Bonnie's Trial Garden
The Bonnie Plants Trial Garden is located at our corporate office in Union Springs, Alabama. According to Stan Cope, our President, “We have a Trial Garden to get hands-on growing experience and helpful data about each of the plant varieties we sell. This is used in creating text for our plant tags and for our web sites, where gardeners can learn more about each variety offered. We also test the newest introductions to determine if they would be a good fit for Bonnie.”
What's in the Garden?
Conditions in the garden are ideal for growing our full line of vegetables and herbs. We use the same growing mix that our starter plants are grown in, and the plants are watered and fed regularly through an irrigation system. We know that at least 21 percent of gardeners plant their veggies and herbs in small spaces, such as containers and raised beds, so we grow the plants in large individual containers and raised beds as well as in the ground.
In 2010, we planted all of our 200 plus varieties of vegetables and herbs. For 2011, we added raised beds and trial specialty gardens, including a Summer Garden, Kids’ Garden, and Tomato Pesto Garden. We also test varieties that we don’t yet sell but are considering selling in the future.
We have two employees in the Trial Garden who document the quantity and weight of the fruit picked from each plant throughout its harvest season.
Sharing the Harvest
Our employees are equally willing to share this bounty with the local community. We deliver the majority of the produce to food banks, homeless shelters, churches, and other organizations in Union Springs and nearby cities, including Montgomery and Troy, Alabama. In 2010, more than 13,268 pounds of fresh produce were donated from the Bonnie Plants Trial Garden.
Flip through a Slideshow about the Bonnie Trial Garden
2010 Bonnie Trial Garden Stats
- Better Boy Tomato: 5 plants produced 543 tomatoes equaling 217 pounds.
- Eggplant: 24 plants produced 3,059 eggplants equaling 574 pounds.
- German Queen Tomato: 5 plants produced 162 tomatoes equaling 132 pounds.
- Bonnie Bell Pepper: 10 plants produced 265 peppers equaling 48 pounds.
- Habanero Pepper: 5 plants produced 1,707 peppers, equaling 23 pounds.
- Clemson Spineless Okra: 5 plants produced 1,069 okra equaling 48 pounds.
- Sweet 100 Tomato: 5 plants produced 3,809 tomatoes equaling 77 pounds.
Total Harvest: 80,000+ items harvested! 13,268 pounds donated to food banks, homeless shelters, and churches.