Raker trial gardens open July 13

C. Raker & Sons in Litchfield, Mich., will open its trial gardens to visitors from July 13-Sept. 2, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. The gardens cover more than 4 acres. The company uses the trial gardens to evaluate new varieties in side-by-side comparisons, to research existing varieties and to share the collected data with horticulture professionals and the gardening public. Beginning in early July trial data is gathered every 2 weeks and is downloaded immediately to the trial garden website. Data collected generally includes height, spread and overall performance rating and images.

Trial garden highlights:
Annual row trials include over 600 rows of annuals and perennials. This year’s crops are angelonia, tuberous begonia, bracteantha, celosia, cleome, coreopsis, dahlia, echinacea, gerbera mixes and zinnia.

Sponsor beds feature raised brick beds supported and designed by breeding companies American Takii, Ball FloraPlant, Benary, Ecke Ranch, GroLink, Grimes, HMA, Hort Couture, Jelitto Perennial Seeds, PanAmerican Seed, Sakata Ornamentals, Selecta, Suntory, Syngenta Flowers and Syngenta Horticultural Services.

Sponsor rows contain varieties from Amerinova, Bartels Stek, Danziger, Fides, Floranova, GGG International, Hishtil, Kieft, Lekkekerk Plants, Optimara/Floremara, Westflowers and jointly sponsored rows from McGregor/McHutchison/Gloeckner.

14-inch hanging basket trial features over 120 varieties of vegetative lantana. Also on display are 110 combo liner baskets.

New variety containers consist of 20-inch patio pots dedicated to new 2011 new variety introductions for either sun or shade.

All-America Selections trial ground and display gardens. Raker is one of 47 locations across North America testing new, never-before-sold varieties. Check out the new plants are under evaluation this year. See winners in both of the AAS vegetable and AAS flower display gardens from the last 5 years.

Patio vegetable trial contains almost 80 20-inch containers featuring varieties that have been bred specifically for container performance.

Other things to see include perennial theme gardens, a green roof display, a living wall and a Great Lakes native plants garden. Raker is also offering facility tours that allow visitors to see how the company operates from sticking and sowing to boxing and shipping.