This page contains frequently asked questions. Just below the tabs on the top you can see a few categories we recieve many questions on. Feel free to explore! You will also see questions below from which to choose. If you do not see one please drop us an e-mail.
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Is it possible to schedule a visit?
You are more than welcome to visit Raker at any time. Our seasoned staff will be more than willing to help you with any questions or concerns you might have about our program or production. There are a couple of times each year where we schedule special events for the sole purpose of educating and turning information into knowledge. We have an event in the summer where we open our doors to our sales reps and their customers. This is a great way to get your customers out to see our facility and see where their plugs and liners are produced! This event is for two weeks in August in cooperation with the Michigan State University Garden Plant Tour. There will be tons to see in our trial gardens including annual comparison trials, a perennial garden, and a large mixed container trial including large containers, and more. We are also an All-American Selections trial site. We will be giving facility tours to those guests interested. If you have any questions or are interested in attending feel free to call at Susie Raker (517) 542-4560 or e-mail SusieRaker@Raker.com.
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Is it possible to ask Raker to produce varieties not listed in the catalog?
Ask away! We recognize we can’t offer every genetic available on the market (although sometimes it feels like it!), and sometimes there are specialty items a customer may need, beyond our regular listing. We are always willing to quote on custom sown items. There are a few circumstances that do require us to say “no” to some requests. Availability and sourcing is probably the biggest reason we have to turn down a custom request. Another reason may be the suitability of the item in plugs - most “vines” don’t perform well in plugs, and items with a strong tap root don’t transplant well for the customer. There are also some items (mostly perennials) we just can’t germinate - it’s kind of hard to duplicate conditions for items that require melting snow to germinate! Once we determine an item is producible, the only other requirement is at least three trays are ordered per item, per ship date.
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How do you decide which varieties to add into the Raker program?
We look at a lot of things before making a decision. First, the breeding companies provide new variety presentations to us as early as possible. We also visit with them at Pack Trials, and even do outdoor trialing for a few of them. Secondly, our research team does our own seed, plug & liner trials. We’re also taking it a step further and will be expanding our outdoor gardens next year. I might also add that some things aren’t new, but we might add them due to a customer request. If a number of customers ask us to do a variety, we might go ahead and add it the next season.
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