Certificate in Viticulture -Distance Education Course
- Learn to grow grapes, for wine, dried or fresh fruit production
- Start or improve your career opportunities in the viticulture industry.
- Start studying any time, work at your own pace, study from home
COURSE CONTENT AND STRUCTURE
This course develops a broad based understanding of horticulture in the first half of your studies, as a foundation for a career in any area of horticulture; and then (in the second half ) focuses on viticulture, giving you valuable information and skills for working on a vineyard .
Core Studies (1st half)
CORE UNITS
Students must complete and pass all of these core units.
1. Introduction to plants Minimum 40 hours The purpose of this study area is to explain the binomial system of plant classification and demonstrate identification of plant species through the ability of using botanical descriptions for leaf shapes and flowers.
2. Plant culture Minimum 60 hours The purpose of this study area is to demonstrate the ability to care for plants so as to maintain optimum growth and health while considering pruning, planting, and irrigation.
3. Soils and plant nutrition Minimum 50 hours The purpose of this study area is to provide students with the skills and knowledge to identify, work with, and improve the soil condition and potting mixes, and to evaluate fertilisers for use in landscape jobs to maximize plant growth.
4. Introductory propagation Minimum 40 hours The purpose of this study area is to improve the student's understanding of propagation techniques with particular emphasis on cuttings and seeds. Other industry techniques such as grafting and budding are also explained.
5. Identification and use of plants Minimum 60 hours The purpose of this study area is to improve the student's range of plant knowledge and the plant use in landscaping and the ornamental garden, and the appreciation of the different optimum and preferred growing conditions for different plants.
6. Pests, diseases and weeds Minimum 50 hours The purpose of this study area is develop the student’s ability to identify, describe and control a variety of pests, diseases and weeds in ornamental situation, and to describe safety procedures when using agricultural chemicals.
Stream Studies (2nd half)
The Viticulture stream is divided into the following:
UNIT 1. THE GRAPE
1. Introduction To Viticulture
2. Introduction To Grapevines
3. Propagation of Grapevines
4. Improving Grape Quality
UNIT 2. VINEYARD ESTABLISHMENT & MANAGEMENT
5. Climate & Other Factors In Siting Vineyards
6. Grape Varieties & Selection
7. Establishing A Vineyard
8. Harvest & Post-Harvest Handling
9. Managing A Vineyard
UNIT 3. MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT
10. Machinery And Equipment
11. Irrigation
12. Plant Nutrition
13. Agricultural Chemicals
UNIT 4. FARM MANAGEMENT
14. Supervision
15. Increasing Efficiency
ASSESSMENT
You must successfully complete all assignments and pass exams
Four exams must be sat and passed over this course. Fees for these exams are additional to the course fees.
Anything not successfully completed may be repeated or resubmitted.
EXAMPLE (EXTRACT) OF COURSE NOTES:
"THE GRAPE VINE
These hardy deciduous climbers have a root system that is able to penetrate deep into the subsoil. The majority of roots will be in the top 1 or 2 m but some roots may go down 3 or 4 m. Most nutrients and water will be taken up by the roots in the topsoil but the deeper roots enable the vine to survive in arid areas and during long spells of dry weather. The roots must be able to penetrate the subsoil easily; practical measures such as ripping or deep ploughing may be undertaken to encourage root penetration in soils which have formed a hard pan below the topsoil.
The growth of the plant is governed by factors such as temperature, sunshine, water, nutrients and complex physiological factors within the plant which include growth regulators or hormones. These hormones likely control such phases as dormancy with high levels of inhibitory hormones restricting bud and seed growth even in high temperatures. This prevents buds bursting in autumn or warm winter spells where they may be affected by subsequent cold spells. As spring approaches the level of these inhibitory hormones decrease in concentration and growth promoting hormones increase causing buds to commence growing.
After dormancy has been broken and temperatures rise, the spring shoots emerge. These shoots are susceptible to frosts and frost‑protection or frost free sites thus need to be considered. Shoots may need to be reduced during the growing season to encourage fruit set and ripening of the berries.
Buds are formed in the axil of the leaves as the shoot develops. The bud divides into two buds, one bud remains dormant until the next spring, while the other bud develops a lateral shoot. There are two or three growing points within the one bud, generally only the primary or central bud grows and this is generally the most fruitful. Sometimes these secondary growing points may shoot.
Because the buds are formed during the previous season any improvement in the initial formation of the flower buds must take into account the previous seasons growth. Flower initiation is also related to a balance between leaf area and light penetration and temperature. Any trimming or pruning of mature leaf growth is likely to be detrimental to flower initiation, however it is also important to allow sufficient light penetration into the leaf canopy. The aim of the grower therefore should be to control the canopy cover of the vine to provide sufficient light penetration whilst maintaining adequate leaf cover to provide nutrients, etc. For optimum flower initiation temperatures should ideally be around 30 degrees C. "
THE ACS TEAM APPROACH
ACS was founded by John Mason in 1979 as Australian Horticultural Correspondence School.
Right from these very early times, we've always believed that the best education only comes when the student is learning from the experience of a whole range of industry experts (rather than just a single teacher).
Every ACS course is a work in progress, continually evolving, with new information being added and old information being updated by our team of internationally renowned professional horticulturists.
Over the decades more than 100 horticulture experts from across the world have contributed to these courses, bringing their individual knowledge and experiences from as wide afield as England and Spain to Australia and America.
While may colleges and universities focus on providing courses that relate only to the country where they are based, ACS has always striven to make its courses relevant to all parts of the world; any climate, economic or cultural situation. This has been achieved by involving a large number of professionals in the course development.
When it comes to tutoring, marking papers and mentoring students, the team approach is just as strong as with our writing. ACS students have the ability to obtain advice and support from staff across the world, with horticulture tutors located in the UK, Australia (both the north and south) and New Zealand.
The ACS team approach and global focus to both course content and student support, ensures our graduates have a unique and "real world" skills set. This unique approach is highly regarded by our colleagues in horticulture.
