Welcome...

to the

2011 Raker Trial Gardens

The Raker Trial Gardens cover more than four acres of majestic countryside in Litchfield, Michigan, USA.

C. Raker & Sons, Inc. uses the Trial Gardens to evaluate new varieties in true side-by-side comparison trials, to research existing varieties, and to share the data we gather with horticulture professionals and the gardening public.

All plant material is sown and propagated in March and April, transplanted into the Gardens in June, and maintained through the season by our Trial Team, led by Greg Michalak.

Trial Data is gathered every two weeks beginning in early July. Data collection is cultivar-dependent, but generally includes height, spread, overall performance, and images. Weather conditions are also recorded during this period.


 

 2011 Mums  September 19 through September 23 (9 am - 5 pm)

C. Raker & Sons, one of Michigan’s premium horticulture suppliers, is proud to present our 2011 Raker Garden Mum & Aster Trials.

Our Trials display over 300 varieties of Garden Mums from Ball Horticultural, Fides, GroLink, and Syngenta – including 34 new varieties for 2012. A second planting (three weeks after the first) is also being trialed that includes select varieties from all four Breeders.

 The Trials also offer 22 Aster varieties, and a selection of “triple-stuck” Mums and Asters.This year we are also trialing a “Mum Netting” on certain GroLink mums. This is used to keep the finished plants from splitting during shipping.

In addition to the Trials, Raker provides additional autumn product displays of a number of monocultures and cool weather combinations.

 Visit the Trial Data page to see photos of this year's mums.


Row Trials

Display more than 600 Annual varieties, our row trials include Angelonia, Tuberous Begonia, Bracteantha, Celosia, Cleome, Coreopsis, Dahlia, Gerbera, and Interspecific Zinnia.

Each row is 15 feet long, raised, covered by black plastic, and equipped with drip irrigation.


Hanging Basket Trials

Include four distinct trial categories: Lantana, trailing Vinca, new varieties, and a collection of mixes started from vegetative liners.

There are 140 Lantana in this year’s trial, making it one of the most comprehensive trials ever conducted for this genera.

Each 14-inch hanging basket receives full sun and is equipped with drip irrigation.


Container Trials

Includes a vast collection of new varieties grown in monoculture pots. Additionally, we are conducting trials focusing on the Raker QuickTurn, our large vegetative liner product developed to reduce bench time at retail nurseries.

Each 20-inch large container receives full sun and is equipped with drip irrigation.


Sponsor Beds & Rows

C. Raker & Sons, Inc. greatly appreciates the plant material and generous support offered by our esteemed Sponsors.

BED SPONSORS

American Takii, Ball Floraplant, Benary, Ecke Ranch, GroLink, Grimes, HMA Plants, Hort Couture, Jelitto, Pan American, Selecta, Suntory, Syngenta Horticultural Services, and Syngenta Flowers.

ROW SPONSORS

Amerinova, Bartels Stek, Fides, Floranova, Lekkerkerk Plants, GGG, Kieft, Optimara/Floremara, McHutchison/Gloeckner, Sakata and Westhoff.


Garden Features 

Perennial Themed Gardens

Groundcover, Butterfly, First Year Flowering (FYF), & Shade

All-America Selections (AAS) Trial Grounds 

All-America Selections (AAS) Display Gardens

Patio Vegetable Container Trials

Living (Green) Roof Display

Great Lakes Native Plant Display

Overwintered Perennial Display


Visit the Raker Website

View REAL-TIME product availability and get all of our latest catalog releases.

www.raker.com


2010 Calibrachoa Data

Several people that follow our trials here at Raker have inquired about the data that was collected for last year's massive Calibrachoa display that we had.  Below is a link to report that contains that data.

Click Here to View (.pdf)


Current Conditions


Fair, 36 F

Forecast:
SAT - Partly Cloudy.
High: 41 Low: 28
SUN - Sunny.
High: 39 Low: 28

Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather

(provided by The Weather Channel)

Have Questions?

For trial garden questions or to schedule a tour, please contact us at:

C. Raker and Sons, Inc.
10371 Rainey Rd.
Litchfield, MI 49252
Phone: 517.542.2316
Fax: 517.542.2565
trialgardens@raker.com