Hi.
Warmth is spreading and the plants love it with growth on some looking quite vigorous for February. Looks disappointingly damp over the coming weekend but you never know, any dry spells should ignite those spring yearnings to loosen the gardening purse strings. Our bank balance is certainly looking forward to a bit of relief after the buildup of winter pressures! We have some pretty exciting, and for us a little scary, news to share. We have just taken on a young couple (Rachel and Josh) to assist the ancient folk who pretend to oversee the production and sale all this hairy pot stuff. After years of various wise owls asking us about our future plans and eventual slowing down, we were recently approached by a dynamic couple interested in working and learning the management side of our little enterprise. Both have nursery and management experience, are very bright, enthusiastic and annoyingly young. They started last week and already we are seeing some changes as they introduce us to the wonders of modern computing communications and new efficiencies. It’s going to be a very steep learning curve on both sides but so far so good. There will probably be a few subtle email address and admin changes coming up, but in theory everything should be more or less the same, just better! There may be some social media activity coming up too, but I don’t really understand that bit yet. In theory it should be useful and relevant to commercial buyers rather than anything directed to the retail consumer. I’m a bit anxious about TikTok, I’m not sure my dance moves will sell many plants. We will see.
Nature has started up spring activity here in earnest, last Thursday evening I stepped out of the office to a chorus of frogs doing their thing in the main nursery pond. How they all seem to know which night to turn up on I haven’t a clue. A burst of activity over 3 or 4 nights and it’s all over, just leaving a heap of spawn behind, ready to repopulate the tunnels though the summer. Then there are the bats at dusk, flying up and down the hedges, one by the nursery gate, one up by the donkey paddock and another round the house, it’s all go. The dawn chorus has been building, but it was one late evening that I heard the loudest shouting match. Two song thrushes we going at it hammer and tong, with the volume set to 11. My weekend seed sowing was interrupted by a nesting robin who had chosen my black crate tower as home. I tie crates together to create a loading platform so I can rest the bag on top and tip the seed compost ingredients into the concrete mixer. They picked the same tower last year, so I was confident enough to keep using it as I know they go straight back to it as soon as my back is turned. They managed two broods last year, but starting this early they could be on for more. Gregs rainwater sump clearance went really well last week, huge amounts of sludge were cleared from the bottom, and the pump and filter are now running with relatively clear water. Just need to stop the field above us washing down the hill in heavy rain and we would be in a much better place. Might have to start some farm negotiations.
Summary of the improvements to shelf life for 2026
We are introducing three changes this season in how we prepare our plants for delivery to our lovely retailers. We know some sites struggle to maintain the quality of our plants once they arrive on the retail plant sales areas. To help provide a longer lasting 'looking good' shelf life we are going to be doing the following:
1/ Adding a reusable, recycled wool capillary mat in the bottom of each tray which will hold onto extra water for the plants to take up. These are expensive and will need to be returned for reuse with the boxes.
2/ Adding extra wetting agent at despatch to allow the compost to hold onto more water and rewet more easily if dry.
3/ Adding a dose of organic slow-release feed as a top dressing to compensate for any leaching of nutrients.
Do your 2026 retail prices need changing? If you are still to get started on this year’s hairy pot sales don’t forget to have a think about your retail prices and let us know if you want to adjust them.
Availability list.
The warmth in the air is pushing on the early plant growth, even if the sun is still a bit shy. Polemonium Heaven Scent are looking great, bushy bronzed bushy foliage with tight bud just appearing. We have a big batch of the delightful Snakes Head Lily (Fritillaria) just beginning to do its spring thing. Buds from the off. The early spring bulbs are showing well with most of the Narcissus now in bud and colour, Don’t hang about, not a lot left. The deep blue Scilla sibirica are showing bud and a good colour and Muscari Blue Magic are now up and in tight bud. Pulmonaria varieties are in bud, not far from showing colour. We don’t have much Blue Ensign left but plenty of the others. Most Erysimum varieties are already showing bud and the odd flash of colour, they stood up to the last frosts very well so should be plenty tough enough for outside life despite it still only being early March. Wild primrose (Primula vulgaris) and Cowslip (P.veris) think it’s springtime with expanding foliage, bud and a touch of colour. The first thing the Pulsatilla does in the spring is throw up their first flower buds, even before the leaves come. A few of the winter flowering Helleborus have colour or bud showing. Cyclamen coum Silver-leaved are flowering and will flower from November through to March and April.
Best wishes from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.
