Hairy angle

Hi

Biblical rain showers today with localised flooding all around the nursery. Luckily they were relatively short or we might not be here. Water levels have subsided and fingers are crossed that we have seen the last of them for today.

Newest Fiat is back from the garage after a two week stop over Luckily the clutch was ok, it was only a split hydraulic pipe hidden away in a dark corner. The delay was partly a busy workshop and the delivery delay for the part, but at least the bill was a sensible size. First trip out in it we picked up a rear flat tyre and a crack in the windscreen, so that is all three hiccups done, we should be in for a better run now.

It's a tricky time of year with still plenty of sales going on, but a desperate need to clear space and get the potting done for next Springs crops and not enough hours in the week. Young plants are still arriving and our home produced plants are coming on strong too, so there is plenty of pressure to get on with it, I just have to make some decisions as to which batches we do first. I had a plan in my head that this summer would be less frantic, with our micro-prop lab closing at the end of May and the staff, that are left moving to do outside stuff, we would be looking for things for them to do. As usual my plans went out the window pretty early, when it became apparent that to use up the last of the crops in the lab efficiently and economically the work had to continue into the summer. The growth room looks very empty now, which is a bit of a sad sight, so there can't be long to go before we can turn off all the kit. We have plans to dismantle the dissolving growth room and work room, both of which barely hold themselves together, over the winter to give us an extended covered area for either despatch work or more general propagation tasks. We already have a protective poly-tunnel covering the two rooms as they were leaking so badly, so we just need to sort the floor and sides out to have a nice new area to play in.

I have a new reminder of passing time with an email received this week from Cornish Rocker informing me that it was time to tilt our solar panels to 30 degrees, so the sun must now be sinking. We have six tilt changes a year, ranging from 16 to 60 degrees to catch as much sun as we can on a single angle tilt. It's just a 20 minute job to reset all 15 gantries so no big deal and hopefully we will reap the rewards in the winter when the deeper angles should pay dividends. The combination of panels, turbines and batteries looks great for removing most of our electric unit costs. The turbines produce more than we use over the year, but not all at the right time, so we still imported half our usage. But with the solar and batteries installed it looks like we will only import between 5 and 10% which will help pay back the investment. The tricky bit we are stuck with are the daily standing charges and daily capacity charge which will now account for over 75% of the bill.

My seed sowing for the year is nearly done and overall we are really pleased with the kit we bought in the winter. But the module trays and lack of extractor are still frustrating us and the peat free propagation mixes we have been trying have been disappointing in overall performance. The herbs and more vigorous perennials have done ok, but the smaller seeded and slower growing varieties have been generally pretty poor. Naturally I assumed it was my growing skills that were at fault but having had an expert prop person in who has seen similar and worse results elsewhere, I don't feel as guilty. Buoyed by this news I have asked two producers to come up with mixes that are more stable than the current mixes, fine enough to fill small modules but without the fine particles which are currently washing into all the air pockets creating a sodden airless mass that the roots hate. If we reduce the watering the trays with the more vigorous stock dry out which messes all of it up. The costs are going to be higher with lots of extra grading and sieving but if it works it will be well worth it.

Availability list.

The summer flowering Allium Millenium is still looking great, they just go on and on. The Salvia Lip's series are still going strong, we keep giving batches a trim to strengthen them up and keep them from getting too tall and they just keep bouncing back. The same goes for the Salvia Salvito which just keep on performing.

Fresh flowers are coming on the Sanguisorba Tanna after another trim back. Loads of flower with a mixed colour pallet in the Lewisia batches. They will go on and on.We have a lovely range of very popular summer Gaura at the moment, in bud and showing some colour.

Liriope muscari has started producing flowers so summer must be passing quick. To be fair it's only the first few, so a little while to go before a full show. There is a batch of the Astible Astary plants coming into bud, both in the pink and white varieties. Hot high summer flowering Crocosmia are showing tight bud on all varieties this week.

The first of the Aster Alpha series are now showing tight bud, surely summer can't be drawing in just yet! No, they are early. Mini Garden Chrysanthemums are here, masses of bud on the first batch already with a hint of colour too.

A fab range of the compact Helenium Hay Day series are budding well now, with colour showing. Nemesia Wisley Vanilla are doing their thing with its pretty creamy white flowers and heady vanilla scent. We have a late batch of Geum Lemon Drops with some flower appearing, not many pots so don't be shy on ordering. 

Take care, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.