Fall is Here, and Trial Results Are In
Are you as thrilled as I am that fall is here? It’s definitely my favorite time of year. The cooler weather, the falling leaves, the darker evenings, and the freedom to accessorize with a scarf and boots. Here in Chicago, it’s kind of like the calm before the storm … the snow storm that is.
I like to take this time to reflect on the past year’s successes as well as the flops. It’s a great time to prepare for next year, set goals and make plans on how to achieve them.
As a garden center retailer, I assume you take this time to do the same. Your busiest time of year is in the books, and it’s time to plan for 2017.
Which varieties were a big hit this year? How about your landscape lineup? Are you looking to expand your variety selection? A great way to assess your current offering and make adjustments for next season is to evaluate trial gardens.
I recently had the chance to discuss top trial performers with Greg Michalak, the trial gardens director at C. Raker And Sons in Litchfield, Michigan.
One of the most impressive trials in the country, the Raker Trial Garden displays more than 100,000 individual plants in both comparison trials and landscape environments.
Greg was kind enough to share some of the top landscape performers in the trial garden this year along with some of his evaluation notes. Here they are, in no particular order:
Begonia Megawatt series
PanAmerican Seed
These were a showstopper all summer long. They are quite large and held their color.
Geranium ‘Glitterati Ice Queen’
Hort Couture
Not only are the flowers long lasting, but the variegated foliage offers attractive contrasting colors.
Melampodium ‘Jackpot’
American Takii
This is a great mid-garden filler. It will get about 20 inches tall but is very floriferous with a tight habit.
New Guinea impatiens SunStanding series
Dümmen Orange
These plants have long-lasting flowers that hold their color. In the Raker trials, they grew quite large, 2 feet plus.
Salvia ‘Mystic Spires Blue’
Ball FloraPlant
This salvia is a great pollinator attractor. The bloom spikes look great and continue to hold their color.
Zinnia ‘Zowie Yellow Flame’
Syngenta Flowers
A continuous bloomer, ‘Zowie Yellow Flame’ boasts large flowers and a full plant habit. It is great for mass plantings.
Which top trial performers are your favorites? Are you planning to stock up on any of the above varieties? Shoot me an email at [email protected], and let me know. I’d love to hear from you.
To learn more about the Raker Trial Gardens, click here.
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