Hi

Just a quick one as it is already nearly dinner time. Another hectic and hot week. Slightly easier other than yesterday and possibly a shower or two over the weekend. Our drivers were excited to see some rain on their travels today, even Basingstoke had a heavy downfall, but we just had a few spots, not even enough to raise that lovely ‘just rained’ earthy scent (called petrichor, just in case you want to bring it up in casual conversation!). Still pleasantly busy on sales despite the drought and heat which is keeping us n our toes. We are still very light-handed at the moment, which means we aren’t getting through as many jobs as I would like. There is so much juggling of space, trimming and moving plants to do after the orders are completed that the potting machine didn’t even get started until after lunch on Thursday.

 Then there are all the unexpected challenges that pop up to throw a spanner in the works. This week it was a two-pronged attack. The acid storage tank that was installed just over a year ago had a visit from the manufacturer to replace the measuring float which had come apart. On closer inspection the engineer found the vapour gaskets were showing signs of deterioration which was a worry. On investigation he found that they had fitted the wrong gaskets for our strength of acid, their fault not mine. All safe at the moment, but an urgent replacement job is on the cards. Very frustrating as the purchaser of the unit, as we paid 4 times the price we paid for the same kit 8 years before, and what do you get for all that extra cost? Certainly not a better product. We have been investigating a problem with the irrigation spray-lines over the past few weeks where the mini sprinklers are not all rotating reliably, they keep getting stuck. Luckily the sand-beds under the plants even out the water spread to a degree, but considering we replaced the entire lot last summer to obtain a more even water distribution it’s another challenging puzzle. I have been cleaning nozzles in vinegar, blowing them out with compressed air, swapping nozzles about between positions and tunnels, just trying to nail down a solution. The bizarre thing is the tunnels vary in how much they are affected. About a third of them are untouched and work very well, one third have issues with about half the nozzles in the line and in the last third virtually every nozzle is misbehaving. Both myself and the nozzle supplier now think it may be a biofilm issue. We have been trying to boost the plants health and their capacity to fight off pests and diseases so we can further reduce the need to introduce so many predators or as a last resort spray, by applying a mix of various bio-supplements through the irrigation system. It looks like these additives have left us with a thin smear of biofilm forming inside the pipework and on the sprinkler parts.  For the moment I am buying 1,200 new sprinkler heads, just to get everything working properly, and then we will need to find a solution to preventing and removing the unwanted biofilm. We may have a solution on hand, but only time will tell. It would be a shame to stop the supplements as they seem to be helping, but one way or another we need to sort it out, especially when the crops are under the pressure of seemingly endless heat and no rain and don’t appreciate erratic distribution. 

The electric van seems to be getting slightly better on its range capacity, although sometimes it’s just too clever for its own good. One of our drivers missed getting through a timed gate opening this week because it refused to move off when he got into the cab. Turning it off and on again naturally cured it but the gate was shut by this time! Very proud of one of our drivers (Andy) who is off for the next couple of weeks as he is umpiring in the hockey veteran’s world cup, being held in Holland and Belgium. He did the same a few years ago and I believe he actually umpired the final in one of the age categories. I’m not very good with rules generally, so definitely not a job for me,  

Social media updates 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. Summer must be here with bud on many of the Agapanthus varieties. The super popular Nemesia Wisley Vanilla is back on the list and there are more follow-on batches coming too.  Fabulous Echinacea in bud and showing a bit of colour. Very strong stemmed, especially the Lakota range. Small and compact the Lewisia Elise have plenty of bud already and will flower all summer long. We already have several Asters in bud, which are usually something we associate with late summer!  Another later summer range are the mini garden Chrysanthemums which are already showing early tight bud. A couple of the summer flowering Crocosmia are now in bud, 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. 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. There are some super Sage, both Green and Purple and Rosemary too. 

Take care out there, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.