing bud. Both have attractive bronzed foliage although Bressingham Purple is probably a little darker. Anemone blanda Blue Shades have emerged despite the cold and buds are colouring up already. Bergenia Diamond Drops has come into bud. Strong bushy plants and chunky buds, with colour just showing. Yellow nodding flower heads of Euphorbia robbiae are doing their thing.

Pulmonaria varieties are now in bud, the pale blue Opal looks lovely at the moment and Majeste is coming into its best. Brunnera mac. Variegata are looking smart, still quite tight in growth but blue flower buds will appear very soon. The straight green form, B. macculata, is now poking though and buds appear with the first few leaves.

Allium Purple Rain is the earliest of our larger Alliums to make an appearance and is looking really smart. They are grown without heat so exposed to frost and nicely toughened. Purple Sensation and Ostara are now up too, but not quite as much. Narcissus Leike is very late flowering, but the first short buds are just visible now. Pretty little Viola labridorica are breaking into tight purple growth with lots of bud on the way. Muscari latifolia is showing colour now.

Ipheion Albeto Castillo has the odd bud on show and will quickly push on from there. There are now plenty of Wild Primrose (P. vulgaris) looking great, in bud and flower with lots more to follow. They are from our own saved seed I collect from the new wood at the top of our field, so properly wild! Primula denticulata are swelling and now protruding well. All three colours are now showing tight short buds. 

Take care, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.