Hairy heatwave

Hi. 

That was a hot one. Just a couple more days to go and we can look forward to cooler temperatures and the odd shower, which hopefully won’t be too heavy. Our thermometer was registering 37C in the shade over the last couple of days and in the prop tunnel it peaked today at 39.7C. The mist unit in there also maintains a high humidity, to keep the rooting cuttings turgid, which adds to the feeling of uncontrollable heat gain, which is quite frightening if you are in there too long. Naturally we had to give up working on cutting production other than a few hours earlier in the week, in fact it was a pretty disrupted week all round, with earlier starts to the day and very early finishes, except for those of us lucky enough to be able to retire to the relative comfort of the air-con in the office! That was still running at 27C+ at times when the window had to be opened and extractor fan turned on to vent out the printing vapours. 

Although more comfortable, we did feel a bit left out, having started at 6.30 we were still here 12 hours later when most others had retired home at lunchtime.  Although orders had been supressed by the heat, we did manage to clear some space to squeeze in a bit of potting. The fans and shading we installed in the potting tunnel and despatch a few years ago come into their own in weather like this, making the mornings bearable and preventing productivity from disappearing down the drain altogether. We still very much rely on the excellent toughest members of the team who seem to relish the heat, because without them picking up the orders, clearing and scraping the very hot production tunnels, putting plants down and watering them in, we would be sunk.  

The lower number of practical jobs we could actually attempt this week meant we couldn’t sensibly provide work for everyone all the time, so we are also grateful to those who opted to reduce their hours or take days off, as we knew they could keep safe and be more comfortable at home. In a way these heatwaves are now virtually the same as ‘snow days’ in the winter, when we end up replying on those brave enough and tough enough to get into work to continue to function, while others take extra time off to stay safe and cosy by the fire. 

There is a possibility me may collect the new electric delivery van next week, it has all gone a bit quiet, but it is paid for and insured, so we must be close. We are going to try something a bit different with this van and a couple of the others too if it works out ok. We are having some signwriting designed to stick on the van to say who we are and maybe show what we do, then you will be able to see it is us from further away, get even more excited about your delivery and get that kettle on! 

Social media on trend To find our Instagram content try our username @thehairypotplantcompany  or use the link below; https://www.instagram.com/thehairypotplantcompany?igsh=MXhhMGxhcjgzNGYydA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr 

Availability list.

Plant growth is rampant, plenty of bud and colour to tug open those purse strings. The super popular Nemesia Wisley Vanilla is back on the list and there are more follow-on batches coming too.  Small and compact the Lewisia Elise have plenty of bud already and will flower all summer long. The ever-popular Erigeron karv. Stallone has loads of bud and flower, ready for a summer full of pretty little daisy flowers. The pretty Foam Flower Tiarella wherrii are now in flower and bud We already have several Asters in bud, which are usually something we associate with late summer!  The early summer flowering Allium Millenium is now producing bud. It’s a cracker, much tidier foliage and habit than the spring flowering Alliums, and it flowers for longer too. There are some cracking Verbena’s Lolliop ready to go. Don’t miss out on this very popular line. Coreopsis are now in bud in a great range of colours. A couple of the summer flowering Crocosmia are now in bud, The taller and very red Lucifer and the more compact golden yellow George Davidson. Emberglow, another red but shorter than Lucifer, is only a week or so away from bud showing too. Summer must be here with bud on several of the Agapanthus varieties. Quite a few Leucanthemum in bud now, the first of many flowers to come. We have plenty of Scabiosa in bud in a range of colours, another long flowering summer star. Garden Pinks (Dianthus) are back in bud again after recovering from our ever-hungry rampaging hares. More summer stars are coming out now with bud appearing on the Gaura, Bidens and the Salvia’s too are now showing plenty of bud and now a bit of colour too. Oxalis Iron Cross is back on the list and in bud, after we gave it the Chelsea Chop just short time ago. We cut them right back to compost and there now back on show again, looking great. Phlox paniculata varieties are showing bud on super strong stems, get them quick before they go. 

Herb sales seem to be booming this year; it must be all that healthy home cooking we are being encouraged to do. Lots of stock is coming through nicely now and the tender herbs like Basil are now making their summertime appearance. Strawberries are looking great, especially those showing colour. Tarragon is back and the Mints have recovered nicely too. 

Best wishes from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.