When there are multiple families involved in a farm it can become necessary to diversify.
That’s what Chris and Caroline Peach did some years ago when wheat prices and other factors forced a re-think at J T Peach & Son Ltd at West Pinchbeck.
They started a nursery, growing pot plants that are sold as finished plants to companies such as Butters.
They are now producing thousand upon thousand of plants as well as strawberries in 9cm or 13cm pots.
Chris estimates they are producing something like 120,000 bedding pots, 100,000 geraniums, 40,000 New Guinea Impatiens, 100,000 cyclamen, 40,000 perennials, the same number of strawberry plants, 30,000 pansies, 40,000 primroses and 20,000 fuchsias.
Chris said: “My dad Jim and my uncle Andrew run the farm and we do the nursery. I still enjoy the farming even though I don’t spend a lot of time on it. But I was working on the farm for at least 14 years before I started doing the pots.”
He explains it was a relatively easy transition as the farm already had glasshouses where foliage plants were grown all year round and indoor daffodils are produced.
However, there has been an investment in more glasshouse space and machinery.
Chris is hoping this year will bring good weekend weather – in contrast to last year – to encourage gardeners to get out in the garden and to buy plants.