Gardening and horticulture are underpinned by art and science. To really understand the garden, to make choices on plant varieties, a gardener must have solid knowledge of hundreds of species. Gardeners make choices that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but functional and productive too. 

Educating gardeners to understand the true breadth and depth of this scientific artform has been challenged lately, though problems with the state of horticultural education is not new. For decades, it has been observed that governments and even industry led initiatives have been overly focused on simply on the quantity of learners in horticulture.

In October 2023 we sensed a shift in thinking, priority must be given to improving the quality of horticultural education. Quality education looks beyond mere student numbers. Quality education prioritises the long-term success and influence of graduates rather than the sheer volume of individuals passing through the educational system.

Quality education should be learning that:
•    is broad in scope and depth,
•    is retained in the long-term memory, and,
•    significantly increases the student’s ability to perform at work.

Graduate success is measured:
•    by the impact graduates have on the industry, 
•    their ability to innovate, and,
•    their contributions to sustainable practices. 

Learning is a Process
Effective horticultural education can be seen as a journey through a series of constructive steps. Knowledge is built upon blending “real world” application of what a gardener does, with instructional design elements which demonstrate sophisticated understanding of educational psychology.

A course may start with the presentation of theoretical knowledge, but that knowledge must be revisited, reinforced, and applied repeatedly in different contexts. Through this process, the acquired knowledge is deepened and the student makes connections to broad practical situations. When students repeatedly apply skills in different situations, critical thinking, problem solving and ability to innovate grows. Hands-on skills such as propagating cuttings and pruning may appear repetitive and simple to the untrained eye, but every piece of plant that a gardener touches is different, and adjustments need to be made both in the way the brain processes those differences and how the hand muscles execute the physical tasks. Muscle memory can contribute if the muscles have had adequate practice in their training; and brain memory can work with those muscles only when a depth and breadth of knowledge has been embedded in the long-term memory.
 
True learning makes systems of neural pathways, of roots, and takes varied forms, with an element of surprise, just like the many thousands of different plants that are grown in gardens.

Let us not underestimate the benefit of trained gardeners attaining high quality of education. Graduates of horticulture create better environments, contribute to combating climate change, avoid problematic plant growth, and contribute immensely to human health, prosperity, and wellbeing.