Greenhouse Crop Production Course
Learn how to grow plants in a greenhouse or other protected situation, such as a shade house.
You can grow all sorts of plants in a greenhouse, and achieve all types of things, which you might not be able to achieve otherwise, whether growing as a hobby or commercially.
COURSE STRUCTURE
There are seven lessons in this module as follows:
1. Structures for Protected Cropping
2. Environmental Control
3. Cladding Materials and their Properties
4. Irrigation and Nutrition
5. Relationship between Production techniques and Horticultural practices
6. Harvest and Post Harvest Technology
7. Risk Assessment
LEARNING OUTCOMES
*To Describe and Evaluate the type and shape of modern growing structures
*To describe and evaluate environmental controls in protected cropping
*To explain the nature of solar radiation, transmission properties of glass and its substitutes
*Determine the water requirements of a crop; and methods of irrigation.
*Relate horticultural principles to the production and harvesting of a range of crops.
*Evaluate the factors involved in marketing protected crops
*Evaluate the factors involved in marketing protected crops
*Undertake risk assessment
WHAT WILL YOU DO IN THIS COURSE?
This course involves both practical and theoretical tasks which involve you doing a wide variety of things, including:
-Identify the main types of growing structure
-Relate use of structures to shape and type of construction
-Identify the range of environmental factors controlled within a growing structure
-Describe the use of the equipment used to measure and monitor these factors
-Name and describe a range of types of environmental controls
-Evaluate the use of IT facilities for environmental control
-Describe the meaning of “daylight” and explain the role of sunlight and diffused light
-Relate time of year to the quantity and quality of available light
-Evaluate how the shape and orientation of a structure will affect light transmission
-Assess the effectiveness of glass and cladding alternatives for light transmission
-Describe the durability and insulation properties of glass and alternative materials
-Select and describe appropriate systems of irrigation for plants grown in situ
-Select and describe appropriate systems of irrigation for container grown plants
-Specify and evaluate systems for incorporating plant nutrients into the irrigation water
-Explain the effects of environmental control on a range of plants
-Relate the essential features necessary for successful plant establishment and development to their underlying scientific principles.
-Describe the production of a range of crops
-State the optimum stage of growth for harvesting a range of crops
-Describe the harvesting systems for protected crops
-Explain how shelf life can be affected by pre and post harvesting treatment of the crop
-State the factors to be considered when marketing crops
-Evaluate alternative marketing outlets
-Relate packaging & presentation to marketing
-Assess benefits to the grower and customer, of grading a crop before marketing
-Determine elements of risk in the practical operations associated with protected plant production.
-Identify safe working practices
REASONS TO STUDY WITH ACS DISTANCE EDUCATION
- Reputation:
-teaching Horticulture since 1979
-exceptional faculty staff (see below) - Hands on: develop practical as well as theoretical skills
- Uniqueness:
-successful people are always those who can offer a skill or service that others can't
-this course is different; our graduates have different skills to set them apart. - Relevance -curriculum developed in response to industry needs
- Lots of help: personal, prompt attention from tutors
- Holistic Courses: We teach more than just "facts"
-success is only 20% about intelligence (and what you know)
-you also need to build networking, problem solving & communication skills, and more!
-this course helps you develop all of these things and more - Value: courses compare very favorably on a cost per study hour basis
- Up to date: courses under constant review
- Student amenities: This school is backed by over one of the most unique and comprehensive private collections of intellectual property in the horticultural industry. The principal and staff have written and published over 50 books and 150 gardening magazines, as well as 20,000 hours horticultural study programs. A team of 5 horticultural writers continue to develop and update new material continually. These resources together with web sites, an online student room, social media etc. provide a unique and comprehensive facility to support students studying with the school.
OUR FACULTY
These are just some of the people involved with developing and updating courses; and tutoring our horticulture students
John Mason Dip.Hort.Sc.
40 years + in horticulture Graduated from Burnley Horticultural College in 1971,Nurseryman, Landscape Designer and Parks Director through the 1970's. One of Australia's most published garden writers, author of books published by Simon and Schuster, Harper Collins, CSIRO and other major publishers; Editor for 4 different national gardening magazines; honored as a fellow of both the Institute of Horticulture in Australia and the Institute of Horticulture in the UK.
Gavin Cole B.Sc., M.Psych.
30 years + in horticulture. Renowned horticulturist and psychologist. Former operations manager for the highly regarded "Chelsea Gardener" landscape firm in London, garden writer and landscaper in both Brisbane and Adelaide in Australia.
Maggi Brown
40 years + in horticulture. Former education manager for "Garden Organic"; England's peak organic gardening and farming body.
Dr Lyn Morgan Phd
25 years + in horticulture. New Zealand based hydroponic consultant and author, with experience working everywhere from Asia to America.
Rosemary Davies Dip.Hort.Sc.
30 years + in horticulture; including Victorian Department of Agriculture Gradening Advisor, Gardening Editor/writer/author for major publishers and newspapers.
Diana Cole B,A., RHS Dip Hort, NTEC Higher Dip in Garden Design
15 years + in horticulture and landscaping
Adriana Fraser Adv.Dip.Hort.
30 years + in horticulture. Consultant, teacher, garden write, manager of plant collections
Bob James B.App.Sc(Hort), M. Env.Sc., Grad.Dip.Mgt., PDC, Dip.An.Husb.
Yvonne Sharpe Dip.Hort., M.Hort.
Martin Powdrill B.Sc(Hons), M.Sc. PDC
Marie Beerman B.Sc., M.Hort.
