Morning all,
A nice bright start to the day here, bit nippy but it is February. I’m afraid the weather looks a bit mixed for the coming week but at least the turbines look like they are going to earn their keep. Nearly the end of the month and we have seen quite a few frosts and the odd snowflake but, touch wood, this winter has been wintery but not bonkers, just about right for us. Last year was far too warm and a touch on the damp side which didn’t do the plants or pest control any favours, they didn’t know if they were coming or going.
I know spring rushing in because we had our visit from our pest predator expert (Dr Neil Helyer from Fargro) to point us in the right direction and get the introduction programme drawn up for the coming season. Each year we do a few modifications to accommodate market developments of new predator combinations and new lines as well as experiences gained from the previous year. It’s great to have a chat through ideas to make these expensive choices work more effectively, I can put forward our Blue Peter style ideas and Neil can pass on his experience from other sites which can help enormously. Over the years we have planted a lot more natural hedging to encourage the wildlife and to act as an overwintering site for some of the predators so that a few can reintroduce themselves the following spring. This planting has recently included a few little islands of hedging plants sited close to some tunnels that are too far from the ‘normal’ hedges. It’s only a small offering but it all helps. This winters idea was to follow the gardeners trend of placing manmade overwintering sites inside the tunnels, keeping the predators even closer to where we want them. We haven’t quite stretched to the quaint little bird box frames filled with short bits of cane but we are getting quite close. We cut back a marauding bamboo plant from next to one of the ponds and have saved the canes for some larger scale bug homes. One concern I had was that we could be harbouring as many pests as helpers so I did check out first that this was a sensible approach and was assured it was a good idea, so, on we go. We can still have our winter tidy up but there is still a home for those little helpers. Not all predators turn out to be commercially viable on our scale. Last year we tried a nematode application for slugs which actually worked ok on most slugs although it was expensive. Unfortunately it had very little if any effect on the snails so didn’t really slow up the leaf hole making. In response we applied ourselves a little more rigorously to applying Ferramol pellets (organically approved) and started getting really effective control. Applying the right rate, which is visibly surprisingly low when you see the number of pellets on the ground, but applying them regularly enough is key, the pellets don’t hang around long.
Missed out this weekend on the village panto. Unfortunately I was washing my hair on all 5 performances. Caroline did manage to go and it lived up to all her expectations! Possible highlight might have been winning 4th prize in the raffle, a box of Liquorice Allsorts (already 1/3 consumed!). Ooops.
Availability
Here comes the spring. The cold nip in the air won’t hold it back long. All stock is kept cold and well ventilated so is pretty tough. As the days lengthen the first strong flush of growth comes along quickly, so do keep an eye out to see the range develop and the spring buds appear.. With the ace-conker new look labelling and a bit of half decent weather we are ready to put together a great display to kick off 2015.
The Erysimums are budding up well and looking chunky, Bowles Mauve in particular is always such a favourite and a great long lasting garden performer. Apricot Twist is well budded, with Pastel Patchwork close behind.
The Amemone blanda blue shades are very close to making their big spring show, the odd flower is already showing as the plants thicken up. The white form has yet to show its face but I’ve had a poke and they are not far away.
Pulmonaria varieties are nearly all gone already. I have loads more more coming for 2016 as a bit of confidence begins to return into our plant production. Much bigger quantities and a couple more varieties too.
The Lupins are putting on their first flush of fresh, bushy, early growth, they will make monster plants. We always have to sell this batch fairly smartly as they will outgrow the pot too quickly if left until the warmer weather.
The first few herbs are now available as spring growth begins. It is still early days for mega growth, we want to keep them tough and not too soft to put up with the last of the winter cold.
Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries
Monday, 23 February 2015
Tuesday, 17 February 2015
More Hairy Valentines
Morning all,
Sun is about to break through for what promises to be a lovely sunny afternoon. I will enjoy glancing out at it as I continue etching our new herb printing plates. When will it ever end? It doesn’t help that I can’t spell onion either. I have to create the templates with ‘inside out font’ printed film which is tricky to read and the o’s & i’s got a bit mixed up. I didn’t even notice when I test printed a few, but luckily our eagle eyed printing and spelling expert did.
The usual busy week, putting together some lovely orders, getting the spring potting started, top speed output in the micropropagation lab and a couple of nice therapy sessions. First session was our relaxing evening out to see Macy Gray play in concert, which was something a bit different to our usual live music fare. Slightly disappointing turn out, but very entertaining none the less. The next session was my quarterly meeting with our NBIS group (Nursery Business Improvement Scheme) where 10 or so nurseries get together to compare figures, costs, slow payers etc and talk over developments of the previous 3 months and our thoughts on the coming few. The usual tips and pointers to saving a bit here and there, an inspiring nursery tour (Lowaters this time), a nice pub lunch and the great comfort of knowing that we are not alone in our quest for survival. The trust level is really high which is what makes it work so well, we can all be brutally honest without causing offense and best of all we are not afraid of being laughed at, which tends to happen quite a lot in my case (in a positive and groovy way of course). Being pre-season for most members everyone was full of hope and a little anxiety about what was to follow, the potential is what we live for and keeps us going. The last few years of disappointment at the end of the season dampens the spirit a bit but the sight of buds bursting still fills us with hope of better times ahead.
It can’t have passed you by that Saturday saw the usual annual rush for roses and pink slushy stuff. Luckily Caroline and I are both a bit anti-establishment/commercialism on this sort of thing and so I think I’m right in saying she wasn’t disappointed in the lack of pink offerings on that day. I am a firm believer that every day is special and personal gestures and flower presentations need to be kept as a surprise rather than produced on demand because of the date and consumer manipulation. In fact don’t you find the surprise is bigger the less often it happens? Flower purchases in our household may be disappointingly rare for some, but my occasional creative washing hanging up can always create a surprise or two.
Must get back to that etching.
Availability
There are signs of early growth on quite a few perennial lines and the odd bud or two showing so spring isn’t too far away. All the stock is kept cold and well ventilated so should be pretty tough. As the days lengthen the first strong flush of growth comes along pretty quickly, so do keep an eye out to see the range develop and the spring buds appear, it won’t be long. With the new look labelling and a bit of half decent weather we are ready to put together a great display to kick off 2015. The Erysimums are budding up well and looking chunky, Bowles Mauve in particular is always such a favourite and a great long lasting garden performer. Apricot Twist has a few buds showing colour with loads of promise, with Red Jep and Pastel Patchwork close behind.
The Amemone blanda blue shades are very close to making their big spring show, the odd flower is already showing as the plants thicken up. The white form has yet to show its face but I’ve had a poke and they are not far away. Pulmonaria varieties are gradually coming into bud too, we extended the range this year and I wish I had been bolder and ordered more, they are looking great, lots of promise of chunky strong plants. I have more coming for 2016 as a bit of confidence begins to return into our plant production.
The Lupins are putting on their first flush of fresh, bushy, early growth, they will make monster plants sold from this overwintered stock. We always have to sell this batch fairly smartly as they will outgrow the pot too quickly if left until the warmer weather.
The first few herbs are now available as spring growth begins. It is still early days for mega growth, we want to keep them tough and not too soft to put up with the last of the winter cold, but they are looking smart with their new bar-coded wooden labels. I’ve been etching printing plates all week and will be doing more into the night to try and get ahead.
Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries
Sun is about to break through for what promises to be a lovely sunny afternoon. I will enjoy glancing out at it as I continue etching our new herb printing plates. When will it ever end? It doesn’t help that I can’t spell onion either. I have to create the templates with ‘inside out font’ printed film which is tricky to read and the o’s & i’s got a bit mixed up. I didn’t even notice when I test printed a few, but luckily our eagle eyed printing and spelling expert did.
The usual busy week, putting together some lovely orders, getting the spring potting started, top speed output in the micropropagation lab and a couple of nice therapy sessions. First session was our relaxing evening out to see Macy Gray play in concert, which was something a bit different to our usual live music fare. Slightly disappointing turn out, but very entertaining none the less. The next session was my quarterly meeting with our NBIS group (Nursery Business Improvement Scheme) where 10 or so nurseries get together to compare figures, costs, slow payers etc and talk over developments of the previous 3 months and our thoughts on the coming few. The usual tips and pointers to saving a bit here and there, an inspiring nursery tour (Lowaters this time), a nice pub lunch and the great comfort of knowing that we are not alone in our quest for survival. The trust level is really high which is what makes it work so well, we can all be brutally honest without causing offense and best of all we are not afraid of being laughed at, which tends to happen quite a lot in my case (in a positive and groovy way of course). Being pre-season for most members everyone was full of hope and a little anxiety about what was to follow, the potential is what we live for and keeps us going. The last few years of disappointment at the end of the season dampens the spirit a bit but the sight of buds bursting still fills us with hope of better times ahead.
It can’t have passed you by that Saturday saw the usual annual rush for roses and pink slushy stuff. Luckily Caroline and I are both a bit anti-establishment/commercialism on this sort of thing and so I think I’m right in saying she wasn’t disappointed in the lack of pink offerings on that day. I am a firm believer that every day is special and personal gestures and flower presentations need to be kept as a surprise rather than produced on demand because of the date and consumer manipulation. In fact don’t you find the surprise is bigger the less often it happens? Flower purchases in our household may be disappointingly rare for some, but my occasional creative washing hanging up can always create a surprise or two.
Must get back to that etching.
Availability
There are signs of early growth on quite a few perennial lines and the odd bud or two showing so spring isn’t too far away. All the stock is kept cold and well ventilated so should be pretty tough. As the days lengthen the first strong flush of growth comes along pretty quickly, so do keep an eye out to see the range develop and the spring buds appear, it won’t be long. With the new look labelling and a bit of half decent weather we are ready to put together a great display to kick off 2015. The Erysimums are budding up well and looking chunky, Bowles Mauve in particular is always such a favourite and a great long lasting garden performer. Apricot Twist has a few buds showing colour with loads of promise, with Red Jep and Pastel Patchwork close behind.
The Amemone blanda blue shades are very close to making their big spring show, the odd flower is already showing as the plants thicken up. The white form has yet to show its face but I’ve had a poke and they are not far away. Pulmonaria varieties are gradually coming into bud too, we extended the range this year and I wish I had been bolder and ordered more, they are looking great, lots of promise of chunky strong plants. I have more coming for 2016 as a bit of confidence begins to return into our plant production.
The Lupins are putting on their first flush of fresh, bushy, early growth, they will make monster plants sold from this overwintered stock. We always have to sell this batch fairly smartly as they will outgrow the pot too quickly if left until the warmer weather.
The first few herbs are now available as spring growth begins. It is still early days for mega growth, we want to keep them tough and not too soft to put up with the last of the winter cold, but they are looking smart with their new bar-coded wooden labels. I’ve been etching printing plates all week and will be doing more into the night to try and get ahead.
Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries
Thursday, 12 February 2015
Hairy Valentines
Hairy Valentine Greetings!
Our friends at Robert Gordon University Students' Union have been having lots of fun in the office with our naked hairy pots before the put them to good use growing chillies.
Thanks for sharing the fun!
Monday, 9 February 2015
Hairy Blues.
Morning all,
Fabulous day with clear skies and light winds, a great day to be out and about. Great views this morning from the top of the hill when I walked up to check the turbines. They were still there. Hopefully you will be seeing a build up of interest in the gardens on a day like this, the plants are certainly looking like they are beginning to wake up and look springy. Having had my fresh air I’m now locked away to get ahead on my etching and label printing, nearly there. I’m having to make up a bit of time having taken the afternoon and evening off yesterday. Thrashed 8-1 on the hockey pitch but compensated for that with a brilliant concert in the village hall by Marcus Bonfanti. We were a little tense in the build up as we had talked the organisers into booking him and were a bit anxious that no-one would turn up. We had no need to panic it was a virtual sell out, and he seemed to go down really well. Nothing like quality live music. Make the effort, you never know what you’ll discover. Having done the local scene we are going big time next week with a visit to see Macy Gray which will be exciting.
The cold weather has finished off a couple of old tunnel sheets where they got so tight in the low temperatures they finally split as their elasticity disappears with age (know the feeling). Not a disaster really just a bit inconvenient. We were more lucky with another, which rather than splitting started to pull out the screws that hold the fixing strip to the frame. Luckily there were a couple of people working in there and they noticed it starting to unzip. A quick readjustment to the height of the tunnel side with a couple of spanners and the addition of some longer and extra screws and it all went back together without too much hassle. Had a quick check round and added a few more screws here and there just to be safe.
Cat flap in the office door sadly lost its operator this week. What was initially diagnosed as a possible throat infection turned out to be an inoperable growth which was all a bit sudden and sad. However he did slip away warm, happy and overfed and you can’t ask for much more really. With no second thought Spare cat has moved in, using the flap and bed by the desk as if they were there just for him. Ok I have to admit defeat, the cold wind finally forced on the central heating for a couple of days last week, off again now so feeling green again. Mind you it was cosy with it on, nearly got sucked into those soft irresponsible ways!
Availability
There are signs of early growth on quite a few perennial lines and the odd bud or two showing so spring isn’t too far away. All the stock is kept cold and well ventilated so should be pretty tough. As the days lengthen the first strong flush of growth comes along pretty quickly, so do keep an eye on our emails to see things develop and the spring buds appear, it won’t be long. With the new look labelling and a bit of half decent weather we are ready to put together an attractive display to kick off 2015 sales.
The Erysimums are budding up well and looking chunky, Bowles Mauve in particular is always such a favourite and a great long lasting garden performer. Apricot Twist has a few buds showing colour with loads of promise, with Red Jep close behind. The Amemone blanda blue shades are very close to making their big spring show, the odd flower is already showing as the plants thicken up. The white form is yet to show its face but I’ve had a poke and they are not far away. Winter interest is still there with the last of the Helleborus lividus Green/White which is in bud now although not too many left. Pulmonaria varieties are gradually coming into bud too, we extended the range this year and I wish I had been bolder and ordered more, they are looking great, lots of promise of chunky strong plants. I have more coming for 2016 as a bit of confidence begins to return into our plant production.
The Lupins are putting on their first flush of fresh, bushy, early growth, they will make monster plants sold from this overwintered stock. We always have to sell this batch fairly smartly as they will outgrow the pot too quickly if left until the warmer weather.
The first few herbs are available this week as spring growth begins. It is still early days for mega growth, we want to keep them tough and not too soft to put up with the last of the winter cold, but they are looking smart with their new bar-coded wooden labels. I’ve been etching printing plates all week and will be doing more into the night to try and get ahead.
Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries
Fabulous day with clear skies and light winds, a great day to be out and about. Great views this morning from the top of the hill when I walked up to check the turbines. They were still there. Hopefully you will be seeing a build up of interest in the gardens on a day like this, the plants are certainly looking like they are beginning to wake up and look springy. Having had my fresh air I’m now locked away to get ahead on my etching and label printing, nearly there. I’m having to make up a bit of time having taken the afternoon and evening off yesterday. Thrashed 8-1 on the hockey pitch but compensated for that with a brilliant concert in the village hall by Marcus Bonfanti. We were a little tense in the build up as we had talked the organisers into booking him and were a bit anxious that no-one would turn up. We had no need to panic it was a virtual sell out, and he seemed to go down really well. Nothing like quality live music. Make the effort, you never know what you’ll discover. Having done the local scene we are going big time next week with a visit to see Macy Gray which will be exciting.
The cold weather has finished off a couple of old tunnel sheets where they got so tight in the low temperatures they finally split as their elasticity disappears with age (know the feeling). Not a disaster really just a bit inconvenient. We were more lucky with another, which rather than splitting started to pull out the screws that hold the fixing strip to the frame. Luckily there were a couple of people working in there and they noticed it starting to unzip. A quick readjustment to the height of the tunnel side with a couple of spanners and the addition of some longer and extra screws and it all went back together without too much hassle. Had a quick check round and added a few more screws here and there just to be safe.
Cat flap in the office door sadly lost its operator this week. What was initially diagnosed as a possible throat infection turned out to be an inoperable growth which was all a bit sudden and sad. However he did slip away warm, happy and overfed and you can’t ask for much more really. With no second thought Spare cat has moved in, using the flap and bed by the desk as if they were there just for him. Ok I have to admit defeat, the cold wind finally forced on the central heating for a couple of days last week, off again now so feeling green again. Mind you it was cosy with it on, nearly got sucked into those soft irresponsible ways!
Availability
There are signs of early growth on quite a few perennial lines and the odd bud or two showing so spring isn’t too far away. All the stock is kept cold and well ventilated so should be pretty tough. As the days lengthen the first strong flush of growth comes along pretty quickly, so do keep an eye on our emails to see things develop and the spring buds appear, it won’t be long. With the new look labelling and a bit of half decent weather we are ready to put together an attractive display to kick off 2015 sales.
The Erysimums are budding up well and looking chunky, Bowles Mauve in particular is always such a favourite and a great long lasting garden performer. Apricot Twist has a few buds showing colour with loads of promise, with Red Jep close behind. The Amemone blanda blue shades are very close to making their big spring show, the odd flower is already showing as the plants thicken up. The white form is yet to show its face but I’ve had a poke and they are not far away. Winter interest is still there with the last of the Helleborus lividus Green/White which is in bud now although not too many left. Pulmonaria varieties are gradually coming into bud too, we extended the range this year and I wish I had been bolder and ordered more, they are looking great, lots of promise of chunky strong plants. I have more coming for 2016 as a bit of confidence begins to return into our plant production.
The Lupins are putting on their first flush of fresh, bushy, early growth, they will make monster plants sold from this overwintered stock. We always have to sell this batch fairly smartly as they will outgrow the pot too quickly if left until the warmer weather.
The first few herbs are available this week as spring growth begins. It is still early days for mega growth, we want to keep them tough and not too soft to put up with the last of the winter cold, but they are looking smart with their new bar-coded wooden labels. I’ve been etching printing plates all week and will be doing more into the night to try and get ahead.
Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries
Monday, 2 February 2015
Hairy Etchings
Morning all,
Where did January go? Spring is nearly upon us, despite the rather over dramatised weather reports of the last few days. Still on the bright side at least that means there can’t be as much bad news knocking about if a few cms of snow in the hills makes headlines. Today’s breeze is a bit uncomfortable if you are standing about in it for too long, good for the turbines but it’s definitely not arctic conditions down here. We haven’t yet resorted to turning on the central heating although if real freezing winds actually do make it this far we will do it, we are not completely mad. Cosied up the house a bit further last week by eliminating the biggest draft into the living room. Fitting an internal cat-flap between the room and the conservatory has upset the cats but blocked a 7 inch square hole that has been bugging me for years. Can’t believe the difference it has made. It might also reduce the larger carnage brought into the house, rabbit remains in the house isn’t the best discovery as you walk barefoot on a night-time excursion.
Just a quick one this week as I have to spend the rest of the day and evening doing my etching (see below). Might sound vaguely romantic but the days of tempting Caroline to come up and see my etchings are long gone, in fact she will be long gone too as she goes off to see Southampton play Swansea this afternoon. Talking of romance, did the earth move for you? It did for us this week with my first experience of an earthquake. I was in the office and Caroline had gone up to feed the animals and we had a 2.9 tremor centred just a couple of miles away, we both heard and felt it and weren’t even sure what it was, but it was later confirmed on the local news. Just a quick grumble and a short judder, not a lot to it, but Caroline said it was enough, we don’t want to stray too far out of our comfort zone. Still can’t believe how good all the new labels are looking can’t wait to see them start disappearing off the nursery stuck very smartly in all those plants.
Availability
There are signs of early growth on a few lines and the odd bud or two showing so spring isn’t too far away. All the stock is kept cold and well ventilated so should be pretty tough. As the days lengthen the first strong flush of growth comes along pretty quickly, so do keep an eye on our emails to see things develop and the spring buds appear, it won’t be long. With the new look labelling and a bit of half decent weather we can put together an attractive display to kick off 2015 sales.The Erysimums are budding up well and looking chunky, Bowles Mauve in particular is always such a favourite and a great long lasting garden performer. The Amemone blanda are very close to making their spring show, the odd straggly flower at the moment, not quite ready but not far away.We don’t have any herbs available this week but should have a limited range next week. This is partly down to the cooler weather, plants looking a bit too ‘tidy’ after their winter trim and getting all the new printing plates etched with the new individual barcodes. The herb growth tends not to be rampant early on as so many originate from more southern areas but once the days lengthen a bit and temperatures pick up we should have a great show.Ok now for the main reason for the herb delay. Sorry. Over the last couple of years we have seen cut backs in the tongue depressor market, I’m quite surprised it hasn’t made the news. As cutting equipment has been upgraded the width of the sticks has reduced fractionally which I am sure has helped them get quite a few more sticks out of a log but it means our printing has got very difficult to fit on the reduced label area. I don’t suppose you would notice the change if it was your tongue being depressed but we have found it tricky. To overcome the issue we have been tempted to reduce the font size fractionally but they then becomes increasingly difficult to read so we have taken the opportunity while introducing the individual barcodes, to redesign the whole herb label. Naturally this would only take me a few days, bu t the usual array of challenges put a spanner in the works and I’m not quite ready this week so apologies for that. Believe me it will be worth the wait, the text is perhaps less artistic but far more practical, it fits in the label easily, is miles easier to read and incorporates the barcode all on the one label.
Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries
Monday, 26 January 2015
Bamboo Skewer Challenges
Morning all,
Nice to see a bit of winter weather. We had our coldest night for a couple of winters at about -7C during last week’s frosts, but overall just about right. It helps knock back the pests a bit and definitely better to have it now than it appear in April and mess up the spring confidence levels. We had a couple of frozen pipes but they were quickly cleared and one small burst on a bit of kit I had thought was frost-proof. The extra morning coffee to thaw the fingers has seen milk purchasing double but it looks like the dairy industry need all the help it can get so glad to do our bit.
Just a quick one this week as time is pressing and I still need to complete the catalogue which seems beset with delays this year. We sent out a couple of orders last week which was a good trial run for the new labels but naturally it all took ten times as long as it might have, with all sorts of little hiccups to iron out. You always think these things are going to be simple and efficient but there always seem to be new challenges to overcome before all your dreams of super efficiency come true. Such is life.
Major trauma this week was the loss of the main label printer which after many years of hard work and abuse decided enough was enough. Luckily the policy of running a near identical printer in the main office got us over any immediate problems but after consultations with OKI technical support there was no hope for the old one and the decision was made to replace it. Not an ideal option on the cash flow front although by the time I had shopped around a bit and found a new one being sold from an ‘opened box’ complete with the 3 year warrantee the cost was only a £100 more than the value of the consumables in it! Just goes to show how much they must be making out of the consumable sales. Another bonus of getting basically the same model was that the toners are still compatible with the old one so we can use up the toner that was left in the old machine.
We had to start making new printing plates over the past week to price up the skewer labels where needed. Another easy job that turned into a marathon. The etcher wouldn’t etch, the cold water created a deposit on the printing plates, the labels wouldn’t feed onto the printer or bundle and the printer wouldn’t print clearly. Even when it started coming together the computer operator blew a fuse and got the price wrong. New stuff is just so exciting. Here is a taste of some of the new issues; the bamboo skewers are packed in boxes of 1,000 but not all pointing in the same direction and for quick printing you need them all the same way round, the labels look beautifully clean but are in fact covered in a thin film of very fine sawdust left from the cutting process which quickly builds up on the print head and the fatter one end thin the other design of the skewers makes them tricky to handle, feed under the print head and bundle. So to remedy the problems we now have a new label sorting device to quickly get them all the same way round and a new handling/storage tray to keep them all the same way round reading for cleaning and printing. Still on Blue Peter Mark 1 version’s but looking good so far.
New cat flap in office door this morning to accommodate slightly ill nursery cat in warmer surroundings. Not sure this one has used one before so ongoing training required to prevent mishaps in the work environment. As if there wasn’t enough to do.
Anyone local to us should know that Marcus Bonfanti is playing at the village hall in Kings Somborne on Feb 7th. Superbly talented guitarist and songwriter with a great voice and a very personable chap too. Won lots of awards, just slightly bonkers that he has the local village hall listed as a venue on his national acoustic tour.
www.sombornesessions.co.uk
www.marcusbonfanti.com/uk-2015-solo-tour-dates-announced
Availability
There are signs of early growth on a few lines and the odd bud or two showing so spring isn’t too far away. Hopefully we won’tall disappear under a snowdrift anytime soon or get too frozen out, but all the stock is kept cold and well ventilated so should be pretty tough. As the days lengthen the first strong flush of growth comes along pretty quickly so do keep an eye on our emails to see things develop and the spring buds appear, it won’t be long. With the new look labelling and a bit of half decent weather we can put together an attractive display to kick off 2015 sales.
We should have some herbs available in the next week or two, depending on the weather and plant growth.
Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries
Nice to see a bit of winter weather. We had our coldest night for a couple of winters at about -7C during last week’s frosts, but overall just about right. It helps knock back the pests a bit and definitely better to have it now than it appear in April and mess up the spring confidence levels. We had a couple of frozen pipes but they were quickly cleared and one small burst on a bit of kit I had thought was frost-proof. The extra morning coffee to thaw the fingers has seen milk purchasing double but it looks like the dairy industry need all the help it can get so glad to do our bit.
Just a quick one this week as time is pressing and I still need to complete the catalogue which seems beset with delays this year. We sent out a couple of orders last week which was a good trial run for the new labels but naturally it all took ten times as long as it might have, with all sorts of little hiccups to iron out. You always think these things are going to be simple and efficient but there always seem to be new challenges to overcome before all your dreams of super efficiency come true. Such is life.
Major trauma this week was the loss of the main label printer which after many years of hard work and abuse decided enough was enough. Luckily the policy of running a near identical printer in the main office got us over any immediate problems but after consultations with OKI technical support there was no hope for the old one and the decision was made to replace it. Not an ideal option on the cash flow front although by the time I had shopped around a bit and found a new one being sold from an ‘opened box’ complete with the 3 year warrantee the cost was only a £100 more than the value of the consumables in it! Just goes to show how much they must be making out of the consumable sales. Another bonus of getting basically the same model was that the toners are still compatible with the old one so we can use up the toner that was left in the old machine.
We had to start making new printing plates over the past week to price up the skewer labels where needed. Another easy job that turned into a marathon. The etcher wouldn’t etch, the cold water created a deposit on the printing plates, the labels wouldn’t feed onto the printer or bundle and the printer wouldn’t print clearly. Even when it started coming together the computer operator blew a fuse and got the price wrong. New stuff is just so exciting. Here is a taste of some of the new issues; the bamboo skewers are packed in boxes of 1,000 but not all pointing in the same direction and for quick printing you need them all the same way round, the labels look beautifully clean but are in fact covered in a thin film of very fine sawdust left from the cutting process which quickly builds up on the print head and the fatter one end thin the other design of the skewers makes them tricky to handle, feed under the print head and bundle. So to remedy the problems we now have a new label sorting device to quickly get them all the same way round and a new handling/storage tray to keep them all the same way round reading for cleaning and printing. Still on Blue Peter Mark 1 version’s but looking good so far.
New cat flap in office door this morning to accommodate slightly ill nursery cat in warmer surroundings. Not sure this one has used one before so ongoing training required to prevent mishaps in the work environment. As if there wasn’t enough to do.
Anyone local to us should know that Marcus Bonfanti is playing at the village hall in Kings Somborne on Feb 7th. Superbly talented guitarist and songwriter with a great voice and a very personable chap too. Won lots of awards, just slightly bonkers that he has the local village hall listed as a venue on his national acoustic tour.
www.sombornesessions.co.uk
www.marcusbonfanti.com/uk-2015-solo-tour-dates-announced
Availability
There are signs of early growth on a few lines and the odd bud or two showing so spring isn’t too far away. Hopefully we won’tall disappear under a snowdrift anytime soon or get too frozen out, but all the stock is kept cold and well ventilated so should be pretty tough. As the days lengthen the first strong flush of growth comes along pretty quickly so do keep an eye on our emails to see things develop and the spring buds appear, it won’t be long. With the new look labelling and a bit of half decent weather we can put together an attractive display to kick off 2015 sales.
We should have some herbs available in the next week or two, depending on the weather and plant growth.
Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries
Monday, 19 January 2015
Hirsute Availability
Morning all,
Where is all the time going? I can’t keep up with all the action over this first couple of weeks of the year. This is supposed to be the quiet relaxing time when we can finish on time and cosy up by the wood burner toasting our crumpets.
Two big jobs have been competing for attention, I am very close to finishing up the 2015 catalogue, so just hang on a day or two for that, and the preparations for the new labels are coming together really quickly, so close to being ready for that too. The new labels printed for us by Floramedia arrived early last week which was a week ahead of schedule and very welcome, as we could then get stuck into the task of clearing the last of the old style and repopulating the shelves with the new, all bundled up by us into 12’s ready for pot insertion. The labels are a joy to bundle, just looking so good, I can’t wait to see them all out on parade in a plant display. We are also tweaking the tray header images to complement the new labels, we are going to look so co-ordinated I’m thinking of issuing everyone here with matching shell suits to complete the deal. The newly hewn bamboo skewer dispensers have been screwed together, treated and hung on the benches, another Blue Peter installation makes its mark at Kirton Farm. Plant trimming and tidying carries on at pace too as well as overtime starting already for those locked away in the microprop lab as they endeavour to keep up with the mounting spring workload. It’s all go.
The winter cash-flow is getting closer to its low point and the nervous monetary juggling is already underway, it’s a shame when we are making all these new investments that it is still such a struggle but there you go, such is life in the plant growing game. Still a couple of months until the income picks up a bit so better not dwell on it too long just yet or I’ll struggle to make it out of bed and skip to work. In the end we have to focus on the positives to get our rewards and inspiration. Luckily I can often bathe in the glory of a few simple things, a well stocked wood pile, flushing loo’s, hot water on tap, and getting through the night without a break! I find using one or two triggers to prompt healthy thoughts points me in the right direction. If the tea bag goes straight in the mug from the other side of the table at breakfast we are off to a great start and when I flip the shower squeegee and catch it, the day has ended on a high. The way my eyesight is going I might have to make the morning trigger a bit easier or the mug a bit bigger.
Just want to express my gratitude to the NHS in my own little way after they seem to be under the cosh a bit in recent weeks. What a relief it is that you can so often be sorted out by a professional if you get into trouble, whether it’s a major trauma or just needing to be patched up. Even minor ailments can be miserable and stressful and to be able to go somewhere nearby for help is just such a fantastic thing to be able to do, even if you have to wait a bit to get it. I booked an appointment with our GP before Christmas for a couple of things I’d been saving up to get sorted and not only was he able to explain away my ailments which helped reduced any anxiety, but also provided me with remedies to get them sorted and supplied a pack of special pills for my intermittent back problem (previously sorted out in casualty last summer). On top of all this I topped up on my education too. The GP had to check out my ears as part of my appointment and very tactfully commented that I had very hirsute ears. Now I had for some reason always assumed that hirsute maent something similar to suave or sophisticated but as I thanked him for the compliment I realised I might be wrong. Obviously I recognised that an acceleration of follicle growth in the area was becoming a feature as the years passed but I hadn’t realised that being hirsute was a more tactful description. Live and learn.
Availability
There are signs of early growth on a few lines and the odd bud or two showing so spring isn’t too far away. Hopefully we won’t all disappear under a snowdrift anytime soon or get too frozen out, but all the stock is kept cold and well ventilated so should be pretty tough. As the days lengthen the first strong flush of growth comes along pretty quickly so do keep an eye on our emails to see things develop and the spring buds appear, it won’t be long. With the new look labelling and a bit of half decent weather we can get together an attractive display to kick off 2015 sales.
Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries
Where is all the time going? I can’t keep up with all the action over this first couple of weeks of the year. This is supposed to be the quiet relaxing time when we can finish on time and cosy up by the wood burner toasting our crumpets.
Two big jobs have been competing for attention, I am very close to finishing up the 2015 catalogue, so just hang on a day or two for that, and the preparations for the new labels are coming together really quickly, so close to being ready for that too. The new labels printed for us by Floramedia arrived early last week which was a week ahead of schedule and very welcome, as we could then get stuck into the task of clearing the last of the old style and repopulating the shelves with the new, all bundled up by us into 12’s ready for pot insertion. The labels are a joy to bundle, just looking so good, I can’t wait to see them all out on parade in a plant display. We are also tweaking the tray header images to complement the new labels, we are going to look so co-ordinated I’m thinking of issuing everyone here with matching shell suits to complete the deal. The newly hewn bamboo skewer dispensers have been screwed together, treated and hung on the benches, another Blue Peter installation makes its mark at Kirton Farm. Plant trimming and tidying carries on at pace too as well as overtime starting already for those locked away in the microprop lab as they endeavour to keep up with the mounting spring workload. It’s all go.
The winter cash-flow is getting closer to its low point and the nervous monetary juggling is already underway, it’s a shame when we are making all these new investments that it is still such a struggle but there you go, such is life in the plant growing game. Still a couple of months until the income picks up a bit so better not dwell on it too long just yet or I’ll struggle to make it out of bed and skip to work. In the end we have to focus on the positives to get our rewards and inspiration. Luckily I can often bathe in the glory of a few simple things, a well stocked wood pile, flushing loo’s, hot water on tap, and getting through the night without a break! I find using one or two triggers to prompt healthy thoughts points me in the right direction. If the tea bag goes straight in the mug from the other side of the table at breakfast we are off to a great start and when I flip the shower squeegee and catch it, the day has ended on a high. The way my eyesight is going I might have to make the morning trigger a bit easier or the mug a bit bigger.
Just want to express my gratitude to the NHS in my own little way after they seem to be under the cosh a bit in recent weeks. What a relief it is that you can so often be sorted out by a professional if you get into trouble, whether it’s a major trauma or just needing to be patched up. Even minor ailments can be miserable and stressful and to be able to go somewhere nearby for help is just such a fantastic thing to be able to do, even if you have to wait a bit to get it. I booked an appointment with our GP before Christmas for a couple of things I’d been saving up to get sorted and not only was he able to explain away my ailments which helped reduced any anxiety, but also provided me with remedies to get them sorted and supplied a pack of special pills for my intermittent back problem (previously sorted out in casualty last summer). On top of all this I topped up on my education too. The GP had to check out my ears as part of my appointment and very tactfully commented that I had very hirsute ears. Now I had for some reason always assumed that hirsute maent something similar to suave or sophisticated but as I thanked him for the compliment I realised I might be wrong. Obviously I recognised that an acceleration of follicle growth in the area was becoming a feature as the years passed but I hadn’t realised that being hirsute was a more tactful description. Live and learn.
Availability
There are signs of early growth on a few lines and the odd bud or two showing so spring isn’t too far away. Hopefully we won’t all disappear under a snowdrift anytime soon or get too frozen out, but all the stock is kept cold and well ventilated so should be pretty tough. As the days lengthen the first strong flush of growth comes along pretty quickly so do keep an eye on our emails to see things develop and the spring buds appear, it won’t be long. With the new look labelling and a bit of half decent weather we can get together an attractive display to kick off 2015 sales.
Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries
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