Why the Raker-Roberta’s 2021 Field Trials Were a Welcome Return to Normal
January 4, 2022 Raker-Roberta’s field trials in Litchfield, MI, were subject to an exceptionally hot and wet season. The average temperature from May through August was just under 80°F. Rainfall was seasonally average later in the summer, but more than 10 inches of rain fell from mid-June to mid-July. Heavy rain during planting delayed the trials by one week; then it got really hot and everything stalled. Once the weather got more normal, all the plants really took off and the season finished successfully. Trial managers reported disease pressure was fairly low, but they experienced a major problem with deer, which decimated the Gazania and Fuchsia trials.
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For the first time this year, Raker-Roberta’s trialed 60 Lobelia in the ground in sun and replicated in shade. Trial managers say, “We discovered that none of the cultivars really thrived in either trial. It reinforced to us that in our area, this genus really only works in combination containers.”
In addition, they trialed 103 basil cultivars, looking for downy mildew resistance. Overall, many did well all summer. With all the early rain, some got a black mold but once everything dried out, the trial was normal. Some varieties did end up with downy mildew, but many lasted through the season.
They also did a small cut flower trial this year and last year, saying, “We learned a lot and are planning to dedicate a large area to cut flowers next year.”
Among the many standouts in the trials, three stood out:
Cleome Sparkler 2.0 series (Syngenta Flowers). This plant drew attention from everyone. It was in rows in the middle of the gardens and it really stood out. Even after a torrential rain/wind storm, they bounced right back. It was very floriferous and was in bloom all summer.
Begonia ‘I’Conia Scentiment Peachy Keen’ (Dummen Orange). This was in the trials last year and it was nice. This year, it rocked! It was in full sun and looked great and full of flowers all summer.
Eupatorium capillifolium ‘Elegant Feather’ (Kientzler). This wasn’t specifically in the summer trials, but it was in the landscape around the gardens. It was one of the top five visitor favorites.
Attendance was up in 2021. Even though 2020 attendance only dropped by about 20%, this year numbers were up to pre-pandemic levels.
Take a look at other standouts from the 2021 Raker-Roberta Trials and view the last four years of photos and data http://trialgardens.raker.com.
Check out highlights from other field trials in 2021 here.
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