Taylors Bulbs are gearing up for what promises to be a busy season with high consumer demand for spring flowering bulbs. But, with the dual impacts of a cold, dry spring giving a late growing cycle and then heavy rain just before harvest was due to begin, the bulb harvesting programme is currently running two weeks behind what would be considered a normal season.
Varieties that would usually be ready for despatch in mid-August are only just being harvested and the impact on deliveries is likely to be a 10–14 day delay to planned delivery schedules.
Adam Taylor, director of Taylors Bulbs, said: “We are experiencing an extraordinary season with unprecedented delays for bulb harvesting. The growing season was late because of a cold, dry spring and then just as harvest was to begin, many bulb growing areas received exceptionally heavy downpours. Some areas received 130mm of rainfall in 36 hours and this has delayed and slowed harvest but it has also meant that the drying process has taken longer as well.
“Although later than normal, the British grown daffodil harvest is now complete and grading is well-under way, but it is our bulbs grown in mainland Europe that were hit particularly hard by the wet weather that made such awful headlines in Germany. We would encourage customers to unpack deliveries as soon as they arrive and display and store their bulbs in a well-ventilated place to help keep them in the best condition. We thank our customers for their understanding of the delays and look forward to a successful selling season.”
Taylors are exhibiting at Glee on 14-16 September at the NEC. “We are looking forward to Glee and being at a trade show for the first time in two years. It will be great to see familiar faces and to get to grab that person walking by for a catch-up”, added Taylor.
For further information, contact Adam Taylor by email.