STUDY HORTICULTURE AND THEN SPECIALISE IN CROP GROWING
A diverse study program that opens up all sorts of opportunities in horticulture.
Learn to grow:
- Lots of different crops.
- With lots of different techniques.
- In lots of different places.
This course does that as well as giving you the confidence to make
decisions in the field. This is more than most certificates offered by
others - at certificate level most courses will allow you, on
completion, to 'work under supervision'. Our 'problem based learning'
style gives you the edge - it gives you the ability to make informed
decisions - drawing on the skills and knowledge gained throughout the
course. This provides you with far more opportunities for advancement than other courses on offer at this level will.
A course for people working, or intending to work, in orchards or
market gardens. This course is similar to other VHT002 horticulture
certificates in its introductory (core) units, but devotes 50% of the
course to topics specifically related to crop production.
CORE UNITS
The Core Units comprise 15 lessons and are divided into the following sections:
- Introduction to Plants - Taxonomy, plant families, pressing plants, basic botany.
- Plant Culture - Planting, potting, plant selection, pruning, irrigation, tools and machinery.
- Soils and Nutrition - Soil structure, chemistry, nutrition, potting media.
- Plant Identification and Use - Seed harvesting and storage, germination treatments, cuttings, etc.
- Pests, Diseases and Weeds - Identification and treatment (chemical and non-chemical).
The core units are followed by 2 stream units (see below) and 4 electives chosen from the list below.
Click on each unit to view more details.
This course is beyond what you would learn in a Trade Certificate in
Horticultural Crop Production. It teaches you everything a tradesman
would learn about plant culture - and more science, plus more plant
identification than what an average trades person would know.
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Modules
Note that each module in the Certificate In Horticulture (Crops) is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.
Aims
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Explain different cropping systems and their appropriate application for the production of different types of crops.
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Evaluate and explain organic plant production, and the requirements in at least two different countries, to achieve organic certification.
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Explain the function of soils and plant nutrition in outdoor cropping systems.
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Describe the commercial production of a range of nursery stock.
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Describe the commercial production of a range of tree fruit crops.
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Explain techniques used to produce a range of soft fruits.
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Explain techniques used to grow a range of vegetables.
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Explain the commercial production of outdoor-grown cut flowers.
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Describe the commercial production of herbs, nuts and other miscellaneous crops.
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Identify the risks that may occur in outdoor crop production.
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Describe and Evaluate the type and shape of modern growing structures.
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Describe and evaluate environmental controls in protected cropping.
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Explain the nature of solar radiation, transmission properties of glass and its substitutes.
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Determine the water requirements of a crop; and methods of irrigation.
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Relate horticultural principles to the production and harvesting of a range of crops.
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Evaluate the factors involved in marketing protected crops.
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Evaluate the factors involved in marketing protected crops.
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Undertake risk assessment for a protected crop.
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Describe the relevant identifying physical features of flowering ornamental plants.
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Demonstrate how to use prescribed reference books and other resources to gain relevant information.
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Dissect, draw and label two different flowers.
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Collect and identify the shapes of different leaves.
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Demonstrate how to identify between family, genus, species, variety and cultivar.
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Describe how to prune different plants.
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Demonstrate how to cut wood correctly, on the correct angle and section of the stem.
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Describe how to plant a plant.
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Demonstrate an awareness of different irrigation equipment, sprinklers, pumps and turf systems available by listing their comparative advantages and disadvantages.
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Demonstrate competence in selecting an appropriate irrigation system for a garden, explaining the reasons why that system would be preferred.
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Define water pressure and flow rate and how to calculate each.
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Explain the need for regular maintenance of garden tools and equipment.
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List factors that should be considered when comparing different types of machinery for use in garden maintenance.
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Describe the soil types commonly found in plant culture in terms of texture, structure and water holding and nutrient holding capacity.
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Describe methods of improving soil structure, infiltration rate, water holding capacity, drainage and aeration.
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List the elements essential for plant growth.
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Diagnose the major nutrient deficiencies that occur in ornamental plants and prescribe treatment practices.
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Describe soil pH and its importance in plant nutrition.
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Describe the process by which salting occurs and how to minimise its effect.
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Conduct simple inexpensive tests on three different potting mixes and report accordingly.
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Describe suitable soil mixes for container growing of five different types of plants.
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List a range of both natural and artificial fertilizers.
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Describe fertilizer programs to be used in five different situations with ornamental plants.
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Demonstrate propagation of six (6) different plants by cuttings and three from seed.
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Construct a simple inexpensive cold frame.
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Mix and use a propagation media suited to propagating both seed and cuttings.
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Describe the method and time of year used to propagate different plant varieties.
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Describe and demonstrate the steps in preparing and executing a variety of grafts and one budding technique.
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Explain the reasons why budding or grafting are sometimes preferred propagation methods.
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Explain in general terms the principles of pest, disease and weed control and the ecological (biological) approach to such control.
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Explain the host-pathogen-environment concept.
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Describe a variety of pesticides for control of pests, diseases and weeds of ornamental plants in terms of their active constituents, application methods, timing and rates, and safety procedures.
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Photograph or prepare specimens, identify and recommend control practices for at least five insect pests of ornamental plants.
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Photograph, sketch or prepare samples, identify and recommend control practices for three non-insect ornamental plant health problems (e.g. fungal, viral, bacterial).
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Describe the major ways in which diseases (fungal, viral, bacterial and nematode) affect turf, the life cycle features that cause them to become a serious problem to turf culture and the methods available for their control.
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Identify, describe and recommend treatment for three different weed problems.
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Collect, press, mount and identify a collection of ten different weeds, and recommend chemical and non-chemical treatments which may be used to control each.
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List and compare the relative advantages and disadvantages of different weed control methods.
AFTER YOU GRADUATE YOU WILL:
- Know a great deal more about how to grow crops.
- Have such a solid and broad based understanding of horticulture.
- Ability to adapt to and work in any sector of the horticulture industry enhanced.
Where would you work?
- In a production nursery.
- As a crop grower.
- On a farm.
- In an orchard.
- At a farm supplier.
- Crop processing.
- Marketing, education and media.
- Urban farming.
Most graduates are likely to
work in cropping, but for those who change their ambitions and direction
over the duration of the course, your studies will be far from wasted as
your core studies will allow you to move across industry sectors
easily. Some may use this course as a starting point to
develop a career in something a little different such as urban farming,
permaculture design or horticultural therapy.
For others, opportunities may arise throughout the course. Often we
hear of students who have met people in the industry through their
studies; and been offered jobs. Yet others may begin a small business in
crop production while studying. By the time they graduate, they are
already on a path to ever increasing success.
Crop production is an industry that is never going away. So long as people keep eating, there will always be a need for people with expertise in growing crops.
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WHY CHOOSE US?
Reputation: well-known and respected.
Industry focus: courses designed to suit industry needs and expectations.
Different focus: develop problem solving skills that make you stand out from others.
Hands-on: develop practical as well as theoretical skills.
Lots of help: dedicated and knowledgeable tutors.
Efficient: prompt responses to your questions.
A long track record: established in 1979 with a solid history.
Up to date: courses under constant review.
Resources: huge wealth of constantly developing intellectual property.
Value: courses compare very favourably on a cost per study hour basis.
Student amenities: online student room, bookshop, ebooks.
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