The Gardening Institute is the leading scholarly centre for fruit and vegetable research in Latvia. The institute specialises in selection and introduction of plant cultivars that are suitable for cultivation under the agro-climatic conditions in the Baltic countries, have high nutrition value and are rich in fibre content.
The institute is proud of its vast collection of fruit trees and berry bushes, as well as of the research work. There are over 1000 different types of apples trees, 400 types of pear trees, 300 types of plum trees, 200 types of cherry trees, as well as vines, apricots, peaches and berry bushes. The research work is devoted for improvement of vegetable cultivation methods and expansion of the range of varieties. In spring, the visitors enjoy walks in the institute’s Lilac Park, one of the largest in Europe that offers a look at 240 different kinds of lilacs. In May/June the garden is beautiful with blossoming apricot, cherry, plum, apple, pear trees and quince bushes.
